A YEAR TO REMEMBER
I have been trying to sit down and write my traditional Yearly Review for about few hours now, also few hours yesterday and I even thought about it in my sleep. There is so much that has happened in the last 365 days that its difficult to put it in one blog post. In order to get a bit of inspiration I looked at my previous yearly reviews. I realised that I did one for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and even 2011 . Wow, we’ve been friends for a while now! Every year I thought it was my best year so far because years were filled with a lot of exciting things, since then I managed to graduate, create a company, have attended my first fashion weeks, made loads of new friends, became an aunt for the first time, walked red carpet, fell in love, fell out of love and many other things. I could probably say that I am completely different person now than I was in 2011. My priorities are different, my perception is different, I’ve matured but somehow still maintained the same character. My family and friends are still the epicentre of everything that is happening, and my professional and personal development still takes the most of my time and energy.
The first thing I think of in 2017 are the two magazine covers I did, as they make me so proud. Two big fashion publications, Fashion Mood and Cosmopolitan are the magazines I was the face of in February and in May. With my face on Cosmopolitan we managed to sell that particular issue more than any other in the last five years. That was a huge deal for me. When it comes to other affirmations from press, I can not skip but mention the Elle Style Award that I received in Belgrade in November. Winning the Influencer Of The Year award is something that I wouldn’t even allow my self to dream of. That award has a special place in my office and I look at it every day. At the end of the year I was even chosen as best dressed person of 2017, amongst the likes of Victoria Beckham, Kendall Jenner and Blake Lively. Little to say that I am still in disbelief about such an award, one that means so much because it was chosen by you!
So yes, the year started with a bang. I begun my working year with jewellery brand De Grisogono shooting most stunning diamonds in Swiss Alps, more specifically in St.Moritz. After that I decided to get ready and head to Paris for my first full Haute Couture Week. I had no clue how much it will teach me and how much I will enjoy the real world of fashion glamour. It was spectacular! February came quick, I knew I had a full fashion month in front of me, New York, London, Milan and Paris. This marked 8 seasons of always doing all four international fashion weeks. Another proud moment for me considering I don’t come from the fashion background. At the beginning of February, I was invited by the lovely Dior Beauty team to go to Los Angeles, meet their Creative Director and to discover the new products they launched. It was definitely a trip to remember. February was such an important month for my future career, I met Dusan who is now my full time photographer who has ever since travelled with me to more than 15 different destinations.
All together I took 79 flights this year. Considering there are 52 weeks in a year, that means I was on a plane more than once a week. But you know me, I dont like to stay put, I go for it, I like to be in action, and I was never lazy. First quarter of 2017 schedule looked something like this: London, Zurich, London, Paris, Valencia, London, Los Angeles, New York, London, Milan, Paris, London, Geneve, London, Helsinki, London.
With that we finished March. March was a month full of excitement, I started working with one of my favourite brands Dolce&Gabbana, and did a special shoot on my birthday. I decided to make a photo from that shoot header for this post. It was one of the key moments of the year. I went skiing to Courchevel and have visited Finland for the first time. It was cold but incredible. April was the month of the excitement, for the first time ever I visited India. Country of beautiful smiles as I would call it. I started the month in Milan with Cartier, and then headed to New Delhi, after which I went to LA, Coachella, LA again and finally Dallas for my second conference which proved to be valuable for my development.
After April full of globe trotting, I flew to Belgrade to shoot that cover for Cosmopolitan I was mentioning. That is when I also met Kristina, who worked for Elle and Cosmopolitan, who now lives in London and is my full time assistant. Wow these months were really good to me. Whole shoot for Cosmopolitan was a bliss, great people, great talent around me, great energy. After a huge success I went to Sarajevo, my birth city for the first time in many years. It was beautiful going there and doing different interviews, being recognised by people who’s opinion means a lot to me.
Santorini was next. A trip during which I realised how important it is having a photogapher to grow together with. This was the first trip that Dusan missed a flight to (and the only one luckily), but also the trip that made me seal the deal. I knew I wanted to work with him afterwards. After Santorni we went together to Venice, Rome, Positano, London, Paris, Barcelona, New York, London again, Venice again, St.Tropez, Zurich, Adelboden, Interlaken, Amsterdam to finally finish the year in Belgrade again. Besides working together I can say that Dusan and I became good friends which is important for creating good energy and good content.
Sometimes in second half of the year my best friend Enrico also became my manager. We travelled to Mykonos together and realised that we need to work more together. I am very easy to work with I just need someone to believe in me and to be honest with me, I can do everything else. This is why I started working with a new Italian agency and realised that they are perfect for me. Besides representing me, they also represent some of my best international blogger friends which is another important factor for me.
During 2017 I worked with so many of my favourite brands that little is left for the 2018 goals. I worked with brands like Dolce&Gabbana, Dior, Dior Beauty, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Max&Co, Pinko, Miss Sixty, Cartier, MCM, Furla, Pollini, Givenchy Beauty, Clinique, American Express, Kate Spade, Bally, Tod’s, Revolve, Bulgari and many others.
June was magical as YSL flew me on a private jet to Paris. Can I just say what an incredible experience this was. All about being a francophile and loving beauty. In July we reached 500 000 followers on instagram, and I couldnt even describe how much that means to me. More than of that number I am proud of the engagement and communication we have on my social media platforms. Thank you for every like, comment and message received. Again in July Dior team took me to Paris for the second Haute Couture of the year and a stunning ball. In August I shot my first project for Louis Vuitton and a very special project for Fendi. Shooting for my favourite brands is a real dream come true. Seeing my face on Fendi website was more like a fairy tale. I couldnt believe my eyes.
September was approaching and that meant New York, Milan, London and Paris again. This time it got a bit complicated. I started the month by going to Venice and walking the red carpet in gorgeous Dior dress. As a guest of Jaeger LeCoultre I proudly carried a wonderful time piece. At the end of Venice Film Festival I was named as one of best dressed people of the festival in publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. What an honour. September was even more complicated because in the middle of PFW I flew to Hong Kong for an incredible trip with Amex, where I broke some personal boundaries and even flew in an open door helicopter. Yes, me, Tamara who is scared of heights. What can I tell you, In Milan I attended amfAR gala for the second time, I attended Green Carpet Awards and attended the incredible Versace fashion show which entered the history of fashion.
October, November and December were also truly unbelievable. I had time to dedicate to my true friends in this world. I travelled again a lot, won the prestigious Elle Style Award for Influencer of The Year and wore another incredible Dior Gown. I shot some content for Louis Vuitton Masters 2 collaboration and learned what makes me different to other influencers, where is my space in this market and understood who I am a little bit better.
Many times since 2011 I asked myself if its good that I stayed the same, I still have same values I appreciate the same things, enjoy spending time with my sister, with my family, nephew and friends. I dont search for things that dont come to me. I am ambitious but not hungry. I have slightly different beliefs, should I pretend I dont?? I didnt know, but I stayed true to myself. I never pretended, never lied, and never tried to be someone I am not. This year that paid off. I might have been bullied in the past for being who I am, but this year I was appreciated for standing up for good energy, good education and wearing what you feel good in. I learned at 28 that you should never try be what you are not, and you should always keep your friends and family close, because they are the most important thing in this life.
I learned that you guys mean so much to me and that our communication is something I wouldn’t swap for anything else. I read every comment on instagram, YouTube, Twitter and my blog and try to speak to you as much as I can. You reminded me that I started my blog in order to find friends who like fashion and now I have so many of you.
Thank you for supporting me during all of these years, lets make 2018 the best one yet, so I can write even longer post next year. Thank you for all the love, I am wishing you most incredible things in the next year. I hope that I can be an example that anything is possible as long as you really want it.