logo
EXCLUSIVE Christian Wilkins shares the secrets behind his luscious hair, flawless skin and toned figure - and reveals what he REALLY thinks of people criticising his flamboyant wardrobe

EXCLUSIVE Christian Wilkins shares the secrets behind his luscious hair, flawless skin and toned figure - and reveals what he REALLY thinks of people criticising his flamboyant wardrobe

Daily Mail​15-05-2025

Speaking to Christian Wilkins at Australian Fashion Week is like talking to Holly Golightly at Tiffany's or Carrie Bradshaw in a pair of Manolo Blahniks — it just makes sense.
The fashion icon, 30, who effortlessly pushes the boundaries of style and gender-normative conventions in the world of fashion, sat down for an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia amid the chaos of Carriageworks — using his five-minute breather between shows to give us all the details on his beauty transformation.
But just like Christian, his holy grails are a far cry from conventional but pack just as much punch as the colourful Aussie star himself.
Tossing his hair in between questions after having it styled by Joey Scandizzo, it was no wonder we were brushed onto the topic of his luscious locks and how he not only styles his head of hair but cares for it.
To achieve the perfect blowout, Christian swears by the Shark FlexStyle, which he uses 'all the time'.
'It's really rare that you get to work with brands that you genuinely love,' he said of the appliance company, praising their innovation in the sphere and on the scalp.
And as for how he keeps his hair healthy, Christian narrows it down to one thing: Genetics.
'People ask me all the time what I do — and I do take supplements and collagen and stuff like that — but I think it's really genetics [and Shark beauty],' he says with a wink.
But when it comes to skin, the actor and LGBTQIA+ activist is not leaving anything to chance, relying on a new Hollywood go-to to keep his face fresh and glowy.
'I have a really simple skincare routine. I use collagen peptides and then beef tallow,' Christian adds.
'In the States, it's huge at the moment. People are using beef tallow for their healthcare, for their skincare...'
Tallow, a new viral skincare product, is a type of fat rendered from cow meat or mutton suet.
And upon research, it can also be used to make candles, soaps and fabulous roast potatoes.
However, Christian is simply using the product for its skincare benefits, he says, ditching the carbs in his diet for a pantry closer to home.
The model leans on a Mediterranean menu to keep his body in shape, going back to his roots when he's filling up a plate.
'My mum is Greek and cooking healthy foods and proteins and vegetables was always what I grew up on,' he revealed.
'I was that kid that went to school with falafel and hummus and fresh zucchini.'
And while Carrie swears by Vogue for dinner, so does Christian swear by another hunger-quenching dish - one that he could eat with every meal.
'I also really love porridge,' he confessed.
'I have it like three times a day.'
It's no surprise Christian's physical splendour is down to a passion for fitness and a love of lifting weights, but perhaps what is more touching is the care and softness he feels towards his body as he ages, and his new outlook on life after turning 30.
'My body has changed quite a bit,' he shared.
'I used to find it very easy to be slender.
'Now, I'm putting on a bit more muscle and I'm liking coming into my new body and being really proud of that.
'I'm finding my own identity as I get older.'
Expressing his identity is at the forefront of who Christian is, just look at his stacked resume, or Instagram page or any sartorial shindig in Sydney.
From hosting podcast Radical Fashionism with Andy Kelly to playing with non-binary styles in the social sphere, Christian uses fashion to say things that can often be hard to put into words.
But even when actions speak louder, words can still sting in the comments section, a feeling that Christian knows all too well.
Speaking of his experience with trolls, Christian shared the overwhelming sadness he feels when seeing negative comments from strangers, not for himself, but for his community.
'Some of the messages make me sad, but less because they're attacking me and more because I see that this kind of hatred is out there,' he said.
Adding that he was lucky to have family, friends and a network that have his back, Christian's decision to be out and proud of his identity was for the people who didn't have that support.
'I think that it's important to keep going out there and expressing yourself how you want to be,' he thoughtfully said.
'Someone that might not necessarily feel so secure can use you as an example.'
And so, as Christian Wilkins flips his hair post-interview, moving on to inspire his community and the fashion sphere with every model-esque pout and pose, so do we snuggle into bed to watch greats like Holly and Carrie.
For what better way to learn and love ourselves unapologetically than seeing the fashion icons do it first?

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Popular supermarket launches £20 dupe of £11k Birkin bags Victoria Beckham & Olivia Attwood love – it comes in 2 colours
Popular supermarket launches £20 dupe of £11k Birkin bags Victoria Beckham & Olivia Attwood love – it comes in 2 colours

The Sun

time35 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Popular supermarket launches £20 dupe of £11k Birkin bags Victoria Beckham & Olivia Attwood love – it comes in 2 colours

IF your bank balance is getting in the way of your true style, don't worry. You will soon be able to replicate the iconic Birkin bag look with a new budget-friendly dupe. Often spotted on the arm of Victoria Beckham or Olivia Attwood, Birkins have become a staple in celeb wardrobes. Even Kylie Jenner's daughter sported one when she was just learning to walk. However, at £11,000 a-piece, Birkins are not exactly a go-to buy for most people. But now you can pick up a similar style handbag at a much much cheaper price, and it is available in two colours. Fashion brand Tu have announced the re-launch a popular handbag style. The belted bag is will soon returned to UK shelves, reimagining the classic silhouette with sculptural lines. And this stylish and chic buy will only set you back £20, making it ideal for everyday use. In fact, the timeless design means it can be worn "season after season". Tu's Belted Bag is due to launch in late July and will be available from a variety of platforms. You will be able to order it online from as well as from A I get stopped in the street by people asking where my perfume's from - it's a dupe of a designer scent & saves me £135 And most excitingly, it will also be stocked in select Sainsbury's stores. If black is not your colour and you're after something else, the supermarket is also adding a new Neutral Faux Leather Tote Bag in a classic cream shade. Priced at a wallet-friendly £20, this bag is sure to become a major hit - and you certainly don't want to miss out on it. Made of a faux leather material, the chic purse has a handle, adjustable strap, as well as multiple compartments for you to store away your daily essentials. One thrifty fashionista wrote: ''Really nice handbag for the price, nice large size but light in weight. ''Can use with handles or strap. Love it, beige or black. Nice every day bag.'' Someone else chimed in with their review, writing: ''For the price I had my money's worth and I will buy more as a back up. Great cheap bag for work.'' Tu clothing items are available in over 400 Sainsbury's locations across the UK. Birkin Bags remain highly sought after by celebrities and collectors due to its craftmanship. While a Birkin's exclusivity and rarity make it a hot commodity the style is actually quite relaxed. The classic Birkin silhouette is constructed in Hermès' signature retourne style. Why you should always buy a dupe over designer... Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend says it's time fashion snobs stopped looking down their noses at affordable versions of designer buys. Bargain US supermarket Walmart became a social media sensation when its £60 dupe of Hermès' Birkin bag, dubbed the Wirkin, went viral. Influencer @styledbykristi gushed: "Eighty dollars (£60), you can pretend that you got a Birkin. I mean, everyone will probably know it's not, because who the hell has the money to spend on the real Birkin? Not me.' Me neither. And why bother? I would never spend that on a designer bag (although if someone wants to buy one for me, that's a different story). Plus, if I splashed that much, I'd feel I was being ripped off... We've all been told how the leading brands use the finest leather, thread, dyes and craftsmanship in the world. But all that is inflated by fashion houses to create the desired illusion of exclusivity. Just last year, Dior came under investigation for paying £44 to assemble a bag that sells for £2,000. So while you might think you are paying for top-level craftsmanship carried out by a true artisan, chances are the poorly paid workers are not seeing any of your hard-earned cash. Dupes — not to be mistaken for knock-offs that copy everything from the logo to the inside label — are a more practical and all-round sensible way to go. I bought my first when I was 18. It lasted me four years and only broke after I wore it in the shower. And these days, British high streets have plenty of dupes. In the past three years, Marks & Spencer, H&M and Mango have all seen huge spikes in sales thanks to their canny copies. They use the same viral, must-have marketing tactics that pricey brands have. Fashion folk will tell you that you are making an investment and buying a 'heritage piece' and will turn their noses up at a high street equivalent. But we've been wearing looks inspired by catwalk designers for decades. If we can buy a bag that's the spitting image of the pricier version, but doesn't mean you have to remortgage, why not? This means the bag is stitched inside out and then reversed, giving the piece a less structured and more relaxed shape M&S previously stocked a dupe for a Birkin bag that was over £10,000 cheaper than the original. Meanwhile, New Look has a dupe of the iconic Bottega buy, but £8,400 cheaper. And BooHoo recently slashed the price of a Molly-Mae bag dupe. 5

Jimmy Choo's well-heeled guide to Kuala Lumpur
Jimmy Choo's well-heeled guide to Kuala Lumpur

BBC News

time40 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Jimmy Choo's well-heeled guide to Kuala Lumpur

His shoes ignited a worldwide sartorial revolution, but he hangs his hat in KL. Here are his top hometown experiences, from enjoying street food to designing your own bespoke suit. Home to the Petronas Twin towers and one of the world's most recognisable skylines, the Malaysian capital has evolved over the last four decades from a modest metropolis known for its charming colonial architecture to a thriving, ultra-modern city. "Many years ago, when I came to Kuala Lumpur for the first time, it wasn't as modern," says legendary shoe designer Jimmy Choo, who hails from Penang, an island on Malaysia's north-western coast. "It has changed a lot. There are now lots of high-rise apartments and hotels and it's a lot more multicultural." The perennially fashionable Choo, who splits his time between London and Kuala Lumpur where he owns a penthouse apartment a stone's throw from the Petronas Towers in the upmarket KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) neighbourhood, says the city has also become a major destination for fashion fans on the hunt for high-end bargains. "A lot of people come here to shop because we have a lot of designer shops and the prices are not too high," he says. "Whether you want to buy shoes, bags, accessories – you can get them all in KL." If your budget won't stretch to luxury labels, Choo recommends seeking out homegrown talents. "Malaysia has a lot of local designers who have been very well trained overseas," he says. "They go to study fashion in places like the UK or Australia, then when they've finished their studies, they often come back to their own country to promote their designs." Beyond retail therapy, the cosmopolitan city is famous for mouthwatering street food from all corners of Asia and plentiful people-watching opportunities at fancy rooftop bars, where you can show off your designer finery while sipping an ice-cold cocktail. Here are Choo's favourite places for shopping, dining and drinking in the incredible views of Kuala Lumpur. 1. Best for bespoke fashion: Lord's Tailor Founded in 1974 by designer Robert Loh, Lord's Tailor specialises in custom suits for men and women and is beloved by many of Malaysia's most stylish celebrities. "It was recently the 50th anniversary of the designer Robert, who learned tailoring and design in London," says Choo, a loyal customer since the 1990s. "Whenever I travel to different parts of the world, they will design all my outfits – daywear and evening wear." Providing exceptional sartorial skills at a fraction of the Savile Row price, the atelier's team of tailors and seamstresses can whip up a bespoke or made-to-measure suit in a matter of days. "They have their own factory, and all the staff have been very well trained," Choo says. "If you go on a Monday for the measurements, they will have everything ready by Wednesday or Thursday to bring home." How much will a Lord's Tailor suit set you back? "It depends on the fabric you choose," says Choo. "Prices start at around 3,000 ringgit (around £515) for a jacket and trousers with one shirt, going up to 10,000 ringgit (around £1,750) if you choose Italian fabric." Website: F18 & F19, 1st floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285 Jalan MaarofPhone: +6 017 670 7217Instagram: @lordstailor/ 2. Best for designer shopping: Pavilion shopping centre A fashionista's paradise, glitzy Pavilion shopping centre is where you'll find the flagship stores of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and Hermès alongside high street favourites like Zara and COS. "Pavilion has got a lot of different brands so there's something to suit every budget," Choo says. "For example, if you want to spend £30 on a shirt or trousers, or if you want to spend thousands and thousands on those higher-level designers." To sample Malaysian style, try cool handbag brand Sembonia, trendy plus-size fashion pioneer Ms. Read, or Fipper, which sells rubber flip-flops in a vast array of colours. And if you've exhausted your options at Pavilion, pop over the road to another of Choo's favourite retail hotspots, The Starhill, a luxurious shopping centre home to the world's biggest watch gallery. Website: 168 Jalan Bukit BintangPhone: +6 032 118 8833 3. Best for sartorial souvenirs: Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex Showcasing Malaysian handicraft techniques, the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex is a series of buildings in the Terengganu style with gabled roofs and intricate wood carvings and features a museum where visitors can see how traditional textiles are woven and dyed. "Batik is hand-painted and uses wax to create the designs," Choo explains. "Songket comes in lots of different colours and has the gold and silver thread woven through. It's quite expensive because it takes some time to weave by hand." Typically worn on formal occasions, a songket outfit usually comprises a baju kurung long-sleeved shirt, a sarong or trousers, a sampin decorative scarf around the waist and a songkok cap for men. "Usually when I'm attending my birthday event I wear songket because one of my students designs with songket material," Choo says. "It's common at Malaysian weddings as well. When government people go to functions, they usually wear batik." Travellers can purchase songket and batik fabric as well as readymade garments and accessories in the Karyaneka Boutique at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex. Website: Section 63, Jalan ConlayPhone: +6 032 162 7459Instagram: @kraftanganmalaysia 4. Best for local delicacies: Petaling Street Market To refuel after all that shopping, cheap – and delicious – eats are just a five-minute taxi ride from the city's major shopping centres to Chinatown; namely, Petaling Street Market. Reflecting Kuala Lumpur's history as a trading hub since the 6th Century, the market features a blend of Malay, Indian, and Chinese cuisine with hints of Arab, Thai and Portuguese flavours to boot. Choo lists his favourite Petaling Street eats: "I love char kway teow [stir-fried flat noodles], Hainanese chicken with rice, roti canai [flaky Malaysian flatbread], nasi lemak [rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves served with chilli paste, anchovies and boiled egg], and nasi kandar, which is chicken with spicy curry sauce." For dessert, he suggests sniffing out a helping of durian, the divisive yellow-fleshed fruit with a spiky exterior and a distinctive aroma. "Some people like it, some don't," says Choo. "They say it smells like cheese or something like that. But you cannot bring it back to the hotel, they won't allow it because it smells so strong!" Address: Jalan Petaling, City Centre 5. Best for cityscape views: WET Deck While many of Kuala Lumpur's rooftop bars look down on the city, WET Deck at the W Hotel is situated on the 12th floor, meaning the neighbouring Petronas Twin Towers provide a dramatic and glittering backdrop when night falls. "If I want to have a drink and some good western or Malay food, I normally go to W Hotel bar," Choo says. "You can sit by the swimming pool and see the Twin Towers right in front of you. It's a place you can relax and take some nice pictures. You can see the whole of KL." Choo's tipple of choice is a nod to his international lifestyle. "People in Malaysia like to drink cognac and whisky," he says. "But my favourite drink is actually a very English one; I love a lager and lime." A minimum spend of 500 ringgit (around £90) per table is required at WET Deck on Friday and Saturday nights, so choose a weeknight if you're looking for a more affordable option. Website: W Kuala Lumpur, 121 Jalan AmpangPhone: +6 012 365 4188Instagram: @wetdeckkualalumpur 6. Best for a serenity strull: KLCC Park An urban oasis nestled among the skyscrapers, KLCC Park is popular with city dwellers and tourists alike. With a jogging track, children's playground and wading pool, it's great for families, or anyone who wants a breather and a shady spot to escape the heat. "You can have a beautiful morning walk in the park or go for a run, you can see water features and birds during the day," says Choo. "And at night it's very romantic. You often see couples walking around the lake." Open from 10:00 to 22:00, with the main entrance on Jalan Ampang, the park also offers a brilliant vantage point to grab some snaps as the sun sets and the skyscrapers light up. Address: Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Footy star reveals the incredibly strict lifestyle changes that have left him in better shape now than when he was playing
Footy star reveals the incredibly strict lifestyle changes that have left him in better shape now than when he was playing

Daily Mail​

time42 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Footy star reveals the incredibly strict lifestyle changes that have left him in better shape now than when he was playing

Footy star Thomas Baulch, who is also the CEO of fitness company Prime Train, has opened up on the lifestyle changes he has made which have helped him improve his health, wellbeing and foster new friendships. Baulch is well known among footy circles for his Instagram account where he helps others get in the shape of their life. The fitness trainer, who has over 45,000 followers on his personal Instagram account, is also a well-established footballer, having played in the WAFL for East Perth, NEAFL and the VFL for Aspley and Port Melbourne. The footy player, who is often dubbed 'PrimeTrain' himself, regularly publishes clips of himself playing footy on social media, battling with opponents while kicking goals. As part of his fitness business, Baulch, a midfielder, has also had clients including Brownlow Medallists Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell. In recent weeks, the 21-year-old appears to have been enjoying a getaway in Bali with several friends. The Queenslander, who was born in Gladstone, shared a picture of himself enjoying a meal with two friends and fellow fitness coaches, Keenan Chapman and Ned Wagner. The trio grinned at the camera as they prepared to tuck into a delicious looking meal, while Baulch captioned the post: 'Final supper with the crew in Bali for a while. 'I've been on a journey this year... at the start of the year, I said to myself it was time to lock in. 'It was lonely for a while...' At the start of January, he also shared two pictures of his own body transformation, showcasing his shredded physique on his company's Instagram account, which also has 169,000 followers. And on Tuesday, he revealed the huge lifestyle changes he had made that have seen him improve his physical and mental wellbeing. 'No alcohol, no caffeine, no nicotine, no hookups, wake up at 5am every day, gym every day, no vaping, no processed food, no substances,' he said. 'I would rather sit with a few who get the real me than stand in a crowd that never did. 'Small circles win.' In March, it was announced that 'Prime Train' was now set to join up with Division Three club, The Basin in the Eastern League, with the footy star going on to make his debut for the club in May. 'Thomas is a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can do for you, and is a great role model for the younger generation coming through, with his educational social media videos providing constant and relevant information to those that follow him,' the Basin spokesperson said on Baulch. 'Admired by so many people already within our community, we couldn't resist the opportunity for Prime Train to don the red and green, and cannot wait for the opportunity for him to run out on May the 10th vs. Scoresby and show The Basin what a star he is.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store