Elle Macpherson’s body of work is laudable

The supermodel was the special guest speaker at the Australian Open’s Inspirational Series lunch alongside tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Elle Macpherson was the special guest speaker at the Australian Open’s Inspirational Series lunch interviewed by journalist Sylvia Jeffreys.

She has carved a successful ­career out of being “The Body” and as she approaches her 60th birthday, Elle Macpherson has never looked or, more importantly, felt better.

Nor has she been more successful. Her body of work away from the camera is how the supermodel has remained at the top of her game for 40 years.

As she prepares to celebrate her own diamond anniversary, Macpherson returned to Australia to also mark the 10th anniversary of her wellness and supplement brand Welle Co.

In between events to promote her new products, including “elixirs” to promote good sleep, Macpherson was the special guest speaker at the Australian Open’s Inspirational Series lunch alongside tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Macpherson headlined the eighth edition of the series, which pays homage to female achievement. This year it also celebrated Goolagong Cawley’s first Australian Open win back in 1974 and her Grand Slam successors in 2024 finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.

Tennis, coincidentally, inspired Macpherson’s career evolution. “I remember seeing John Newcombe’s fashion line, with the moustache and wink, and he was the biggest thing in tennis at the time and I thought that is something I want do,” she told the crowd.

Macpherson and musician Doyle Bramhall watch the Australia Open women’s semi-final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday. Picture: AFP

Licensing her brand, at first with a lingerie line, helped strengthen her mark and it is something she credits as one of the biggest learning experiences of her career.

“New Zealand brand Bendon approached me to be the face of their brand as they wanted to break into the Australian market and I said ‘You can’t afford me’ as I was working for Victoria Secret at the time. Instead, I suggested we work together as I was obsessed with French lingerie but it didn’t really work for this 6-foot Aussie with a size 36 bust so we created something new. I was just so passionate about creating something,” Macpherson said.

She ended the agreement in 2014 when she established Welle Co in a pursuit of “helping ­people, as deep down that was what I have always wanted my career to be about”.

Macpherson admitted she had struggled with ageing but was now in the “most Zen space” she’s ever been. And she nominates motherhood as her greatest achievement.