Exclusive: Amelia Waney and Caroline Labouchere On Being Best Friends And Breaking Beauty Barriers

Caroline Labouchere is a 59-year-old silver-haired ‘mature’ model renowned for her beauty, strength and confidence. Born into a traditional household, this icon broke every beauty stereotype by beginning her modelling career in her 50s. But she’s so much more than just a model. Most poignantly, she’s a rock to her family and friends. Her daughter Amelia Waney (also known as Mimi) follows in Caroline’s inspiring footsteps and is equally brilliant. Conceived through IVF in New Delhi, Mimi is now married to Kyle, the IndianAmerican heir to London and Dubai’s exclusive Art Clubs, Zuma, La Petite Maison, Roka and Coya restaurant empire. Mimi is a successful businesswoman and model with a story and connection to India that is heartwarming and serendipitious. From being best friends to breaking barriers together, HELLO! Indo-Arabia speaks exclusively with the talented duo on making their mark together.

Mimi, your name on Instagram is Amelia, but you go by Mimi. What is the story behind that?

My official name is Amelia. But I’ve been called Mimi ever since I was born. My mother told me it came from a little girl named Mimi she once met. She knew then that when she had a daughter, she would name her (or in this case nickname her) Mimi. I use Amelia professionally, but since a lot of close family and friends call me Mimi, it’s difficult to get out of now! Why did you decide to get into modelling? Was it always a childhood passion? No one in my family was a model. I hadn’t thought about it until I was approached by someone in a mall here in Dubai. Although we thought the guy was a little dodgy, it definitely planted a seed in my mind. So I started applying to different agencies. I got turned down by quite a few, but got a few odd jobs. When I started getting more and more offers, I decided to move to London and try [modelling] there.

Caroline, you are one of the most iconic grey-haired models in the industry who thoroughly embraces your age and beauty. Did you feel this way growing up?

No, never. A majority of teenagers want to be singers or models, and I definitely went through that phase. My real father was in the American pop band The Springfields, so I thought that I was destined to be on stage. But my mother and her husband were very straight-laced. He was a Lord and super disciplined: we followed a ‘no heels and only flat shoes’ rule and lived in a very old-fashioned manner. I was brought up to get married and have children, which, looking back now, worked out very well. In terms of going grey, I decided that dyeing my hair was just not worth the expense. I had already tried going blonde to cover the grey hairs and even went a shade darker, which didn’t work. So this was kind of a no-brainer for me. Interestingly, my mother started going grey in her 20s, yet I still fought it for years. So my approach was to just get on and let it be.

Mimi, did you face any challenges during your modelling journey? 

I stopped modelling a few years ago because it took a bit of a toll on me. I wasn’t feeling confident anymore. I had become a woman and my body had changed. And London was especially tough because it’s so much stricter there in terms of waist size. It wasn’t working for me, and I went through a rough patch in terms of looking at myself in the mirror. I actually went into a normal, everyday job, at an entry-level position in marketing. And I’ve been in the field for around seven years now. It was only in the past couple of years that I started getting back into modelling. I don’t know if it’s because my body has changed in any way, but the way I look at myself has definitely changed a lot. 

Mimi, where is home for you now? 

I was 12 when I moved to Dubai. It’s home for me because I was here throughout my formative years. Even when I was in London for that little stretch, I was always so excited to come back [to Dubai]. My parents moved about a lot, so we went to boarding school. If someone asked, my home was always where my parents were. 

Caroline, what are some values that you believe are important and have instilled in Mimi?

‘Less is more’ is something we always tell each other. Try to be kind; there’s enough hatred in the world without hating each other. Stand up tall — it makes such a difference to the way you feel, and the way others perceive you. If you’re hunched over and quietly walking around, that is when you become invisible to the world. So stand up and be proud. I always tell Mimi that life is all about choices. Your 50s and 60s can be the best time of your life.

Mimi, you got married last year, and the ceremony looked stunning! Tell us about it. 

The wedding was a dream come true. We had the most incredible couple of days in Rome. There were so many great memories that I will always cherish. My mum was with me the entire time; she even got ready with me. My dad was trying not to see me, so it was a special moment when he eventually saw me in my wedding dress. It was all very emotional. I gave my husband a handkerchief embroidered with a message from me.

Caroline, what’s one thing about Mimi you find inspirational? 

She’s a really good businesswoman and also brave. I was never brave. You could set her to do anything, and she would accomplish it. As a young woman, I think that’s amazing. [My husband] David just finished his Ironman and came second in the world in his age group, so she gets her perseverance from him. 

And Mimi, what do you find inspirational about your mum?

 I think her confidence is fresh — she wasn’t as confident when I was growing up. And I love seeing her come out and really own who she is. What’s amazing is that she’s consistently trying to better herself in so many ways, both physically and mentally. With her community and the people around her, she’s constantly trying to make herself better so she can help others. And her loyalty. She’s very loyal. She’s got your back. 

Caroline, what would you say to women who feel pressured to conform to traditional beauty standards as they age? 

Be happy inside. If you are beautiful inside, you will be beautiful on the outside. And that’s what attracts people; being happy and beautiful within attracts others because you exude that aura. If you are beautiful but you don’t have that inner happiness, you are not going to draw people to you. So, it’s all about your state of mind.

Launch Editor in Chief: Faarah Mehta. Digital & Social Media Editor: Anahita Ghai.
Photography: Michel Takla. Styling: Rim Choucair. Styling Assistants: Tooba Waseem, Jonathan Kapeya and Aanya Royce.