The Belgian model is a runway star, mother of three — and comic book author devoted to fighting child abuse…
Jade Lagardère isn’t the first model-hyphenate, but in a world full of model-actors, model-bloggers, and model-DJs, she might be the only model–comic book author. Lagardère is the creator of Amber Blake, named for a comic book hero who looks just like… well, Jade Lagardère.
In the comic books, the character of Amber was abandoned at the age of five and crusades against child abusers. “I’ve always been shocked and outraged at child abuse,” the Paris-based Lagardère says. “I wanted to create a hero who personally suffered from these abuse and devoted her life to go after the villains involved.”
The model says she has been immersed in the world of comic books since she was a child. “When you are born and raised in Belgium, where comics are part of the culture, and you have three older brothers, you have no other choice,” she explains. Her dream, she says, is to follow in the path of comic books like Marvel and DC superhero volumes and turn Amber Blake into a TV show.
Lagardère certainly doesn’t fit the stereotype of a comic book aficionado, but she wasn’t always the confident bombshell she is today. Lagardère says she was bullied when she was young. “I’m still shy,” she admits. “It’s just that I’ve learned how to hide it. Being six feet tall at the age of 15 is not easy. You get too much attention and you’re not prepared for that.” Nor did jealous classmates appreciate it when she walked the runway for Giorgio Armani at 13 in Milan. “It was unusual and quite tough to live with,” she says of her early success.
Then Lagardère’s life took another unexpected turn: She fell in love with media mogul Arnaud Lagardère and took a hiatus from modelling when she became a mother. She and her husband now have three children. “Sometimes things don’t happen the way you think,” she says. “When I was modeling in New York, I wouldn’t have imagined myself six years later with three beautiful babies and the mother of a comics hero.” Clearly, Lagardère won’t let motherhood slow her down, as she has now added “author” to her resumé and returned to modelling. “My life is different, but I’m still very dedicated to everything I do,” she explains. “I love modelling and that hasn’t changed.”
Lagardère sometimes takes her five-year-old daughter, Liva, to her shoots, shuns dieting and kickboxes to stay fit and waves aside the idea that mums can’t be sex symbols — just ask her 184,000+ Instagram followers. “Who doesn’t want to seduce?” she asks with a laugh. “Life doesn’t end when you have kids, but it doesn’t mean you’re not dedicated and loyal to your family.” Lagardère’s Instagram account perfectly illustrates that notion: Sexy swimsuit photos take turns with carefully composed family portraits. In spite of her picture-perfect life, Lagardère is certainly envious of one woman: Amber Blake, whom she describes as her child. “She is tougher, brighter and more brave than I am,” Lagardère says. “Being her mother makes me feel proud. What I like the most about her is that despite all she suffered during her childhood, she is still positive and never bitter.”
The lines between Lagardère and Amber Blake are so blurred that it’s hard to see where Lagardère ends and Amber begins. Lagardère even says she wishes she had one superpower, the same as Amber’s: “to clean the planet from child abuse.”
Photographed by GILLES BENSIMON
By A.D. PARK
Styled by caroline christiansson
For the full article grab the May 2018 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
