While Coco Rocha has graced the covers of top fashion magazines, lent her face to the finest luxury brands and strutted in the most celebrated fashion shows, “supermodel” just isn’t enough to describe what she really is.
Her accomplishments go beyond glossy pages and runways; she has done so much more. Aside from being one of the most in-demand muses of high fashion, Rocha also contributes to the industry as the force behind athleisure clothing brand co+co.
And as far as contributions go, society is thankful for her charitable efforts that have benefited Haiti earthquake survivors, victims of human trafficking in Cambodia and inner city kids in New York and Canada, to name a few.
Global ambassador
Recently, Rocha ticked another item off her list: She’s the global ambassador for a movement outside the realm of fashion. The 27-year-old model, entrepreneur, designer, social media superstar, author, wife and mother was in Manila last week as the global ambassador for Diageo’s #LoveScotch campaign, which was held in celebration of World Whisky Day on May 21. Local #LoveScotch ambassador Raymond Gutierrez and Diageo’s global master of whisky, Ewan Gunn, joined her in offering a toast to the world’s love affair with scotch at Revel at The Palace in Bonifacio Global City on May 18.
After a festive and long evening at Revel, she still found the energy to attend a press luncheon and accommodate shoots and interviews at the Desiderata Lounge the following day.
In an interview with Inquirer Super, she talks about drinking, celebrations, her rise to success and her greatest achievement.
Drink in moderation
Rocha has one rule on drinking: Do it in moderation, whether you’re a man or a woman. As a hardworking career woman, she understands the need to unwind with a cocktail once in a while.
“A woman who drinks? Of course she drinks. She had a hard day just like a guy or she wants to go out with her girls. Whatever the reason, of course she deserves a drink.”
She is, however, fully aware of the stereotypical beliefs on drinking, particularly scotch whisky.
“With scotch, for some reason there’s this notion, that it’s a man’s drink, and it’s not just a man, it’s a certain kind of man. Daddy’s drink. I grew up the same way. We were made to think that women drink wine, and as I said, a certain kind of man drinks scotch. In the fashion scene, I noticed men and women drinking scotch. I noticed men drinking it every sort of way and women drinking it every sort of way.
“What a silly thing. I think fashion, it evolves. It keeps changing. And we keep changing our style, our taste in food, but then with alcohol, there’s only a certain way men drink it and a way women drink it. It’s such a silly, weird concept.”
Rocha enjoys celebrating, but she prefers to do it in private gatherings in a rented venue or at home, with the closest of friends. She shares, “We usually get a private room and invite all of our friends, always close friends. Some people like to get political with their events and their parties. Like, ‘I have to invite that person because I work with them and I wanna make them happy,’ like your boss. That’s not us. We just want all of our friends and focus on them. ”
Rocha isn’t always out partying, however. As the proud mom of 1-year-old Ioni, she and husband James Conran try their best to let their daughter tag along whenever possible. She gives an overview of a typical day, Coco Rocha style.
“Wake up at 6:30 a.m. and potty train a baby. Feed the baby, play in her room and by then it’s 8 in the morning. If we have work then we get ready to head off to work. Ioni will most likely come to the city with us. It could be for a meeting or a shoot—days change. And that’s the great thing about my job. Today we are here in the Philippines, talking about the love of scotch. Tomorrow we’ll be heading to India. And then I get to return to New York. For me, my days change rapidly and they’re different and I love that about my job.”
Passionate parents
Conran and Rocha are passionate about being parents. “The fact that I’m here in the Philippines without her, it’s insane.” She glances lovingly at Conran who is in the same room during the interview. “We travel with her everywhere. We have great parents that can help any chance possible. We do have a very amazing nanny that can help but she only works once in a while with us. We’re very hands-on. We just love being parents. It’s the best job in the world.”
Being a mom has made her even more supportive of children’s charities. “I think kids—plus animals—don’t have a voice for themselves. But anything about children really speaks to me, especially now, being a mommy. Oh my, anything child-related, it hurts to see. So sometimes, you can’t do it all but we try our hardest. They’re kiddies, you want to help them.”
Modeling career
Rocha’s modeling career skyrocketed after she opened for Christian Lacroix in a Paris fashion show and signed an exclusive contract with photographer Steven Meisel in 2006.
When asked about her favorite shoots of all time, she answers, with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes: “Anything to do with Steven Meisel. He was the one who made my career. The one who did the shoots for my Time and Vogue covers, and his favorite shoot, Top 10 models which included Linda Evangelista… I would think I was the youngest in that shoot at the time.”
Given Rocha’s level of success and status in the fashion industry, one would think her most celebrated achievement would be opening a show for an important designer or landing the cover of a prestigious publication. Fans who admire the “queen of pose” and her chameleon-like ability to transform for the pages of magazines and runways would be baffled at what she claims is her best accomplishment to date.
“I’m most proud of Ioni. We’re so excited about who she’s becoming. You think that when you have a baby, you’re going to have to teach them all the time. But they just kind of evolve into this human being. Sure, now we’re starting potty training and alphabets. But in reality she taught herself how to crawl and walk. Her giggles aren’t forced. She’s becoming herself. And it’s insane to think someone is half you and half someone else. It’s crazy. We love it. I’m so proud of her already and what she’s accomplished.”
Sense of humor
Everyone changes, but there are things about a person that don’t change regardless of how successful he or she has become. With mirth and a hint of mischief in her eyes, Rocha says that her sense of humor is still intact.
“I still love to laugh. When I have that really good giggle, I know I’ve had a really great day.”
There are little things though, that do change, even the most basic of habits. Rocha admits that she barely wears jeans these days, especially since she’s always decked in staples from her own fashion line. After giving birth to Ioni, she has learned to favor loose, comfortable yet still stylish ensembles that allow her to move around, which co+co offers.
Down-to-earth and level-headed despite all that she’s achieved, Rocha discloses a principle she continues to live by.
“What I’ve learned from these 14 years is It’s nice to be important but it’s important to be nice. I think people should think and live by that, whatever industry they’re in.”
No wonder she never forgets to acknowledge the people who she believes she owes her success to.
“From the man who found me at the Irish dance competition to the man who scouted me at the modeling convention. To Steven Meisel. To James, my manager-slash-husband-slash-everything. To the agents who have been by my side through my ups and downs. Thanks to them, I have a career!”
