Irene van de Laar won the Miss Universe Netherlands 1994 pageant at a live television program on Veronica television. It was for the 4th time Miss Universe Netherlands was chosen during a television broadcast. But there was also another title for Irene, Miss Holland 1994. The license holder for Miss Universe Netherlands bought the Miss Holland title and with that also some other pageants like Miss Europe and Miss International.
Irene represented our country at the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines. After her reign she started a career on Dutch television in 1995. Nowadays she can still be seen on television in programs like: The Traitor and Expeditie Robinson.
This article is about her winning the Miss Universe Netherlands title and her preparations for the international finals.
Veronica magazine
number 21, May 21st – 27th 1994
Irene van de Laar, Favorite in Manila.
Miss Holland Irene van de Laar is a serious candidate for te international title of Miss Universe 1994. The beauty from Leiden has been crowned a few months ago as the most beautiful from the Netherlands. This week she is competing in the distant Manila for the coveted crown for the world’s most beautiful . We visited Irene, shortly before her departure to the Philippines.
Irene (25) is a tall, slim, has wild, dark brown hair and a very expressional face. Besides that she is well spoken, self conscious and she can count on her years of experience as a successful photographic model. At the Dutch final in Noordwijk, we already saw how easy se moves in front of the camera. Qualities which can make her one gof the favorites this week in Manila. Suitable to follow in the footsteps of the previous winner from the Netherlands, Angela Visser.
New Doors
” I cannot speak ahead of things, but of course I may dream. A victory in Manila would of course open new doors. Also doors to Hollywood. As such, Angela Visser is a role model for me. She did a fantastic job and worked hard for her career in America. When you win this title, you get a year of VIP treatment and the chance to meet important people.These contacts can further your career. But it is not there yet!”
Irene spend a big time of her youth in Brabant, close to the borders with Belgium. After high school she first applied for a job at the military police. Her sister thought she was more suitable as a holographic model. Her dear sister pushed her to enter a modeling competition at a program of Linda de Mol. “After a few weeks I got an invitation, together with 3.000 other girls.I came in contact with photographer Ted Lenssen, who stimulated me to advance in the modeling business. I, myself, was not convinced of my qualities.” The first assignments as a model were not convincing to keep on modeling. “Once I was scolded, after tearing out of a 20 guilders worth skirt; one other time I had to kneel down with bare knees for on hour on a concrete floor. I could cry, first from humiliation and later from the pain.”
Irene decided to try her luck in Paris. The City of Lights and the Mekka for models, even more than Milano or New York. “Listen, nobody is waiting for you in Paris. But if you are talented, if you have self discipline and willing to work hard, there are lots of opportunities for Dutch girls in Paris. I have worked there very well and made beautiful projects for magazines like Elle and Marie Claire. However I am not the typ to live on mineral water and lettuce. I was in Paris and I wanted to enjoy life. So from time to time I would have a good bite, a drink and sometimes I would go to bead late at night. I did not always have the ideal weight.”
Goldmine
But despite the good bites and wild nights, Irene got the attention from infuencial people in the Paris fashion world. “I was once phoned by Elite’s director (and ex-lover from Naomi) John Casablancas. He invited me for a conversation and dinner. In that conversation he pointed at me in a humorous way about my appetite. ‘Irene’, he said, ‘You have a goldmine, but you sit on it …’
Those pounds of sitting meat have been trained away in the last weeks. Slim and loaded with energy, Irene will appear in front of the jury in Manila. Veronica wishes her all the luck in the world.
Go get them girl !
Credits:
Text: Lodewijk Rijff
Photography: Ronnie Hertz
Styling Soho and H&M
Last picture is from a commercial for HennaPlus, also from this magazine
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