Andreea Diaconu is one of those chameleon-like models who defies type-casting. In Chloé's fall campaign, she plays a gypset Thelma to **Sasha Pivovarova’**s Louise wearing a decadent mixed-fur coat; for Ralph Lauren Collection, she’s to the manor born in a dove-gray turtleneck and languid floor-length skirt. This month, Diaconu, who appears on her first Vogue cover alongside eight of her dazzling young industry peers, is playing her most familiar role to date: fresh-faced model-of-the-moment.
The 23-year-old Romanian beauty—who, in a sure sign of her broad-reaching crossover appeal, has also added “Victoria’s Secret model” to her fast-growing resume—currently calls New York home, although her nonstop travel schedule means that her passport probably gets more use than her MetroCard. (“During the World Cup I was in a hotel in London, and there was this huge bathtub with a TV set. I watched games in it!” she admits with laugh). But Diaconu, who logged a few years on the competitive karate circuit, has stamina aplenty to keep pace, which will come in handy as she embarks this week on a whirlwind marathon of fashion shows in New York, Milan, and Paris. Vogue.com caught up with the model during the calm before the storm—a two-week holiday in Costa Rica. Here, she shares her obsession with face mists, her mother’s surprising secret to perfect hair, and how she gets creative with workout gear while on vacation.
How do you describe your approach to beauty? Are you a minimalist or a maximalist?
I'm definitely minimal, mostly because of my traveling: Everything has to be in little tiny containers. Makeup-wise [when I’m not working], I just use highlighter, concealer, blush, and then mascara if I'm going out! I like to give my skin a breather. I'm sure you've heard this one before, but it's true.
Growing up in Romania, did you experiment much with makeup?
All I wanted to do was pluck my eyebrows. So that’s what I did. I only plucked one, I think. I was like, “Oh, it’s too painful, it’s not worth it!” Now, that’s something I definitely do not mess with.
Who were your beauty icons?
Françoise Hardy and Lauren Hutton, when I was younger. I still find them inspiring. If I were to cut my hair, I would definitely cut bangs and be like, “OK, Françoise Hardy today!”
What are some of your beauty essentials?
Romance perfume, from Ralph Lauren. That was my first fragrance, and I still wear it sometimes. I’m obsessed with face mists. I like Mario Badescu—the one with aloe, herbs, and rose water. The rose water at Whole Foods is really good, and Caudalie [Beauty Elixir], too. I use a Neroli Blossom Serum, from Poppy and Someday. It’s all-natural—it’s a bunch of oils mixed together. And Tracie Martyn has a mask that’s incredible. You just leave it on for fifteen minutes, and you notice a difference right after. [For mascara,] I like Diorshow and BADgal Lash from Benefit. I apply it with a fat brush and then with a clean brush I just comb it through, so it looks natural.
The September fashion shows must take a toll. How do you keep your skin looking its best?
Makeup artists, they’re a lot gentler now, and they use good products. They give you a massage before. It's like you're getting a treatment every day!
How about hair maintenance—do you use any oils or masks?
My mom always told me to wash my hair with beer. I've only done that once. But her hair is amazing, and she does it every week. You're going to smell like alcohol for the day, but other than that it's fine! I put Nuxe [Huile Prodigieuse] and coconut oil and apricot kernel oil in my hair; I just mix them all together. When I'm on holiday, I walk with tons of oil on my hair, I don't care.
Any foods you swear by, or swear off, to stay feeling healthy?
I work out a lot and I’m 23, so not really. I try not to eat a lot of bread. And I've kind of cut out dairy because it just doesn't do me any good. I use almond milk for my smoothies—but I'll still have ice cream!
I hear you're a surfer?
Yeah—well, not a good one! I started two years ago, but with a hectic schedule it's hard to keep up. Every time I start again I feel like a beginner.
Do you still do karate at all?
There are very different styles in New York. I did find one studio in the Rockaways, so I intend on [trying it out] if I ever go surfing back there. But I do boxing at Aerospace, in New York.
What else is part of your fitness regimen?
If I'm in New York, I'll do SLT, SoulCycle, modelFIT or yoga. Or I'll just go to Equinox and do my own workout, if none of those has availability—because, as we all know, New York is crazy for working out! Now that I'm in Costa Rica, I [go to] this website called BodyRock.tv and just do whatever doesn't require weights. Yesterday we had a watermelon in the house, and I used that as my medicine ball.
