Apart: You are the most famous Polish model in the world. You also have a third place in prestigeous models.com. list. How do you feel about it?
Anja Rubik: I’m so happy about that. I hope I will never be number one!
Why?
It’s scares me a bit. What next? I’m really happy to be numer 3. On this level it doesn’t matter, if you are number one or not. Much more important is that I don’t need to do castings anymore. Most of the people in the buissness knows me very well, I’ve been working with them before, so they know what they can expect from me. So without castings, they know if they want to work with me or not. If we are talking about fashion shows, it’s even better. I don’t need to do fittings. For exaple, I did Chanel so many times (18), so they know already my measurements.
When you are successful in fahison, you are also invited for many interesting parties. I saw your pics from Costume Istitute Gala in NY.
Yes, it is a big ivent. This year I even got double invitation. Normally, thay send invitations only for one person. But for me more important is that I can work with the best people in the buisness than walking for the parties. I’m happy, when I can work with Karl, that I’ve got his number and I can call him and have a lunch with him. He’s an amazing peson. He’s designing for Fendi, Chanel and his own brand. I also like Meisel a lot. He’s a genius. He creates the best pics. I’m sure Steven could pose for shoot better that the best model, he could make the best make-up and hair. Plus he’s so creative and his photos are like pieces of art. He’s so curious about what is happening around him and then he uses those things in his photography. (he did amazing shoot inspired by Twitter).
Is there any chance to have friends in fashion?
Off course. It’s hareder to be in touch with friends, because we travel a lot. It’s hard to be in the same time, in the same place. On of my friends is Camilla Akrans. She lived in Sweden, but we see each other in NY or Paris and off course during photoshoots. I’m close friend with Wendy Rowe (the make-up artist) and with I&V, who discovered me six years ago during Chloe campaign (I owe them so much). Some time ago, I’ve been in Amsterdam for theirs art exhibition and I saw myself on many pics. I also met my boyfriend during some photoshoot, but I guess everybody knows that.
You live so quicly, don’t you feel tired some times? Everyday different country, diffrent continent?
Yes, it is tiring, but it’s the best thing in this job – that this day is different that the day before. I like that everythig is changing evertime. I can work with different people. That’s fantastic, because you don’t have time to get bored about it. In the same time, I know all those people very well, I’ve been working in the business for so long. The best photographer, make-up artist, stylists, producers – those teams don’t change. We are like good friends. It was the same, when I was working for Apart too.
Have you ever heard about Apart before?
It’s hard not to know Apart. It’s the best jewelery brand in Poland. I always liked this brand because it’s the only one, who makes trends and they know exactly what in fashion right now. I love new Beads Collection, which I’m an ambasdor. It’s very young and interesting. It’s cool that you can make your own jewelery by mixing all beads together. Also that job was interesting, because I worked with my fav polish crue again (ph.Marcin Tyszka, st. Agnieszka Scibior, hair & make-up Kacper & Wilson). I know them all, we like to work with each other. The best relations I’ve got with Marcin. I try to support him, cause he’s got a big potencial. He’s one of the best photographers in Poland and he did some good work abrad too. We also worked togerther during two shoots for 25 mag.
You are so busy and you found time and energy to work for your own magazine?
It was spontaneous. Sasha’s friend bought this magazine and he wanted to change it. And we both agreed to do it. We had six weeks to make all layouts, photoshoots, ... it was crazy. We did all work by ourselves. I created all ideas for the shoots, I called my friends to find some clothes. We didn’t have a budget, so I tried to call my firends, who I knew very well and who wouldn’t say ‘no’. We were lucky that we made everything in such a short time. Magazine was printed during Milan fashion week. And we did the premiere in Paris. Between shows I tried to organized everything. We rent a flat in Paris. We didn’t have electricity, so we put 400 candels. We had 200 guests and all of them had a great time. Then in short time, we found some investors, so next issue will be done in much more profesional way.
When you were starting you career, have you ever thought that you’ll be that successful?
At the beginig, I was scared to talk about that, but now I can say that I didn’t want anything else to happend. For few years I was doing only some small jobs (catalogues,...) and I was realy close to give up. Even when I moved to NY things wasn’t great. I was doing many things but nothing spectacular. So I made a list of photographer, with who I would like to work. And I decided that if nothing happend in a half a year from that, I will go back at the university.
But then something happend ...
Yes, but in my case it wasn’t so quickly. I made many small steps, from one month to another I was booked to do better jobs. It’s typical in this business. From many very important people you hear “no, no, no”, but when some of them say “yes”, everyone fallows him. Models need to be lucky to hear that first “yes”. Then they need to work hard and have a talent to be successful. I realy apreciate, where I’m right now. Now my hard work pays off.
Anja, you were starting when you were 15. Two years later you moved to Paris. You had to pay for you education and everything alse. There is not so many girls who could be so organized and don’t loose themslves.
My parents were very clever. They believed in me and in the same time I felt huge responsibility. I couldn’t let them down. That would be a catastrophy for me.. We all know how new girl are treated, there are many inappropriate situations just waiting for young girls. We are invited for dinners, parties, there are very wealthy guys, who promise you lot of things. And there is many girls who likes things like that. But I never felt interested with those ‘opportunities’. Eventhough I was 17, I was still very childish. When the guy came to me and was trying to talk with me, my reaction for that was really strange.
What is the most hard thing in being a model?
The worst thing is that nothing depends from you. Especially at the begining, it’s hard to undestant it. Why it’s not working? I’m trying my best, I’m working all the time, I try to look good. I was thinking that, if I was learing, I should pass the exam. But fashon doesn’t work like that. To the last minute you don’t know, if you will get the job. You have a call that you are booked for some shot, but then they call you and say you don’t have it. Then yes and no again. You can’t be sure about anything, until you’re standing in front of the camera and do your job. It’s like physical torture.
But I guess hard times are behind you, don’t they?
Now yes, but back in time it was my everyday in fashion. When I was a judge in Top Model, I was telling the girls, that they have great situation in the program, because they know exactly what they do wrong. The worst thing when don’t get the job is that no one will tell you why. And I like to know this, couse I know what I need to change, work out.
How did you feel as a teacher and part of jury in Top Model?
I feld realy great. I thought I would be harsh, but I wasn’t actually. All the girls were so cool and clever. They know exactly, how show like that works. They were watching Big Brother when they were young. I could only tell them, how it is to be a model. It’s was intersting experience to me. I feld realy natural in it.
And how do you feel in Poland? You are very famous in here. Are you treated like a star?
To be honest, I was really scared, when I had to be a part of some show. I’m good in making interviews in english. I don’t have much contact with Polish, so I was worried about making many mistakes. I didn’t rised in Poland. My parents are wets and when I was yound we moved to South Africa. We came back when I was 13 and four years later I moved to Paris and then to NY. Right now, it’s gonna be 7 years since I moved to NY. Even I love all things about Poland, I found my place in NY.
What Polish things you like the most and you can’t live without in NY?
Jelly. They have no idea, what it is. I alway take a huge pack of jelly to NY. I love Polish spicies, medicines. I visit polish doctors, because I trust them more. I always get a quince liqueur from my parents. And off course Polish hunny. It’s the best in the whole world.
Do you spend Christmas in NY or in Poland?
In Poland! Always with my family. Only once I didn’t celebrate them with my parents – in the same time when I moved to NY. I just couldn’t affort to come back home for Christmas. It was the worst Christmas ever. In my family the Christmas are always wonderfull. We all are very tradicional. (in this part Anja said what she like to eat, so I will move on because many of you don’t know those dishes).....
I also like to decorate Christmas tree. I always choose one and they decorate it. Every year we have a diffrent decorations on the tree. Last time it was all in red. This year we are going to spend Christmas in Wien with Sasha’s parent. Sasha’s falt i big, so I will buy a huge Chritmas tree.
And what about Chritmas gifts that you can find under the tree. Do you have any problems with findind gifts for your family?
No, I’m very organized. My family always wait for the last minute. I’m not like that. Three months before, I know exactly what to buy. I usualy buy a jewelry (for my mum and sister). I also recive it. I guess it’s the best gift you can get. It’s always something unique, timeless, plus you can always take it with youslef.
What kind of jewelry you like?
I like everything. It’s changing all the time. For exapmle, for few months, I can only wear rings, lots of them in a different shapes and on different fingers. And suddenly I change it for pearls. I like things that you can wear on your neck, hands and head (hair). I’m the master of finding stuff. I love to check my mother’s wardrobe. I’m finding there pieces that she doesn’t wear and I like them so much, so I steal them from her. Off course, I love to mix many things togehter. I’m doing the same thing with clothes. I love fashion and I like to play wth it, which is fun.
I’ve heard that you have a great sense of style. You’ve been on the list of the best dressed models (by Bazaar). Is it true that you like also interior design? Did you design your own apartment in NY?
Yes, I had also painted the walls. Maybe with a little help from Sasha. I was trying to express myself, because I don’t have time for making paitings, which I love. In the past, I was paiting a lot - models mostly. I will back to that some day – when I will find some free time.
It will be difficult, won’t it?
Yes, I don’t have much of free time. This year I had only two week of holidays. Off course I’m not force to do what I do, but it’s just hard to say ‘no’, to some interesting projects. I try to change some less interesting and prestigious shoots for those more important. Now I don’t need to do everything that my agent is proposing.
i was surprised they did take her again for this year show 
I thought Anna Jagodzinska or Abby Lee were much better than her 
bit weird in my opinion 
Harper's Bazaar Italia February 2026 : Vittoria Ceretti by Willy Vanderperre (16 Viewers)