Tess Maylo Blom

Tess Maylo Blom

by marlies|dekkers

Pirate: Princess Alfhild

Embodied by: Tess Maylo Blom (model & UX design student)

I had a rocky start. Born a month early, I spent a week in an incubator, struggling to breathe. But my mom says I was a born fighter. ‘Maylo’ is my second name; it means ‘winner’ in Hawaiian. I still fight for what I believe in; I never mindlessly follow the crowd.

One of my earliest acts of piracy took place when I was 4 years old. Right before getting my school picture taken, I decided to cut a fringe. It was super short and completely lopsided and everybody was horrified. But I loved it! It was ME. I still smile every time I see the framed picture in my gran’s house: a portrait of my defiance. I felt similarly about my hairstyle for the shoot. It was pure art; gorgeous, intricately braided patterns coming together in a savage ponytail. Worthy of a warrior princess. I wore it like a crown.

I love the fact that the story of Alfhild is a fairytale. I’m very down to earth, but I do believe in fairytales. When my portrait was published by Italian Vogue, it looked just like the Vogue mock-ups I had been making myself using my pictures. It was like I had manifested my dream! I truly believe that you should never stop dreaming.

To get into the role of Viking princess Alfhild, I channeled her anger at not being allowed to choose her own love. My mother is my heroine. Raising 4 children by 2 different men, mostly on her own, she made many sacrifices to always be there for us. But she had chosen love, and it made her incredibly strong. That’s what I thought about, posing on the beach: the indomitable power of love.

Follow Tess on Instagram.

 

Most loved
fall|winter 20 preview

Marlies Says

fall|winter 20 preview

by marlies|dekkers

In January, I presented my newest FW20 collection during a show full of dance and entertainment in Rotterdam. All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses, powerful female icons from past and present. And for FW20, my muse will be crime writer Agatha Christie. A few months from now, you will get to discover the collections, and see how they tell stories like Agatha’s thrilling books do..

Running for your life

MD Friends

Running for your life

by marlies|dekkers

Dr. Bram Bakker is a psychiatrist, a writer, a runner and a provocateur. With his many bestselling books and columns – and yes, even his own theatre show – he urges us to think outside the box when it comes to our mental health. Not crazy about popping pills? Bram shared some interesting alternatives with me, from throwing out our phones to running ‘till we puke’.

Peas & peppers instead of pills

MD Friends

Peas & peppers instead of pills

by marlies|dekkers

General practitioner Tamara de Weijer believes that we would feel a lot better if we hit the produce stand before we visited the pharmacy. “On a massive scale, we have been putting the wrong kind of fuel in our bodies.”

Singles Day – You’ve Got this!

Marlies Says

Singles Day – You’ve Got this!

by marlies|dekkers

All the single ladies, listen up! With single women rapidly becoming the majority, it is high time to stop feeling singled out. This Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‘You’ve got this!’.