documento

‘When Max and I met, we sat
talking for three hours, saw
each other a week later and
he moved in two weeks after’
(LEFT) SKIRT & TOP: MICHAEL KORS. COAT: REISS. SUNGLASSES: MAXMARA. (BELOW) TOP & TROUSERS: DOLCE & GABBANA. SHOES: BIONDA CASTANA
and the story is from when she was 16, which is
quite a long time to be telling the same thing,”
she says, faintly exasperated.
“What is really nice in Paris is that you don’t
have people trying to create problems for no
reason. For my family, it is very hurtful continually
being ridiculed by people who have never met us.”
The Beckwiths again hit the headlines when
Peter confirmed that he’d put the family’s grade
II-listed property on the market for £16.5million
following his marriage to Vivien McLean. While
sad to see the house sold, Anouska and her
mother understand why the new Mrs Beckwith
would want to create her “own space”.
“It has been hard on my mother and me
because it was my grandmother’s masterpiece,”
explains Anouska. “She put her heart and soul
into every room and it was their dream home, but
I can understand why you would want to [sell it].
For us, it’s a selfish reason but obviously it’s not
about me and my mum, so you have to accept
these things.”
Is marriage and a family of her own on the
agenda “I don’t think there is any rush – when it
is the right time, it will happen, hopefully.”
In the meantime, there’s her existing family to
focus on. Her relationship with Vivi is now so
close, she’s planning to have her stay with her and
Max in Paris for a weekend soon. “She is very
mature – five going on 25,” she jokes.
And then, of course, there’s Christmas, which
she and Max will spend with the growing
Beckwith-Veroni brood. “I’m not sure what we’re
doing yet,” she says of the family’s festivities. “Max
and I both quite like to plan things, but you can
never plan anything with my mum – it’s
always last minute.”
H
INTERVIEW: JULIET HERD
PHOTOS: KATE MARTIN
HAIR & GROOMING: SANDRINE GARCIA AT L’ATELIER
MAKE-UP: YOANA TG
The Ritual exhibition runs from 18-21 December; visit
worldwidewomencollective.com. For information on Max’s
band, visit facebook.com/hologramusic.
As Anouska and Max stroll around la Place des Vosges (above) – one of the
oldest squares in Paris – and through its arched arcades (right) it’s clear
that the city suits them. “Paris is more about enjoying life,” she says. “As a
creative person, you are always inspired by it”
102
that the punk period is back, but it’s
not something I resonate with. There
are the ultra feminists who are antimen
and there are women protesting
for equal rights like Pussy Riot [a
punk rock feminist band] in Russia
and I saw there was a gap for women
who were embracing their femininity.
For me, you can be a feminist without
being an extremist – we’re not against
men in any way, we are helping
women to empower themselves and
create something beautiful.”
She has made a short film for the
show, A Story of Ophelia, to accompany
some of her photographs. Max
helped her to produce it and wrote
the score. “We laugh a lot together
and he pushes me to be the best that
I can,” she says. “He is my best friend.”
It’s a sentiment Max agrees with.
“We are each other’s number one
supporter,” he says. “We give each
other confidence.” Signed to Sony/
ATV, Max is planning to release his
first EP, Absolute Zero, with his band
Hologram in the new year. How does
he describe his sound “Ethereal,
dreamy, space – my manager said it
was modern retro,” laughs the selftaught
musician and economics
graduate, who plays guitar, piano,
drums and now sitar.
HOME TRUTHS
Another of the pluses for Anouska of
living in Paris has been not having to
deal with hurtful and inaccurate
reports in some of the British tabloid
press about her upbringing. As
Tamara was still a teenager when
Anouska was born, they lived with
Tamara’s parents for a number of
years. The story was recycled when
her grandfather remarried in June.
“It’s just that my mum is now 44