Turkish Delight!
In this CairoScene exclusive, we talk success, sexiness and really good hair with Turkish delight Tuba Büyüküstün...
So, let’s start at the beginning, who and what were you before you became famous?
I was born in Istanbul, in Turkey. Surprisingly, I didn’t want to become an actress – I graduated from Dogus Science High School then went on to study costume design and set decoration at Mimar Sinan University. While I was a student I did a little bit of acting in commercials, which is how I met producer and director Tomris Giritlioglu. He tried a few times to get me to take part in his projects, but I declined. Eventually, he won me over though, and the rest, as they say, is history.
If I hadn’t been an actress, I’m not sure what I would be doing now, because as I was growing up I wanted to be something different every week. I might have been a doctor, an engineer, who knows? So acting is really something that found me, rather than something I purposefully set out to achieve. One thing led to another, and now I’m very happy with my career choice. I’m very content with my role in life at the moment, though – being a mother, a wife and an actress suits me well.
What’s the best thing about being a celebrity?
Being able to make a difference. Having a voice that has the ability to be heard gives me a unique advantage; I am able to help in places that I might not have been able to reach, otherwise. The generosity of my fans recently allowed me to do something wonderful recently; before my babies were born, I received so many beautiful gifts for them from fans – two rooms of my house were full of presents! There were so many that I donated the extra baby clothes to help the victims of the earthquake that devastated the Van area in Turkey in October last year. I hope I was able to make a difference to the lives of some of the stricken families there, and I would like to thank my fans for their incredible generosity.
Is it true that being a celebrity is very glamorous? Does fame mean you’re never, ever miserable?
It’s not as glamorous as you might think! Being a celebrity normally means a lot of early mornings, late nights and hard work. When I’m working on a project I have to be on set hours before we start to shoot, so that I can have my make-up, hair and wardrobe perfected before I step in front of the camera, and sometimes we just have to keep on repeating the same scene over and over until we’ve got it right. It can be tedious, tiring, and far from glamorous… the only side of the life that most people get to see is the beautiful events that celebrities are invited to. Those are definitely perks, but not every day is like that!
As a high-profile working mum, do you feel pressure to be a role model for women in the region?
Every woman. everywhere in the world. is the same. We might have been raised to do or believe different things, but take away the outer layers and we’re all beautiful people looking to be loved, appreciated, and to be accepted for who we are. I’m no different; I want to be a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend.
How has motherhood changed you?
As a mother, I feel I am giving back even more to the world than ever before. My babies are beautiful. Of course, having twins means that my world has been turned upside down and there is little time for anything else, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. My husband and I gave our daughters nature-inspired names to remind them that they should admire the beauty of the world; ‘Maya’ is the name of the Greek goddess of the earth, spring and fertility, and ‘Toprak’ means the earth and the soil. We planted a forest in their honour when they were born, because we want to teach them about caring for the earth. The planet is the very core of our existence as human beings, and it is important that they learn to love, respect, and care for it, for themselves, their children and the generations to come.
So, despite having twins and working full-time, you look awesome! What does your beauty routine consist of?
It’s my belief that beauty is a very wholesome thing. How you look on the outside is not enough – you have to care for your spirit and your inner being in order to be truly beautiful. I do what all women do to look good by using face creams, make-up, going for spa treatments, and so on, but I believe that my true beauty comes from within. It’s what’s inside me that matters most, and so my ‘routine’ consists as much of things that will make me beautiful from within as anything else. Eating healthy, doing yoga, spending time with my children, reading a good book – these are the things that satisfy my spirit, and that glow from within is something that money can’t buy.
And how long have you been the Pantene Pro-V brand ambassador?
I made my commitment to healthy hair when I became Pantene brand ambassador for the Middle East in July 2010.
And what does being a Pantene Pro-V brand ambassador entail?
As the face of the Pantene brand, it is up to me to represent Pantene, and to demonstrate that it’s a brand that acts versus simply talking. It is a brand that I’m very familiar with – I’ve used Pantene for years to keep my hair healthy, so I feel I am a knowledgeable example of how good Pantene is for repairing and preventing damaged hair. I’m very proud to have been chosen. It’s a product that I’ve used for years, so I am very familiar with its hair benefits and reparative nature. The new, best ever Pantene formula is an exciting breakthrough for hair care and it’s a pleasure and an honour to be part of spreading the word. Pantene represents what I believe in life – that long-lasting health should be encouraged and nurtured from the core. Of course, I love that it gives me hair that’s 10 times stronger and so healthy that it shines!
You’ll have to bear with us, because we really want to ask you even more questions, just about Pantene for no other reason than we really love it. How do you incorporate Pantene into your hair health ritual?
Very simply, I exchanged my old hair products for the Pantene range. I use Pantene shampoo and conditioner when I shower, and use the Oil Replacement from the collection to boost my hair’s health on a regular basis.
And who would you recommend Pantene to?
Anyone who wants a hair care product that will actually live up to its promise, and who wants hair so healthy it shines. Pantene sets a bright example of pursuing long lasting health. If you want a new healthy beginning, why not start it with Pantene? All you have to do is remember Pantene to forget hair damage.
If you had to choose, which would be your favourite Pantene product, and why?
My favourite is the Oil Replacement Treatment, because it is such an essential part of my hair care routine. I love it because it’s easy to use, and nourishes my hair to the core to leave it silky, manageable, healthy and beautiful.
And last, but CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, what is your favourite aspect of using Pantene?
Everything! From the promise that is actually kept to the scent – I love it. The dedication to the science that went into the development of new Pantene is obvious, and it makes me feel good to know that experts have poured so much hair care knowledge into three incredible products, to make my hair – and everyone else’s! – beautiful and shiny. Long-lasting hair health is incredibly easy to achieve with.
Keep up-to-date with Tuba’s look and everything else you need to know about healthy hair on Pantene Arabia’s Facebook page here and follow @PanteneArabia.
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