Erika Palkovičová, who has become our new #HBlover and VIP contributor, hails from Slovakia. While studying at a business academy, she found herself at a Schwarzkopf Elite Model Look casting by chance, and her life changed from the ground up. After graduating, she started pursuing modeling full-time and has spent most of her career between New York and Paris. It seems like a dream come true - and there's no "but" either!

She has worked for brands and magazines she could never have dreamed of working for before - Chanel Beauty, La Roche-Posay, Garnier, Olay, Sephora, Vogue Accessory, L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and many more.

She says that modeling and working with creative people have taught her a lot. Most of her work has been with beauty brands, and it is here, with the world's best makeup artists, that she has learned great beauty tricks, acquired her distinctive fashion style, and figured out how to balance a busy schedule with a healthy lifestyle. She has been practicing yoga for many years, which helps her in stressful situations, and a few years ago, she started boxing - this sport has become an integral part of her life.

In addition to traveling for work, she also travels in her spare time. She has fallen in love with distant countries and cultures. However, just sunbathing on the beach and doing nothing does nothing for her. She passes the time in airports and long flights by reading. She loves stories, both fictional and real. She finds a lot of inspiration in every little thing.

What little things are you currently drawing the most inspiration from? When I travel, I read books on flights, and I don't know what it is, but I always get the most ideas once I'm in the clouds, and I write a lot. Otherwise, I find inspiration really anywhere - in the morning at my favorite cafe watching the idyll, listening to old songs. I love a certain amount of nostalgia. On rainy days, I always buy a ticket to a museum or gallery. I'm really lucky to be around people who are passionate about something, and there's nothing more inspiring than seeing someone doing things with passion.

You seem to have gotten into modeling more or less by accident. Who would you be today if it weren't for that fateful casting call? I started with the Schwarzkopf Elite Model Look. I went to business school, but only because I got good grades. In retrospect, I think it's very early in life, at 14, to decide what you really want to be. It was a choice made by reason and maybe the influence of my surroundings. Everyone who did well at school went to either grammar school or business school. But I don't think that was the direction I would have taken. I was always more interested in art. Any kind of art. And I was also very much into ecology. In elementary school, our class won the global competition for the best ecology project for Slovakia, and as a ten-year-old, I flew to Canada with three other classmates to present it at the Children's Ecology Summit.

You have traveled the world through your work; where would you like to return to and why? As far as work goes, I always knew I wanted to live in New York, and it's my favorite city so far. But it's such a love-hate relationship. I miss it when I'm not there, and conversely, sometimes when I stay longer, I can't wait to take a break and have a change of scenery. It's a heart thing for me. I don't want to be one of those people who says "New York or nowhere," but I know that describes me. I know it's not a city for everyone, but that's what I love about it. It tests my limits and constantly inspires me.

And what is your dream destination that you would like to visit? Well, there are a lot of them. But the first one that came to mind when I asked this question is Patagonia. However, all of South America has been on my "wishlist" for a long time, which is why I flew to Rio for my birthday last year.

What's the best advice you've ever received in the industry? Never compare yourself to others. Which is probably the hardest thing to do, especially when it comes to modeling. When I first started, it was quite rare to see a small model on the runway. And when you did, it was a top model. I really struggled with that with myself. I felt like I didn't belong in that world. If I hadn't had a team of people around me who saw potential in me, I probably would have quit at the beginning. Today, thirteen years later, I can safely say that I am extremely happy with my career.

And which was the worst? Getting my hair dyed for a campaign in New York. (Laughs) It was just a lighter blonde, but I still felt very uncomfortable until my hair grew out and I got a haircut.

What have you learned over the years in the fashion and beauty industry? Not to follow trends. To create my own style, to dress and make up in a way that feels natural to me. Trends change, and I don't want that to affect my authenticity. I'm not saying I won't buy things from the new collection. But most of the time, they're still timeless pieces that I'll still use 10 years from now. And when it comes to originality, I love vintage stores.

And what would you like to learn in the future? How to relax and stress less. Even though I've been in the business for 13 years, whenever something unplanned happens (usually about 10 times a week), I panic, at least for a while. (Laughs)

What will your articles on the Harper's Bazaar website be about? For Harper's Bazaar, I'll be writing mostly about all the tips, tricks, and advice I've learned throughout my modeling career. I plan on featuring interviews with our top designers, hairstylists, makeup artists, and general artists I've had the pleasure of working with. You can also look forward to videos about anything that inspires me, whether it's art, architecture, or travel.