Anna-Lisa Christiane: Empowering women and inspiring dreams

Full look, Dolce&Gabbana

Anna-Lisa Christiane was born and raised in the capital city of New Zealand – Wellington. Though she loves her beautiful hometown but Miss Earth New Zealand 2015 has developed a profound passion for travel. From a young age, she embarked on a modeling career, showcasing her talents on runways worldwide. Her adventurous spirit led her to explore “17 countries within the past year, with 10 of those journeys undertaken solo”.

Anna-Lisa’s captivating journey unfolds on social media, where she shares the beauty of diverse cultures and landscapes. Her story serves as an inspiration, encouraging others to embrace the enriching experiences that travel brings.

Coat, Khaite. Boots, Amina Muaddi. Jewelry, Chanel

Harper’s Bazaar (HBZ): At the age of 16, you were discovered by an agency in New Zealand. Do you remember your first walk? How did you feel at that moment?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: I grew up in the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, so the first runway I did was Wellington Fashion Week. I remember being so nervous, as I didn’t have any experience in runway. I recall practicing my walk in my school hallways with my friends and watching supermodel walks on YouTube, which I’m sure was entertaining for anyone who saw. But we all have to start somewhere.

Dress, Givenchy. Earrings, Swarovski

HBZ: What was the tipping point for moving to the US?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: I had always wanted to move to the US since I was a teenager. I always had a dream to live in New York and modelling. My friends and family kept telling me to wait and save more money before going, but I pretty much didn’t listen and went there with less than one thousand dollars. I managed to stay, and doing New York Fashion Week was a really happy moment for me because I realized if I had waited until I had more money or everything was perfect, I may never have come.

Full look, Versace

HBZ: You’re a globetrotter. What have the adventures taught you?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: Traveling the world has taught me so much. My favorite thing to do is travel; it’s something I will never get over. Travel has taught me that no matter what you have in life, you can always find some happiness and beauty in it. I feel like often in Western culture, we think money and success equal happiness, but from traveling, what I noticed is some of the countries that have the least economically are the happier the people there are and the more they’re willing to give.

Full look, Versace

HBZ: Could you please share some of your favorite destinations?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: Some of my favorite countries this past year were Japan, which was so safe and the culture was like a totally new world. I love anime and Japanese food. Another was Peru, where I visited Machu Picchu, which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. This was something truly spectacular! I had to catch a plane, car, train, and bus there, but it was all worth it. Learning about the history and seeing something like that in real life was a really special experience for me.

Full look, Dolce&Gabbana

HBZ: Your mission centers on empowering women to realize their aspirations, irrespective of their origins, while inspiring them to embrace liberty and exploration?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: Yes, the reason I love social media is you get to share your life with such a large audience and from your point of view. After traveling the world by myself a lot this year, I received so many messages from other women asking advice and how my experience was.

I hope to write a book someday sharing what I’ve learned from such an adventurous life I guess I’ve lived. I can’t imagine my life if I never took the risks that I have. The best experiences I’ve had always stem from me taking some sort of chance or risk in life. I hope by me sharing my life travels and goals with my audience online I can continue to inspire other women to do the same and realize anything is possible for them.

Bag, Chanel. Jewelry, Chanel. Coat, Khaite

HBZ: How to be authentic, stay true to who you are in this social media era?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: With social media, it’s easy to simply copy trends, but if you want to have an audience that truly supports you, it’s always better to be yourself. It’s more sustainable, plus I’m always surprised when I share a little funny story, for example, when traveling, how many people can relate to it. People are always going to support you more when you’re showing them your true self.

HBZ: Any upcoming plans you can share with us?

Anna-Lisa Christiane: I plan on traveling more in 2024 and hope to visit Africa for a safari early in the year. It will be my first time, and I’m excited to share more experiences with my audience in 2024.

Full look, Dolce&Gabbana.

*** Team Credit ***