Eva
“As a woman, I have both responsibilities and opportunities to contribute to other women’s development and success. I want women to have more power and opportunities to take their place in all contexts to influence developments in the world, such as climate/environment, peace and poverty.”
Eva is committed to increasing women's visibility. She utilises her own social media platform to show how enjoyable life can be at any age, and she encourages her followers to do the same. Eva works as a model, brand strategist, business coach, chairman of an art association, and art gallery director in addition to owning a company that supports 350 women. She’s also a grandmother to four. Eva, without a doubt, wears numerous hats. She takes advantage of every opportunity and never gives up on her goals. Eva is dedicated to empowering other women and envisions a society in which women hold greater positions of power and effect positive change. Eva is a fearless and hard-working trailblazer. This is her story.
Eva: In this picture I have a 42 year old outfit that I bought in 1979 for the eldest son Anton's baptism. Pants and tunic in off-white with with gold threads. Hat from a charity shop. Leather jacket from Jean-Claude Jitrois, is an auction find. Fiorentini + Baker boots.
P: Please introduce yourself!
E: I’m Eva, 69 years old and I live in Sweden. This spring I joined a modeling agency and in June 2021, I started my new Instagram account @eva_wikner where I profile myself as an influencer and model. I want to show how fun and wonderful life can be at my age and inspire other women to take a place and be seen more on social media. My major interests are art, design, fashion and jewelry - most of it second hand and auction finds.
Eva: Photo from this spring for the modeling agency.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
E: For most of my life, I've been an entrepreneur with my own company, an advertising agency with 12 employees. I've also run a art gallery in my spare time for many years.
Today I work as a brand strategist and business coach. I'm the chairman of an art association and together with two colleagues I started a business network four years ago, which today brings together 350 women.
Originally I come from a small village in northern Sweden, where I grew up under simple conditions. My parents' great interest was art, so it's something I got from them and enjoy a lot every day. Today I share my time between Stockholm and Dalarna, a beautiful region 200 km up north. I’m grateful that I can chose when I want to live close to nature or in the big city.
I am the proud mother of two grown up sons with families and the grandmother of four wonderful grandchildren. I’m married to Kjell since 1975.
Eva: In my vintage jacket from the Red Cross, a white shirt that is a few years old and a beautiful silk shawl that I bought at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
E: I am curious and open and like to try what is new. Others describe me as analytical, goal-oriented and wise. It makes me proud. I'm a loyal and a faithful friend who supports other women's development. I love to surround myself with what is beautiful and I like to create beauty with small and simple means. For example, I have all my life been interested in second hand, both in terms of interior design and fashion.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
E: When you are soon 70 years old, you have gone through many challenges. I would say that it's the collective experiences of life that have made me stronger and braver. The years give me perspectives that I enjoy and benefit from every day. I strive to be true both to myself and others. And to use my time for what I think is meaningful and gives me joy.
Eva: It's been 44 years since I first wore this outfit. I bought it at HM before the first opening in 1977 at the Gallery ECG in Borlänge. White, thin flannel that is well used. I still think it's really nice.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
E: Trust yourself, be who you are and fulfil your dreams. You are good enough!
Eva: The year was 1966, and now it's 55 years since I designed and my mother sewed this pink wool suit. Large strokes according to the latest fashion then and beautiful special oval black / white buttons. I never thought I would be able to put on this suit today, but it worked. The handbag was bought in 1964 when I went to Paris for the very first time. I inherited the hat from dad Kjell. I got the rhinestone brooch from my mother-in-law.
I wish I had dared to trust what I always knew about myself and what an astrologer said to me more than 30 years ago:
"For you, it is more natural to GO AGAINST the current than WITH the current".
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
E: As a woman, I have both responsibilities and opportunities to contribute to other women's development and success. I want women to have more power and opportunities to take their place in all contexts to influence developments in the world, such as climate/environment, peace and poverty.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
E: The older I get, the more I realize that my mother is the most important source of inspiration. She died four years ago and I miss her very much.
I would tell her that she is my role model and how much I appreciate everything she has taught me and that I love her very much. My beloved mother Astrid.