Growing up in Santa Catarina, Brazil, Luma Grothe dreamed of becoming a painter or scientist. Then, when a friend entered her into a modelling competition at the age of 14, her life completely changed. Although she didn’t win, she was spotted by an agency scout who signed her instantly.
Soon a 15-year-old Luma was living in Europe, spending her time between Milan and London, where she learnt to speak English. She was a regular on the catwalk during the international fashion collections, walking in shows including Vivienne Westwood, Burberry and Versace. “I did a lot and I loved it – I love it all,” she smiles.
The life that Luma, who has also appeared in campaigns for Armani, DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld and Paco Rabanne, as well as becoming a primary spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris, has mapped out, is the antithesis of her “nice and simple” upbringing in southern Brazil, which she describes as idyllic.
‘THE FIRST THING WE LEARN IS HOW TO REALLY LISTEN. IT CHANGES YOU. WE DON’T LISTEN ENOUGH’
“We were very happy. It was a healthy childhood, we didn’t have the internet or computers, it was simply running on the grass barefoot, climbing trees and going to school. When you don’t know that anything else exists outside of that, you’re really
