BY Anne Garzouzie
NEW YOU sat down with the vivacious Dancing with the Stars winner, turned host to get the scoop on fashion, love, illness, and regrets. Here we feature exclusive outtakes from the interview. To read the full article, subscribe today.
NEW YOU Do you view yourself differently now that you are in your 40s?
BROOKE BURKE-CHARVET 40s started out a bit rough because of some challenging life issues, but physically I feel better today than I did in my 30s. I have boundaries, a louder voice, and I know myself as a woman. I know my body better, how to dress my body, and I have a better sense of style. I am also more experienced. I feel more accomplished because I have a family and I’m very lucky to be in a very loving marriage. That is amazing. In that I find beauty.
NY What Dancing with the Stars contestant truly touched your heart?
BBC There have been several contestants, but Andy Dick was particularly interesting to me because he was an underdog. He might not have been the most talented dancer, but he had an incredible spirit, and he was struggling with a lot of life issues. I was thinking ‘how the hell is he going to get through this,’ and he just did. I was so proud to watch his transformation. That is the process I enjoy about the show. It’s not the most talented person that we relate to; it’s their journey.
NY You had breast reconstruction. Should your daughter want to do that, what would you advise her?
BBC It’s tricky because her father is a brilliant surgeon and I think women have a right to make those changes. I think the decision making process is as crucial as the procedure. It really would depend on why and if there was something about her that really made her uncomfortable and was affecting her self-esteem. I would ask a lot of questions, and I really hope that my daughters and my son can just feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.
NY What is your fashion style?
BBC I really like to mix and match and I’m very interested in up-and-coming designers. I wear a lot of beautiful handmade gowns from people that no one may know of. For me, it’s really about silhouette, fit and style. But I always like to mix and match costume jewelry with very expensive diamonds.
NY After the birth of your son you say you had terrible skin disorder.
BBC I had terrible Melasma for five years. It was so bad that I not only had the pregnancy (face) mask, I had it everywhere. I tried every laser, peel, and sunscreen to even out my skin. But ultimately the overuse of products and treatments thinned out and damaged my skin further. Finally I stopped spending the money, stopped fighting it and learned how to cover it. When you are covering dark spots on your face you can make it look much worse by applying too much makeup. I never used to wear foundation.
NY Your skin looks great now. What has changed?
BBC I finally found a doctor in LA, Pearl Grimes, MD, who is the creator/owner of the Melasma Pigment Institute. She was the only person who was able to improve my skin with her at-home treatment. I do it every day. It’s mild; I don’t have a lot of peeling and so I maintain it now.
NY What have you learned from traveling around the world?
BBC I learned as an American how to have a great amount of respect for other walks of life and cultures. We’re very demanding as Americans and it’s really important that we get educated as we travel the world—to open our minds and not to bring our own needs to new situations. I learned to make it up as I go.
