Happiness Is An Inside Job with Carmen Dell' Orefice

Intrinsic Drive®

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Carmen Dell' Orefice grew up in New York City in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. She was encouraged by her mother to study with the Ballet Russes and then went on to swim at a national class level—nearly missing the US Olympic team. On the bus returning from swim practice, she was discovered and asked to attend a photo shoot, which was poorly received. Despite this Carmen was sent to Vogue Magazine two weeks later, where Carol Philips the beauty editor found her photogenic, landing the cover of Vogue in 1948 at the age of fifteen. In this interview the world’s oldest working supermodel shares overcoming pernicious anemia due to malnutrition, learning to be on her own problem solver as a youth, and supporting her family through her modeling career---spanning over seventy-five years. The Guinness Book of World Records awarded her the “longest career as a catwalk model.” She remains active on the runways, making appearances for John Galliano in 2000, Hermes in 2004, Alberta Ferretti in 2011 and twice in 2012 for Norisol Ferrari and Merimekko. Appearing in films such as Curse of the Jade Scorpion, and Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence. Her career is the subject of the documentary---Carmen: A Life in Fashion.

We celebrate Carmen’s 90th birthday as she imparts timeless wisdom about her daily practice of self-care, career, love, and motivationally infectious outlook on life. We are thrilled to share this iconoclast’s sage advice and remarkable stories on this episode of Intrinsic Drive®.
Intrinsic Drive® is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton. Special thanks to Andrew Hollingworth, our sound engineer and technical editor. For more information on this and other episodes visit us at www.whartonhealth.com/intrinsicdrive. Follow us on socials (links below) including Instagram @intrinsicdrivelive