Five Minutes with Fella;
Penelope Benson
Penelope Benson is an Australian international model currently based in Sydney, Australia.
With a career spanning over a decade, Penelope has been fortunate enough to experience incredible success in editorial, advertising, runway and television across Europe, Asia, the United States as well as here on home soil. We spoke to Penelope to learn a little more about her life behind the scenes.
Imagery by Karolina Kaczynska @karolakaczynska
Where are you based? Where are you from?
How much time do we have? In a nutshell, I was born and bred in Sydney and I moved back here in May after ten years away.. living between London and New York to Byron Bay.
What does the notion of ‘home’ mean to you?
The place I feel most connected to. I'm still working that out but I've got it down to one of two.
Where in the world is your favourite spot to swim?
(I will swim anywhere but) without further ado: Emblisi, Kefalonia, Hellas baby.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
My brother and sister both married Italians and now live there with their families, and who I haven't seen since all the COVID hoo-ha. So I'd absolutely go straight there.
To me, Summer feels like . . .
I just got back from a week in Byron and it was definitely more summer there than here ... it naturally reminded me that summer is (obviously) so nice and warm with fewer worries, a lot less clothes and not really worrying about what those clothes are.
We have all been spending more time at home than ever. Have you perfected any recipes of late, and if so, would you please share your favourite with us?
Salads. And anyone who follows me is probably so over seeing them on my IG story. I guess I eat a lot of them because they're easy but I've had so much fun playing with my food and making it beautiful. For me it's all about colour and simplicity. Sometimes they can get eccentric but I mostly just like to work with a couple of ingredients, a leaf and a protein, and then it's all in the toss, a little vinaigrette and finely sliced shallots, always.
How did you find yourself working in your industry?
I was always told I should model and so I gave it a shot. That was 15 years ago now and it hasn't been an easy ride but I really do feel this job is a gift and is the most wonderful work if you can get it.
CURRENT BOOK, PODCAST OR PLAYLIST?
Think & Grow Rich by Napolean Hill; I've also currently been deep-diving on all things and podcasts Bob Proctor at Desiree Pais of Benshen Course' suggestion; and the Binaural Beats for Sleep playlist on Spotify. Lol.
Where do you find inspiration?
God, everywhere.. I guess I express myself mostly through my writing and more recently i've been "inspired" from a painful heartbreak earlier this year. But then again I am inspired by all kinds of things.. other people, how they live, speak, dress.. their creativity.. conversations.. Sometimes when I'm not being so hard on myself I like to think I even inspire myself.
Favourite local spot?
I still feel in the middle of two places, so I will say where I live currently in Sydney, on Beare Park, is pretty cool. It feels special to be able to jump in the harbour and dry off in the sun, and it's all right outside my house. Then I will say High Life in Byron, it's a nice place to dry off with a coffee too.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Unsure of advice but here is a quote I heard recently that I can't stop thinking about.. "If it flashes before your eyes, it's not too good to be true - it's your true destination." — Florence Scovel Shinn.
WE NAME ALL OF OUR SWIMSUITS UNDER MALE / UNISEX BIRTH NAMES OR FAMOUS MALE CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IF YOU HAD IT YOUR WAY, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME YOUR NEXT FELLA SWIMSUIT?
Like the good Greek girl that I am, I love the name Dion.