To get involved visit - http://www.operationsmile.org

A smile is a smile in any language…

Each and every one of us has the ability to bring hope and give smiles.

For anyone who asks how volunteering can change your life, I challenge you to go and see for yourself. 

To get involved visit http://www.operationsmile.org

Despite her family ties to one of the wealthiest corporations in the world, this heiress is building her own career in the entertainment industry, doing her own stunts, and proving that her name won’t be what defines her. 

Lydia Hearst stands under a bright key light in a white backless dress. There’s a large horizontal bruise close to the middle of her spine. Our editor in chief and photographer on this shoot, Ryan, asks her to take a running start for a shot. She does as instructed, strutting a few paces forward and remarks, “Both of my ankles are sprained, so I can’t run very well.”  I later find out the probable cause behind her battered physique is an active work schedule, which includes her own stunt work on the set of her newest feature film, training with a circus school, and learning to ride a motorcycle.

To say that Lydia Hearst has an active lifestyle would be an understatement.  In between modeling, acting, and swinging on the trapeze, Hearst is involved in charity work – she is focused on building a career outside the realm of her family’s publishing business. Amid constant travel, she also practices meditation to remain grounded and balanced; it’s the sort of practiced concentration needed as she steps away from her family’s name and creates an empire of her own.

The Hearst Corporation was founded in 1887 by Lydia’s great grandfather, William Randolph Hearst. The company currently owns 53 newspapers and 300 magazines world wide including Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle and The Oprah Magazine. It also owns A&E Television Networks and ESPN, reaching a combined 18 percent of all U.S. television viewers.

@ Lydia Hearst, Terry Richardson

A Socialite Only by Definition

When speaking of socialites, the comparisons between Hearst and her contemporaries are plenty, but the slender 5’7” blonde says that if she is to be considered a typical socialite, she is not a very good one. “I would say by typical definition and name I would be considered a socialite,” she says. “But for what society considers a socialite I would be a terrible one, because I don’t go anywhere and I’m not very social.” She prefers cooking at home over going out, and hanging out with close friends over partying. She speaks to her parents twice a day and is thankful to them for a normal upbringing. Although Paul Dano, as well as a few other noted Hollywood insiders, models, and editors, graduated from her Connecticut high school, she shied away from the spotlight until she was of age. She says she is grateful for the grounding and normalcy her upbringing has given her.

A View of Politics

Lydia has stayed away from gossip columns and blogs and thinks they are an unhealthy use of time. Instead of focusing on current events and news, the United States has become obsessed with gossip and celebrities, she says. Hearst says that instead of being focused on the policies of our political candidates, everyone is focused on whom someone’s wife is, whom they may be having an affair with or what shoes they were wearing when they stepped out for coffee. Would she ever consider a career in politics?  “I think I’ve been photographed topless too many times,” she says laughing. “But then again, I have nothing to hide.”

The Family Business

As close as Hearst is to her family, she has no current plans of being involved in their business endeavors. What would she say if someone offered her the chance to be CEO of the company? Her answer is no doubt in line with the same ambitions that her great grandfather most likely built the business on: In perfect posture, she leans forward and says, “I would say that I hope everyone would be prepared for me to be the next Anna Wintour. I would settle for no less than being someone as influential and inspiring as her.” For now, however, she is in the middle of filming her third feature film and is keeping her focus on modeling and acting.

Print vs. Screen

Milla Jovovich and Heidi Klum, who have managed to pursue careers both in fashion and on screen, are sources of inspiration for Hearst. “I love modeling,” she says. “I love acting. I want to continue doing both.” The common thread between acting and modeling is the fact that both occupations involve time spent under hot lights and in front of cameras. “There are no secrets on screen,” says Hearst, indicating this observation as one of the differences between the two media.  Another difference is the continuous need to portray someone else while acting, because you’re taking on another persona when the cameras go on, she points out. She’s shooting a film called Delirium, a psychological thriller, directed by and starring LeRoy Kunz, in which she plays Kunz’s girlfriend. “I’m a little banged up from doing my own stunts,” she says. As the cameras start rolling again, more stunt work – including a scene shot entirely in a water tank – awaits.

Running Away With the Circus

What does a model/actress/non-socialite do while she’s not filming? Work with the circus, of course! In her spare time, Lydia Hearst has been training with a circus school, learning hand balancing, trapeze, and the silks. She is one of the only students at the school who does not come from a circus-performing background. She’s not only training for her current projects, but also to keep healthy and limber. “I’ve been getting very active,” she says. “And I think that’s important if you want to do more theatrics.” Hearst is interested in doing her own stunt work on future projects as well, and in accordance with her future goals, is also getting her motorcycle license.

At The End of The Day

One may find it hard to believe that Lydia Hearst can sit still for long enough to mediate, but she credits meditation as a modality she uses at the end of each day to stay centered and focused.  “Sometimes when I’m traveling, it gets a little tricky because I’m constantly on the go,” she points out. “I think meditation can be very helpful; if you can just sit and breathe, it makes such a difference in your day.”

Operation Smile

Lydia Hearst is quite kinetic, and part of her energy is used to work with Operation Smile, a nonprofit focused on providing surgery to children suffering from cleft palates and lips and other facial deformities. Hearst went on her first mission with the organization in 2009 and found it to be a life-altering experience. “They may not remember your name, they may not remember your face, but they’ll never forget the act of kindness you bestowed upon them,” she says of the lives of the many children Operation Smile has affected. This year she will be honored at an event hosted by the organization for the work she’s completed with them, and she will also be sponsoring her own mission to either Africa or Vietnam. “It’s very easy for people to put their name on a committee list and put on a fancy dress and sip champagne for a photo op, but there is so much more that people can do,” Hearst explained.

@ Lydia Hearst, Kurt Iswarienko

At this time, Hearst is focusing on staying in the present moment and building a name for herself.  “There’s that famous phrase ‘time is of the essence,’ but it’s also quite fleeting,” she says, “I think it’s important to focus on the now, otherwise you’ll miss out on it.  If you’re constantly thinking about what’s going to happen in the future, you’re going to miss out on the present.”  If the present adds up to make the future, Lydia Hearst is making sure everyone knows her name independent from being the billion-dollar heiress of the giant publishing corporation.

THE GROUND ISSUE #2

Out Now!

I’m currently in Panama with Operation Smile…

This is an incredible mission! I am so fortunate and grateful to be a part of the volunteer team.

♥

At 22 Lydia Hearst is thrilled and excited about everything life has to offer. But also young, and hoping the best is yet to come. At 42 Lydia would like to be happy and long since started raising a family. At 62 she aims to be happy, healthy and wise. A love of Jazz, secret talents of playing the flute and tin whistle as well as embarking on a quest to master the art of baking, Lydia Hearst is anything but predictable.

Her work is motivating by passion and excitement. She loves “working with talented individuals and helping their vision come to life.” A consideration for others and self-belief seem to be the secrets to her success. A very simple philosophy all of us could apply a little more to our lives.

It’s no secret we aspire to physical beauty and we are easily seduced by people who are particularly attractive. We is rare is when you find someone who is not only truly beautiful outside but inside too! She has worked hard, both in terms of hours but also in terms of being a person by not getting caught up in the celebrity fan fare, maintaining her sense of perspective and actively demonstrating get commitment to improving the life of others less fortunate through her involvement with Operation Smile.

With a firm belief that whom you know shouldn’t change who you are or define you she does employ her network and success to benefit others.

Lydia acknowledges “for those of us working in fashion and entertainment, it is very easy to add your name to a committee list, walk a red carpet and claim to care. but taking tangible, hands-on steps to create change speaks volumes.” It’s her commitment of time and resources that makes her admirable. Genuinely.

Lydia explained “operation Smile is a non-governmental organization that works to provide surgery to children suffering from cleft palates and other debilitating medical conditions in developing countries. I had the opportunity to travel with Operation Smile to Cairo in a volunteer mission and under no circumstance would I categorize this mission as having been easy, nor for the faint of heart. But traveling to a foreign country to work with people from around the globe and watching them set aside their differences in the name of saving the lives less fortunate was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Lydia hopes her involvement with Operation Smile helps “raise awareness and funds for this organization as well as continue on my volunteer missions and help save the lives of children one smile at a time.”

Lydia’s ideal job is what she does every day. “For me, I’m living my dream. I’m very fortunate in that.” Some people are dealt a fantastic hand of cards. Lydia Hearst is one of them but what makes her special is the way in which she has chosen to play out her life thus far with them! Her family and loved ones bring a smile to her face on a daily basis and she hopes to help children through Operation Smile have the opportunity to truly smile too, both inside and out.

by Andrea Pfeffer / www.operationsmile.com

Photographer: Justin Hyte

Stylist: Deborah Ferguson

♡

LYDIA HEARST

There is always one thing that has always been out main influence to dress, talk, eat, and live a certain way, our aesthetic, what is your aesthetic?

I am much more petite than most models. Apart from Kate Moss there really are not any other girls who have the same type of build. Because i happen to have little bones and the way I am built I photograph taller than I actually am; it’s an optical illusion. The way you are naturally built is not something you can fake. You either photographer taller or you don’t. As for the way I live, health is extremely important. You have to take care of your body; but that’s a good rule of thumb for everyone not just models. I am an extremely private person. I am grateful for the recognition I have gained for my work but I keep my personal life personal. I like to socialize with friends and I like to hear music and go out for dinners and other things like that, but I’m most certainly not a party in the club kind of girl. It is important to take on the responsibility of showing the world a whole different kind of woman, one who does not party or is paparazzi obsessed.

You were discovered by Steven Meisel, what is it like to work with one of the most important photographers of our time so early on in your career as a model?

I have always wanted to work in the entertainment industry and have been very fortunate and grateful for my career. Steven was the first photographer I ever worked with. I always love working with Steven and would do anything for him. It is inspiring to go to work with someone who is so talented.

What was the inspiration behind your charity work, being Operation Smile?

Operation Smile is a non-governmental organization that works to provide surgery to children suffering from cleft palates and other debilitating medical conditions in developing countries. Under no circumstances would I categorize this mission as having been easy, nor for the faint of heart. But traveling to a foreign country to work with people from around the globe and watching them set aside their differences in the name of saving lives of those less fortunate was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Each person whom I came into contact left a lasting impression on my heart. Every quirky detail and selfless act united us to become an efficient team of volunteers and professionals alike.

Saving the lives of children is the ultimate goal of Operation Smile, and I believe we are always more than successful in executing this organization’s mission time and time again. For those of us working in fashion, it is very easy to add your name to a committee list, walk a red carpet and claim to care. But taking tangible, hands-on steps to create change speaks volumes.

Have you found your family name and celebrity status has effected how you are treated by other models?

Success most certainly is not genetic. I try to adapt to the industry as it changes and change myself accordingly; whether it is hair color or anything. I work hard, I show up on time and don’t act like a diva. I truly love what I do.

In achieving a career as a model, writer and actress which of those would you say is your real passion?

These all require entirely different sets of skills and I love them all equally. I’m fortunate to truly be passionate about the work I do and tend not to categorize myself as one thing or another. I honestly want to live my life to the fullest and without regrets. I love everything that I do, and I hope to continue for as long as I possibly can. Eventually I would like to settle down and have a family, but I see no reason why that should alter my career or cause limitations. Success is simply measured by happiness.

♡

Photographer: Anders Brogaard

Stylist : Karen Binns

Make-up : Norah Nona

Hair: Darren Fowler