Nathalie den Dekker
A story of balance,
courage, and achieving dreams
From the fashion runway to
the courtroom, Nathalie den Dekker has proven that anything is possible. How
did one of the most famous models become a successful lawyer and a dedicated
mother? Her story is an inspiration to all those who want more out of life and
proof that challenges are just stepping stones to success.
Head scarf - Vince Camuto
Bikini top and Skirt - Sigal
Balancing Act:
How do you manage to balance such a multifaceted life-being a model, a lawyer,
and a mother?
Not!
Any tips are welcome! I won't pretend it's easy to find balance in my busy
life. It's not easy to combine a career as a criminal lawyer with a family in
the first place, let alone combine it with a career as a model. The struggle is
real. It's a constant learning process. I still have a lot to learn. For
example, I know I have to learn how to delegate. I'm a perfectionist, so I love
to do everything myself as much as I can; be a good mother, be a good lawyer,
be a good model. However, in life you have to make choices. No one can do it
all at the same time. I'm here for the adventure. I'm open to learn and open to
learn from my mistakes. That's how we all grow.
Dress and bracelette - KU:L
Career
Transition: What inspired your journey from being crowned Miss Netherlands to
pursuing a career as a criminal lawyer?
I
actually just graduated law school with a GPA of 4.0 when I was crowned Miss
Netherlands. Being Miss Netherlands, travelling the world and modelling was a
nice
'break'
but I always aspired becoming a lawyer. I wanted to make a real difference in
people's lives.
Also,
as much as I loved modeling and travelling the world, all the travelling
without my friends and family there also made me feel very lonely sometimes.
Even though I tried to share all my experiences, my loved ones weren't there to
actually experience all those things with me. My work as a criminal lawyer has
given me and my little family a stable base to rely on. The combination with
modelling jobs has brought my life into a nice balance.
Dress - PatBO
Motherhood:
How has motherhood shaped your perspective on your work
Motherhood
has been such a challenging but also magical experience. It's a whole new kind
of love that you get tot experience. Returning to work came with a lot of 'mom
guilt' at first. Having a baby forces you to reevaluate what's valuable to you
as a person. You set different priorities.
Defining Moments: Was there a
particular moment or achievement in your career that you feel defined who you
are today?
Although
I have a lot of beautiful moments that have defined me as a person, I think
it's important not to forget where you come from. I personally grew up on a
mushroom farm in a small town in the south of the Netherlands. Modelling gave
me the opportunity to travel the world and meet new people from all different
countries and cultures. It expanded my horizon and changed me as a person. I'm
very thankful for that. I think this all made me very mindful.
Breaking
Stereotypes: You excel in two fields often seen as worlds apart—fashion and
law. How do you challenge stereotypes in these industries?
Of course, I faced a lot of prejudices especially from collages in the
business. I felt like I had to work twice as hard to prove that I could be a
beautiful woman and be a good lawyer both at the same time. However, I am not
afraid of a challenge and more than happy to show to the world that there is so
much more to someone than meets the eye.
Or
as the saying goes: "don't judge a book by its cover".
Daily Routine:
What does a typical day in your life look like? I
don't really have typical days! Which makes my life so adventurous. Some days I
have to go to court, the police station or visit one of my clients in jail.
Other days I can enjoy an 'off-day' with my kids, friends or family and other
days I need to travel or have a photo shoot.
Inspirations:
Who or what inspires you to keep pushing boundaries in both your professional
and personal life? They
say life happens outside of your comfort zone. If you're not happy with your
life and if you want change, you have to take risks sometimes. I don't believe
in failure.
You
will always learn a lesson and grow from the experience. It will make you
stronger and better.
Lessons Learned:
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned from working in such diverse
fields? It's
important in life to know what you want or don't want to do, but I think we are
always changing and developing and evolving in life. Therefore I don't know if
someone can ever completely know themselves. Your goals in life can change.
Circumstances change all the time. You experience new things in life every
single day and you learn from that.
I
do think an important way to get to know yourself is self-reflection, so I do
try to reflect on what I have accomplished and I am thankful for that. I also
tend to look forward and dream about the things I still want to do or achieve.
Earrings - Rush Style
Future Goals:
What are your aspirations moving forward—personally and professionally? I
think like a lot of people my goals include a better work-family balance. Also
create a passive income and do more of the things that genuinely make me happy.
Surround myself with positivity.
Advice to Women: What advice would
you give to women striving to balance their careers, passions, and family life?
Strive
for balance, but don't beat yourself up about it! Aiming for an
Instagram-worthy balanced life is unrealistic. In the pursuit of balance, it is
important to embrace flexibility. Life is unpredictable. Prioritize, set
boundaries, and say no when you need to.
Listen
to your gut and (try to) engage in activities that actually bring you joy!
Top and Skirt - Sigal
Earrings - Linny Co
Dress - Bronx and Banco
Dress - Manuel Tiscareno
Dress - Jarad Gibson Gonzalez, Stylist