Meet Patricia Schmid: Model, Mom, Health Coach (What Can’t She Do?)
The first year of Patricia Schmid’s modeling career reads like a fairy tale. 20-year-old Swiss model moves to Milan to be discovered. Within a year she is discovered by Mario Testino and Carine Roitfeld. She makes her runway debut in Paris for Chanel and Givenchy, and that same year, she is photographed for French Vogue by Testino himself. And they all lived happily ever after.
Essentially, this is true. That magical year was the beginning of an outstanding career for Schmid (now Appenzeller, since she got married last year)—since her runway debut in 2006 she has walked for Dior, Galliano, Louis Vuitton, and Marc Jacobs, just to name a few. She has appeared in Marie Claire, ELLE, Flair, Harpers Bazaar, and all manner of Vogues (French, Italian, British, Portugese, Spanish, and more). And you may have seen her as the face of campaigns for Shiseido, Jill Stuart, Hugo Boss, or Versace Eyewear.
But Patricia has been busy outside of modeling as well. She became a light channel healer in Switzerland, studied mediumship and bachflower in New York, and completed a course at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a health coach. In the past year, she’s gotten married and given birth to a beautiful son. And now she’s turning her attention to sharing all that she’s learned throughout the journey on her blog, Paddy’s Swiss Kitchen. Don’t miss it!
Q: Tell us about how you started modeling—who discovered you and how old were you?
My agent (and today good friend) in Paris send Polaroids to Mario Testino and Carine Roitfeld. Carine was working at French Vogue as Editor-in-chief at that time. I was 21 years old. They loved my haircut, the bob.
Q: What are some of the highlights of your career? Were there shoots that were inspiring or photographers and brands you particularly loved working with?
Oh gosh, so many great moments. So my career started with Carine and Mario. Then of course through them, I started to work with other great photographers like Steven Meisel, Mario Sorrenti, Bruce Weber, Richard Burbridge, Richard Bush, Alix Malka, Lee Broomfield, Armin Morbach, Jenny Gage + Tom Betterton, Michelangelo di Battista, Andreas Sjödin, Andreas Öhlund, Greg Kadel, David Byun, Damon Baker, etc.
Q: Fashion Week is coming up—what tips do you have for girls who are getting ready? (Nutrition, beauty, staying fit, whatever they need to know to make it through!)
Well, it all starts with a healthy mindset and s vision of what you want to achieve in this season. Eat healthy and sleep well. Every day before you get up, breathe, imagine a great day, and then go for it! P.S. Don’t take it personally when you get rejected—let it go with love.
Q: Book or movie?
I love movies, my fave: The Fifth Element.
Q: How do you take care of yourself? What’s your beauty and wellness routine?
Read my blog: paddysswisskitchen.com