INTERVIEW
Surrey’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine
Model, mogul and mother
Caprice Bourret first came to these shores from Los Angeles 20 years ago and quickly became a successful model, a face everyone knew. She’s an established businesswoman and this year marks the tenth anniversary of By Caprice Products. There have been the inevitable ups and downs along the way, but Caprice is now a role model for women and a motivational speaker. Andrew Peters asked her about the journey and her newest venture, By Caprice Home.
Q Caprice, what was the reason you came to England 20 years ago?
A I was advised to head to Europe to further my modelling career. England appealed as everyone spoke English.
Q What do you regard as being your first big break?
A My red carpet moment at the National TV Awards. The next day my profile skyrocketed and I was on the front page of every newspaper. That was definitely a major turning point.
Q Did you expect to become one of the most photographed women in the world?
A I have always been ambitious. My mom is an entrepreneur and that mindset was instilled in me from a young age. When I was four I wanted to be the governor of California… I have always treated my career as a business. I never knew I would be featured on over 300 magazine covers worldwide. I am honoured and blessed.
A I was advised to head to Europe to further my modelling career. England appealed as everyone spoke English.
Q What do you regard as being your first big break?
A My red carpet moment at the National TV Awards. The next day my profile skyrocketed and I was on the front page of every newspaper. That was definitely a major turning point.
Q Did you expect to become one of the most photographed women in the world?
A I have always been ambitious. My mom is an entrepreneur and that mindset was instilled in me from a young age. When I was four I wanted to be the governor of California… I have always treated my career as a business. I never knew I would be featured on over 300 magazine covers worldwide. I am honoured and blessed.
Profile: Caprice Bourret
Caprice Bourret came to England from southern California and quickly became one of the most photographed women in the world. Having appeared on 300 magazine covers across the globe and over 150 television shows and films, she was voted GQ Magazine’s Woman of the Year and Maxim’s International Woman of the Year for three years running. Caprice received rave reviews in London’s West End playing the lead role in The Vagina Monologues and the musical Rent. She later bought the rights to the hit production, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, in which she starred and also produced.In 2006, Caprice started By Caprice Lingerie, which she fully finances, designs, models and markets. She started the company in hope of creating a brand and company she could pass on to her family and by most importantly doing what she loves to do best: making gorgeous, comfortable garments for her customers so they feel beautiful, sexy and feminine.
The By Caprice product range has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2006, with CEO Caprice building up the business entirely on her own. Autumn 2015 saw the launch of By Caprice Home.
Caprice uses her own success and life experiences to empower and inspire through motivational talks she gives to college students, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
An avid philanthropist, she has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and is patron to Woman’s Trust. Caprice and her partner Ty Comfort reside in London with their two children, Jett and Jax.
Q You’ve been successful in many disciplines. Do you have a fear of failure and if so does that drive you?
A I believe that you learn from your mistakes, especially in business, so failure is OK; if your first idea doesn’t work, be smart enough to walk away and start again. I remember when I launched hair straighteners it was such a competitive market and the straighteners themselves could not compete against GHD and other celebrity-endorsed straighteners. I gave it two seasons, sales weren’t healthy, and I swallowed my losses and moved on.
Q Being a successful model, why did you choose to start your own business?
A I started the company in the hope of creating a brand and company I could pass onto my family. It was also important to have longevity in a career that was not reliant on my looks. I was in my 30s and had to think of plan B whilst I was at the top of my game in the modelling world. Lingerie worked well and I used modelling as a platform to turn myself into a businesswoman.
Q Where does your business acumen and focus come from?
A As I mentioned I am the daughter of an entrepreneur – my mom has her own successful interior design business in LA and she always taught me to strive for independence, to take risks and have control over my money and destiny. I am thankful for this upbringing as it ultimately got me where I am today.
Q You financed your own business: do you think this removed a large obstacle on the way to success?
A Well I carried and still carry all of the risk, so that has its advantages and disadvantages. I am the decision maker and as a business By Caprice can be agile and adapt easily. However, equity partners can provide a business with more resources and expertise.
Q Your success is evident in the By Caprice brand. What is the idea behind By Caprice Home?
A By Caprice Home was the natural step forward for the brand, launched last autumn. We have been overwhelmed with the positive response and are thankful for the support from our stockists House of Fraser, Very.co.uk and LookAgain.co.uk. We are now branching out internationally and adding additional home products to cater for growing demand.
A I believe that you learn from your mistakes, especially in business, so failure is OK; if your first idea doesn’t work, be smart enough to walk away and start again. I remember when I launched hair straighteners it was such a competitive market and the straighteners themselves could not compete against GHD and other celebrity-endorsed straighteners. I gave it two seasons, sales weren’t healthy, and I swallowed my losses and moved on.
Q Being a successful model, why did you choose to start your own business?
A I started the company in the hope of creating a brand and company I could pass onto my family. It was also important to have longevity in a career that was not reliant on my looks. I was in my 30s and had to think of plan B whilst I was at the top of my game in the modelling world. Lingerie worked well and I used modelling as a platform to turn myself into a businesswoman.
Q Where does your business acumen and focus come from?
A As I mentioned I am the daughter of an entrepreneur – my mom has her own successful interior design business in LA and she always taught me to strive for independence, to take risks and have control over my money and destiny. I am thankful for this upbringing as it ultimately got me where I am today.
Q You financed your own business: do you think this removed a large obstacle on the way to success?
A Well I carried and still carry all of the risk, so that has its advantages and disadvantages. I am the decision maker and as a business By Caprice can be agile and adapt easily. However, equity partners can provide a business with more resources and expertise.
Q Your success is evident in the By Caprice brand. What is the idea behind By Caprice Home?
A By Caprice Home was the natural step forward for the brand, launched last autumn. We have been overwhelmed with the positive response and are thankful for the support from our stockists House of Fraser, Very.co.uk and LookAgain.co.uk. We are now branching out internationally and adding additional home products to cater for growing demand.
Q You’re a motivational business speaker; do you do this to help promote women having an equal place in business?
A Absolutely. It is still a man’s world and I love to inspire and meet likeminded women in business.
Q Are you happy to see yourself as a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs?
A It is an honour. I love hearing other people’s success stories and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Q Will you ever return to live in LA? What do you miss most?
A It has to be the amazing weather. I regularly visit LA, but I have lived in London for nearly 20 years now. England is my home.
Q As a philanthropist for a number of organisations, with which do you have most empathy?
A I am a proud patron of Woman’s Trust, a charity which does such amazing work for victims of domestic violence. I have seen the difference made to the lives of these inspiring ladies and their children. I have been a sponsor of the charity for five years and am so thankful I am able to make a difference.
Q You have a very full life, so how do you relax in this competitive world?
A When you have children, trust me, life is busy! I try and start the day with meditation. It helps me focus and stay relaxed.
Q What legacy would you like to leave your children and what would be your best advice to them?
A I would like them to develop great business acumen, without compromising integrity or passion, and also to be kind and charitable. Happiness derives from appreciating all the good one has in life and not focus on the bad. I believe people can create whatever they want in their lives, despite their various backgrounds. Only you can make it happen, and sometimes it takes a lot of hard work and patience.
A Absolutely. It is still a man’s world and I love to inspire and meet likeminded women in business.
Q Are you happy to see yourself as a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs?
A It is an honour. I love hearing other people’s success stories and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Q Will you ever return to live in LA? What do you miss most?
A It has to be the amazing weather. I regularly visit LA, but I have lived in London for nearly 20 years now. England is my home.
Q As a philanthropist for a number of organisations, with which do you have most empathy?
A I am a proud patron of Woman’s Trust, a charity which does such amazing work for victims of domestic violence. I have seen the difference made to the lives of these inspiring ladies and their children. I have been a sponsor of the charity for five years and am so thankful I am able to make a difference.
Q You have a very full life, so how do you relax in this competitive world?
A When you have children, trust me, life is busy! I try and start the day with meditation. It helps me focus and stay relaxed.
Q What legacy would you like to leave your children and what would be your best advice to them?
A I would like them to develop great business acumen, without compromising integrity or passion, and also to be kind and charitable. Happiness derives from appreciating all the good one has in life and not focus on the bad. I believe people can create whatever they want in their lives, despite their various backgrounds. Only you can make it happen, and sometimes it takes a lot of hard work and patience.