From a mid-length style at the Cannes Film Festival to a chic bob, and then a dramatically short cut in December: Adriana Karembeu has been progressively shedding her signature blonde hair. The change, it turns out, goes deeper than just a desire for a recent look.
Even as promoting her new book about love on March 5, the former top model discussed her recent, striking transformation on France Inter radio. After shortening her bob in recent months, Karembeu revealed a extremely short blonde cut in December, complete with bleached eyebrows. The bold beauty choice, she explained, reflects a sense of liberation.
Karembeu first recalled being “discovered in the street” at age 20. Becoming a model, she said, helped her gain confidence: “I never thought I was pretty. And then, suddenly, you stand up straighter,” remembered the model, who “loved every second” of her career. “I heard, ‘you are pretty,’ ‘your hair is beautiful,’ ‘you walk nicely’ […] I obviously understood that these were superficial compliments, but it was my therapy.”
Her long blonde hair had long been the “signature” of the Slovakian model. “During my modeling career, the hair was part of my commercial potential. I heard that the hair represents about 20% of the total look,” she explained. “But now, I’m 54 years old, and I think I deserve this little freedom of choice, the cut I like,” she added with a laugh, referencing her daughter, Nina. “Really, it just came about, without any premeditation. But I really like it a lot.”
A New Look for a New Life
Back in November, during an appearance on the show “50 minutes inside,” the former model commented on her new hairstyle and recalled that she had long embodied “the tall blonde with the large chest.” Fueled by her relationship with Marc Lavoine, Karembeu freed herself from the image of “a big Barbie.” “I said to myself, ‘I don’t need that much hair.’ When a woman changes something important in her life, she cuts her hair.”
Her romance with the singer of “Je ne veux qu’elle” inspired Karembeu to write a book, “Je t’aime parce que je t’aime et voilà tout,” which was released on March 5 by Leduc editions. The book, with contributions from specialists, explores themes of couples, separation, emotional maturity, and self-love, as the ambassador for the Red Cross reflects on the relationships that have shaped her life.
The shift in Karembeu’s appearance comes as celebrities increasingly embrace bold self-expression and challenge conventional beauty standards, reflecting a broader cultural trend. Her new book promises an intimate look at her life and relationships, adding another layer to her public persona.
