Stella Maxwell on magnesium supplements, rituals and the chaos of fashion

There’s a magnesium spray that model Stella Maxwell swears by. Not the oral kind. “You spray it on the bottom of your feet,” she says, with the conviction of someone who’s tried everything and found what works. “It really, shockingly, works.” She was sceptical at first. “But then I just suddenly felt so relaxed. It’s crazy.”

When you’ve lived most of your adult life in and out of planes, airports and high-pressure sets, ‘calm’ is a necessity turned luxury. “Travelling so much, I’m really aware of my health,” she says. “I want to have good energy on set and feel well.” For Maxwell, that means yoga sessions in hotel rooms, hot water with lemon on long-haul flights and magnesium—taken as drops in water or sprayed on feet—before bed.

There’s nothing prescriptive about her wellness routine. “I’ve kind of figured out my own tricks over the years,” she says. “You can do yoga anywhere. You don’t need weights.” The priority is to counter the jet lag and disruption and to stay grounded.

“Every shoot is different,” she says. “It’s all about characters and self-expression.” She adjusts her energy to match the story being told. Sometimes that means music. Rihanna to perk up in the morning. Classical music to calm her nerves before a show. “I try to get in sync with the energy they want,” she says. “And sometimes that means zoning out with headphones and just relaxing.”

Maxwell is thoughtful when asked about how the industry is changing. She answers slowly with clarity, “There’s been an incredible shift within fashion,” she says. “It’s become so much more diverse, more inclusive. I’m really proud of where it’s going.” Her role, she feels, is to be a kind of bridge. “These awards”—she’s referring to the Hummingbird Fashion Award, for which she serves as a global ambassador—“are about building community, getting together and appreciating each other’s differences. That’s what’s important.”

When asked what she’s unlearned, she talks about growing up and the pressure to fit in. “I really tried to fit in,” she says. “Now, I try to be more authentic and stay true to myself.” That, she believes, is what makes someone visible. Not the clothes, not the hair. “Authenticity—that’s what creates long-lasting connections.”