• Fashion

• News

"In the beginning they thought I was stupid and insane"

Model Bar Sommer has launched a makeup brand in the Corona era that has become a dizzying success, but she still wants to silence the voices from the past that have questioned her abilities.

She thinks filming days can be a nightmare but longs to return to modeling, is in no hurry to bring children and really does not rule out any more reality.

Interview

Tags

• Bar Sommer

Roy in Harir Pearl

Friday, 25 December 2020, 08:15

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on general

• Share on general

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

0 comments

Not just a model.

Bar Sommer (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

About half a year ago, the first commercial video for Barbiz - the beauty brand of the busy model and graduate of the eighth season of "Survival"

Bar Sommer,

went online

.

In the age of political correctness in which we live, the term "Barbie" - the name of the oldest and best-selling doll in the Western world - raises immediate reservations.

Barbie is a "perfect" woman by the criteria of the last century.

Today, Barbie is a skinny woman, made up and too blonde.

It took time, but in the end humanity came to the right conclusion that this is a flawed ideal for girls, teenagers and young women.

The desire to be "Barbie" often causes them to start thinking about weight, hair color and makeup long before the time - instead, it is said, to learn to love themselves as they are.

Sommer (27), one of the most beautiful (even without makeup, of course) decided to call her successful brand Shmerferer the iconic brand in a kind of pun that combines her first name with last name: in an advertisement for her brand, she looks playful, in pretty makeup, with especially young girls, and makeup In particular, their age probably ranges from 9 to 12.

Barbiz - Bar Sommer's makeup brand (Photo: Shahar Arbiv)

She has already absorbed the expected fire in the face of such a non-politically correct video on fashion sites and social networks, and she still believes that this is a successful and completely sensible campaign.

"Look," she says, "I can accept the criticism, but in the end these girls were photographed with a very specific product that gives a natural and delicate look, on the border of childishness. The youngest girl and the oldest woman can use it. I would not fit these ages gloss A lip thickener, for example. "

In short, you say it's normal for a 10 year old girl to wear makeup.

"Yeah, I have no problem with that."

But she's 10.

"Still. When it comes to makeup that is on the natural border, for me it's fine. It's not that they name makeup that is excessive, or that they do it to fix something in their face."

Okay, but a girl at that age should think she's the most beautiful in the world even without makeup, right?

"A girl doesn't have to get into this conversation with herself. She doesn't have to think about these things at all, but I don't think that's the message that goes through the video I made."

The message that goes through, with a wink to the brand name, is that you are addressing a very, very young audience.

"This name is a combination of my first name with the g of the last name. As a child I also really liked Arabic and I still really like pink, but it has nothing to do with the well-known brand of dolls."

"I can accept the criticism, but in the end these girls were photographed with a product that gives a natural look" (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

It was a pretty crazy year for her.

Towards the beginning she married her partner in recent years Aviv Cohen and last March, right at the same time as the outbreak of the corona crisis, she launched, along with him, Barbies.

Since then, the business has been thriving.

Yes, despite the closures and social alienation regulations, which obviate the need to show off before meetings and events (because there are none), and in general, to put on make-up.

Sommer claims she was not really surprised.

In her view, makeup is a kind of balm for the soul in the days of Corona.

"Sitting at home all day in your pajamas only puts you in an even more depressing atmosphere," she explains.

"Take a shower, put on make-up, sing songs, smile, look in the mirror and say to yourself 'what a beauty!'

"It makes me feel good. It's just happy. It makes all the difference between depression and fun and it really helps women deal with the situation."

It was a very brave step on your part to start a business during the Corona period.

"True, but I did not let Corona stop me. This business was my dream and for me, after all the planning and preparation, it was the exact time to start fulfilling it. Today, thank God, the business is very successful. It reached insane dimensions in less than a year and I am proud and happy to succeed "I also give it my all now and go to the factory in Rosh HaAyin four times a week to see that everything is ticking properly. It requires me to work 24/7, from morning to night, and besides me the company has four other workers that I employ."

"Business was my dream and after all the planning and preparations, it was the exact time to fulfill it (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

Until the Corona crisis began, Sommer was mostly a model.

The crisis caught up with her immediately after Milan Fashion Week, where she marched on a Philippe Plain show.

"I woke up the day after the show in Milan and all I saw on the street was Corona," she says.

"My eyes were dark. The city was completely dark. There were no people on the street. I just wanted to run away and go home. It was a very, very strange feeling."

About a month later, during the Corona crisis, she was photographed in Israel for a Fruit Water campaign alongside Asi Ezer, but in general her schedule is pretty clean at the moment from modeling work - and she very much hopes it is temporary. Her resume is adorned with prestigious campaigns - including cosmetics brand Percise , For the Revolve swimwear brand, the Twentyforseven fashion chain and the Expose swimwear and lingerie brand, in addition to being the presenter of the April cosmetics brand and the Magnolia jewelry brand.

"I woke up the day after the show in Milan and all I saw on the street was Corona" (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

"I did not think of modeling as a child," she says, "it is not at all something I was aware of. I did not know this world. After all, I always liked to be in the center and give a show, to perform. Mostly in dance. I only came to modeling after the army and since then I I really enjoy it. Not everything is rosy, of course, and you could say that filming can sometimes be a nightmare, but by and large it's fun. I have no doubt it takes some mental strength to stand it for a long time, but I think I have it. I'm very strong mentally. A lot, but strong. "

What are you crying about?

"Of everything. Recently, Aviv and I moved into an apartment and I had a lot of mental strain and pressure. After we had already finished the move and settled into the new apartment, I suddenly burst into tears. Everything came out at once."

Aviv hugged and supported?

"Obviously. He's always there for me. Our relationship is amazing. He's a full partner in my life and I thank God every day for winning him. He's really a real man. He's by my side for better or worse, and always pushes me forward and helps me make the right decisions. There is. It has all the qualities I dreamed it would have in my man. "

You're pretty married.

Has anything changed in your relationship since the wedding?

"The truth is this is a funny question, because there is no difference except that we are registered in the rabbinate as a married couple. Maybe just something feels a little different. You know, there are couples who get married so their next step will be to have a child. We did not get married because we rush to child. "The relationship. There will be a child, I really want to, but not now. By and large, my secret to a stable relationship is a combination of trust, honesty and friendship."

"Spring has all the qualities I dreamed of having in my man" (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

As can be understood, the past year has passed for Sommer, despite the corona, quite calmly and pleasantly - which she can not say about her participation in "Survival".

There, as I recall, she lost consciousness at a relatively early stage, as a result of hunger and exhaustion.

"It was the most traumatic experience of my life," she declares, adding that the moment of dismissal from the program also left her with intense pain on a mental level.

"It was very difficult for me to accept that I was fired," she says.

"When you man gets to the top five and is deep inside the game, it's very hard to be ousted. For me, anyway, it felt awful and horrible. It was another trauma for me, in addition to fainting."

Still, she does not rule out further experience in this kind of reality and even believes that next time she will get there as far as possible.

At least physically, she is also quite ready for it.

"I train five times a week, an hour and a half a day, even during the corona period," she reveals.

"It's an integral part of my routine. Training does me good for the soul and now, because it's not always possible to go out, I bought a treadmill and I'm on it all the time."

"I would like the image of an entrepreneur, a strong and smart woman" (Photo: Ayelet Rabinowitz)

What is the most incorrect thing that has ever been said or written about you?

"That I'm dumb. Insane. But the truth is, I haven't had those reactions in a long time. It was mostly in the beginning, before they knew me. All sorts of judgmental and bad people had a wrong first impression of me."

What is the last book you read?

"Ah… was some strategic consultant, can't remember his name, who wrote about business motivation and right thinking. Something very interesting."

If you could choose a new image for yourself, what would it be?

"I would like an image of an entrepreneur, of a strong and smart woman."

Photography:

Ayelet Rabinowitz

Makeup:

Ortal Elimelech

Hair:

Benjamin Roimi

Styling:

Maya Riana

More on Walla!

NEWS

"I'm not trying to stop the age. I was also offered free surgery, but I'm afraid of needles."

To the full article

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on general

• Share on general

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

0 comments