With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, the L’Oreal Paris Le Défilé 2025, which was held at Hotel de Ville in the heart of Paris, showcased some of the world’s biggest stars – including Jane Fonda, Andie MacDowell, Kendall Jenner and our own Mary Fowler.
The night before the show, Marie Claire sat down with Jane Fonda to talk about the star-studded show. She talks about the celebration of women, inner confidence, sisterhood and the unstoppable power of self-worth.
Marie Claire: As a long-time ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, what does it mean to you to be part of Le Défilé 2025 at such an iconic venue as the Hotel de Ville?
Jane Fonda: “This is my fourth year [walking in L’Oreal Paris Le Defile]. It’s a lot of fun. It’s very intense. I do [get nervous] absolutely. It’s one of those situations where you’re so terrified you’re going to fall down, you know. Do I have the right underwear on?
There is a lot of pressure, but it’s a lot of fun to see my friends. Yes, I have a number of friends who are part of the Le Défilé; Gillian Anderon is walking this year. This is her first year. And [my friend] Andie MacDowell, she’s wonderful.”
MC: The show’s theme is “Walk Your Worth“. What does this phrase mean to you personally?
JF: “It means… that I have to pay attention to my heart and my instincts and not just do what a man wants me to do in order to please him. I have to stand up for myself. I’m worth respect. I’m worth taking a place in the world on my own. I don’t have to have an okay from the man that I’m with.”
MC: You have been in the film and beauty industry your whole career. What does beauty mean to you now and how has it changed over the years?
JF: “I feel better than I did when I was younger. I have more confidence than I did when I was younger. I didn’t used to pay very much attention to how I looked. And you know who made me think about it was Katharine Hepburn. We did a movie together called On Golden Pond. And one day she came up behind me, and she reached [over] and she took a hold of my cheeks and she said, “What? What does this mean to you?” She said, “this is your box, your container”, “what do you want to say to the world with your container?” Up until then, I had thought that being self-conscious was bad, but Katharine Hepburn taught me that being conscious of self is a good thing, that how you present [yourself] is important.”
What is your advice to women to live a full life?
JF: “Well, you have to be healthy to live your best life. Yes, and so taking care of your health is very important. And for me that means being active physically. Yesterday, you know, I walked a lot up and down the Champs Elysee for example, eating fresh, healthy food, sleeping enough. These things are very important, especially, especially as you get older.”
“Once you’re healthy, and, you know, I haven’t [always had the best health], I mean, I’ve had cancer, I’ve had lots of cancer, but the underlying foundation I’m healthy, so that allows me then to also do things in life that make me feel that I’m contributing to the world. When I die, I want to be able to feel I did my best.”
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