We’re on a rooftop terrace at Cannes’ glitziest hotel, with Hollywood royalty milling around in their fanciest frocks.
Gliding among them is Rochelle Humes, looking every inch the A-lister in a daringly sheer dress. This is just normal life for her these days, surely?
“It really isn’t! This is all very surreal for me,” Rochelle grins, admitting she “can’t play it cool” about making her red-carpet debut for L’Oréal Paris, the Cannes Film Festival’s official make-up sponsor for 25 years.
“I’m so excited, it must feel like someone’s brought their embarrassing mum to Cannes with them. If you take this for granted, you’ve lost it,” says the This Morning presenter.
It’s her down-to-earth attitude that makes Rochelle, 33, an ultra-relatable addition to the “I’m worth it” gang. We caught up with her for an exclusive interview to chat beauty, confidence and life with pop-star husband Marvin and their three children, Alaia-Mai, nine, Valentina, five, and one-year-old Blake.
You look so glam, Rochelle! Do your kids think you’re cool?
Alaia goes through phases. She says it’s embarrassing if the teachers say, “I saw your mum and dad on TV.” But the other day she told me her friend said in class, “Alaia’s mum is the most stylish because she wears Jordan trainers and cropped tops.”
Alaia thought that was cool! What she doesn’t realise is that no-one is more delighted by this story than Mummy. Being on a best-dressed list? Irrelevant. But a nine-year-old thinking I’m cool because of my trainers? I’ve made it!
Are you proud to champion diversity in beauty?
Diversity is at the core of everything I do.
I always say, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” It’s nice to partner with a brand like L’Oréal, who have as big a passion for that as I do. Growing up, it was hard not having the right shades. I remember buying a stick foundation because all my friends had one, and my mum saying, “This really isn’t the right colour for you.” But there was no other choice on the high street. Thankfully it looks a lot different now. That’s amazing for my kids.
Are your girls into beauty?
Yes! If they come to work with me, I’ll let them have a bit of lip balm while I’m in the make-up chair. At home they see me doing my skincare and they want a routine of their own. I’ll give them something really simple like some moisturiser, and say, “This is how we rub it in.” When I’m not at work, I try to lay off the make-up – I’m all about skincare.
So do you do the school run bare-faced?
I’ll wear a little bit of make-up, just so I feel vaguely human. Eyebrows done, always. L’Oréal Plump & Set Brow Artist is so good. It just keeps brows in place and fills them out without looking like you’ve attacked them.
What’s your ultimate beauty moment?
It would have to be my wedding day. When I look at those photos, I think I look really happy. And when you’re happy, you just glow.
You’re renewing your vows this year – will you revisit that beauty look?
My hair was lighter 10 years ago, and I’m going to stay darker this time. This is my natural colour, it’s what suits me best. But in terms of make-up, it will be very, very similar – just fresh and natural.
And still the same happy glow, obviously!
We hope so! Maybe a little bit more of a tired glow because I’ve got three kids now. It’s a different kind of happiness, isn’t it? [Laughs]
Any beauty fails over the years?
When we were in The Saturdays we wore a lot of make-up. I mean, it was done well, it was just full-on.
I was looking at band pictures with Alaia the other day and she said, “Mummy, you look older there than you do now.” Actually it was a fair point.
Do you think you look better now than back then?
I know what works for me now. So yes, I do think I do. You know what you’re doing.
Have you stepped up your skincare in your thirties?
Yes, for sure. I had a facial before I got on the plane, hoping I wouldn’t get a puffy face. I’m really into lymphatic drainage massage. I hold water in my face, especially in the mornings. Whenever I do This Morning, I always think, “I bet I’ve got a puffy face.”
What do you most like about being in your thirties?
I know myself, and I think there’s a lot to be said for that. It is empowering. I know what I like now and what I want to do
– and what I don’t. In my twenties I spent a lot of my time being a bit of a yes woman, worrying about pleasing everybody else. Now I’m in my thirties, I feel I can say no. I’m comfortable with that in a way I wasn’t before.
