Gundis Zámbó is known to readers from German-speaking countries first and foremost for of the book she has written and, more immediately, as a contestant in
‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’. Shortly before the final, the good fairy of the jungle was voted out of the camp. Even though RTL viewers voted for someone else as jungle queen, we have to say that Gundis would have been a worthy monarch, a gracious ruler of the jungle. After all she was easily the most normal of the contestants, the most honest and the most helpful – a view shared by one of Germany’s biggest-selling daily newspapers.
Before she went into the Australian outback, IBIZA & FORMENTERA STYLE met up with the charming television presenter at an idyllic location in ‘Arenal d’Or’ in the north-east of Ibiza near Aguas Blancas where she regularly spends her summer holidays.
Gundis grew up in Northern Germany and now has her main residence in Munich after living in Los Angeles for a while where she attended acting school. She started out as the presenter on the popular children’s television show ‘Bim-Bam-Bino’ before creating her own show, ‘Style Lounge’, which is aired regionally in nearly all of Germany’s major cities. It is important to her that ‘Style Lounge’ is not about dictating to people how to look beautiful but showing them what good points they already have. She tries to bring out the real person and their individuality, as many people make the mistake of chasing an image that isn’t really them. This affects their emotional state and consequently the way they are perceived by others. So Gundis tries to rebalance her guests’ inner harmony, to increase their self-confidence and to help them find their own personality, by finding the style that is right for them.
She is very active at FC Bayern Munich doing PR work for the women’s football team – her daughter plays in the youth team. “Women’s football needs to be promoted and publicised much more and, most of all, these sportswomen need to reveal their femininity more. The time of ardent feminists in women’s football is over,” Gundis remarks. In one of her ‘Style Lounge’ programmes, she does a makeover of Christina Eder, the famous footballer, showing her first of all in her team kit during training and then afterwards with beautifully styled hair and dressed to suit her personality.
Appearance plays an important role in Gundis’ life. In her best-selling book mentioned above, she describes how she suffered from an eating disorder, how she fought it and overcame it: “My personal history led me to spend a lot of time thinking about my appearance and to realise what a person needs to make them completely happy. My ultimate aim was to integrate all aspects of my own life, and my job is also part of that.”
She can envisage doing a workshop about this subject in Ibiza soon – details will be published in good time on her website at www.gundiszambo.de: “There is a quite specific reason why I particularly want to do one in Ibiza. Ibiza is a magical island, an enchanted place. It focuses people’s minds, brings reality to the surface – somehow, here you can discover your own truth and find your way back to a really healthy you. That is the prerequisite for overcoming eating disorders too. And this magic island also offers many life situations that sufferers need to rediscover: from shopping and styling to naked bathing and being one with wind, water and nature. So many things that are important if you are to make a new start.”
Gundis has not merely overcome her eating disorder – today she enjoys both cooking and eating. She tell us with great gusto: “I love cooking with simply, basic ingredients. I particularly enjoy being in the kitchen of my apartment here in Ibiza, and making a sauce from a few fresh Island herbs, onions, sobresada – Ibicenco sausage – a couple of finely chopped tomatoes and of course masses of garlic and frying it all in olive oil in a frying pan. Throw in some pasta, salt and pepper and it’s ready.” She goes into raptures, “What tastes really good, too, is my avocado sauce. Olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, hot mustard and fig jam. Beat it all together until you have a thick vinaigrette and pour into the hollow of half an avocado and eat – it’s simply delicious!”
Before she leaves, we ask Gundis for her style tips for a holiday in Ibiza. “The right luggage for Ibiza is: a pair of mules or flip-flops, three or four sarongs, a hippy dress and necklaces plus a healthy lust for life. That’s it – that’s all a woman needs.”
‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’. Shortly before the final, the good fairy of the jungle was voted out of the camp. Even though RTL viewers voted for someone else as jungle queen, we have to say that Gundis would have been a worthy monarch, a gracious ruler of the jungle. After all she was easily the most normal of the contestants, the most honest and the most helpful – a view shared by one of Germany’s biggest-selling daily newspapers.
Before she went into the Australian outback, IBIZA & FORMENTERA STYLE met up with the charming television presenter at an idyllic location in ‘Arenal d’Or’ in the north-east of Ibiza near Aguas Blancas where she regularly spends her summer holidays.
Gundis grew up in Northern Germany and now has her main residence in Munich after living in Los Angeles for a while where she attended acting school. She started out as the presenter on the popular children’s television show ‘Bim-Bam-Bino’ before creating her own show, ‘Style Lounge’, which is aired regionally in nearly all of Germany’s major cities. It is important to her that ‘Style Lounge’ is not about dictating to people how to look beautiful but showing them what good points they already have. She tries to bring out the real person and their individuality, as many people make the mistake of chasing an image that isn’t really them. This affects their emotional state and consequently the way they are perceived by others. So Gundis tries to rebalance her guests’ inner harmony, to increase their self-confidence and to help them find their own personality, by finding the style that is right for them.
She is very active at FC Bayern Munich doing PR work for the women’s football team – her daughter plays in the youth team. “Women’s football needs to be promoted and publicised much more and, most of all, these sportswomen need to reveal their femininity more. The time of ardent feminists in women’s football is over,” Gundis remarks. In one of her ‘Style Lounge’ programmes, she does a makeover of Christina Eder, the famous footballer, showing her first of all in her team kit during training and then afterwards with beautifully styled hair and dressed to suit her personality.
Appearance plays an important role in Gundis’ life. In her best-selling book mentioned above, she describes how she suffered from an eating disorder, how she fought it and overcame it: “My personal history led me to spend a lot of time thinking about my appearance and to realise what a person needs to make them completely happy. My ultimate aim was to integrate all aspects of my own life, and my job is also part of that.”
She can envisage doing a workshop about this subject in Ibiza soon – details will be published in good time on her website at www.gundiszambo.de: “There is a quite specific reason why I particularly want to do one in Ibiza. Ibiza is a magical island, an enchanted place. It focuses people’s minds, brings reality to the surface – somehow, here you can discover your own truth and find your way back to a really healthy you. That is the prerequisite for overcoming eating disorders too. And this magic island also offers many life situations that sufferers need to rediscover: from shopping and styling to naked bathing and being one with wind, water and nature. So many things that are important if you are to make a new start.”
Gundis has not merely overcome her eating disorder – today she enjoys both cooking and eating. She tell us with great gusto: “I love cooking with simply, basic ingredients. I particularly enjoy being in the kitchen of my apartment here in Ibiza, and making a sauce from a few fresh Island herbs, onions, sobresada – Ibicenco sausage – a couple of finely chopped tomatoes and of course masses of garlic and frying it all in olive oil in a frying pan. Throw in some pasta, salt and pepper and it’s ready.” She goes into raptures, “What tastes really good, too, is my avocado sauce. Olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, hot mustard and fig jam. Beat it all together until you have a thick vinaigrette and pour into the hollow of half an avocado and eat – it’s simply delicious!”
Before she leaves, we ask Gundis for her style tips for a holiday in Ibiza. “The right luggage for Ibiza is: a pair of mules or flip-flops, three or four sarongs, a hippy dress and necklaces plus a healthy lust for life. That’s it – that’s all a woman needs.”
© 2012 PITIUSA MEDIA GROUP S.L.U.
