Small introduction/presentation, job or activity, place of birth orcountry of origin, training or career, place of living‍

My name is Mélanie Huynh. I amthe founder of Holidermie,a French beauty and wellness brand rooted in the belief that beauty should always be approached inside and out, in motion as something alive, holistic and in constant motion.‍

I was born in France and grew up between different cultural influences, Chinese and French, which deeply shaped my sensitivity to beauty,well-being and the art of living.

I originally come from the world of fashion and styling, and over time, I naturally moved toward a more holistic vision, one that connects skin, body, emotions, energy and lifestyle.

Today, I live in Paris, where I continue to grow Holidermie while creating experiences, rituals and conversations around beauty, health, travel and contemporary living. I am also the President of Château Toulouse-Lautrec, in the Bordeaux region, and I still work as a stylist, which remains a deeply important part of my creative identity.

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‍Tell us about your place of residence, city or region, activity and if or what you like about your hometown?‍

I live in Paris,  left bank close to the Eiffel tower, a citythat continues to inspire me every single day. What I love most about Paris is that it constantly nourishes the eye and the mind. There is beauty everywhere in architecture, in light, even in the rhythm of daily life. Paris is also where I built a large part of my professional life, first through fashion and now through Holidermie. It is a city of culture, refinement and creativity, but also of contradictions, which makes it very alive. What I love most is that it still allows room for intimacy. Even in a city so iconic, there are always hidden corners,quiet cafés, galleries, gardens and neighborhoods that feel deeply personal.

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Your must-see addresses near you? (restaurant,market, gallery, museum, not-to-be missed, intimate or secret address, etc.)‍

A few Paris addresses I truly love are Les Deux Abeilles,which has a timeless, almost hidden charm, and always feels like home, with homemade cakes. I’m also very attached to the Musée Guimet, a place that deeply resonates with me through its connection to Asian art, culture and spirituality. For books, I could spend hours at Galignani, it is one of those rare places that feels both elegant and intellectually nourishing. I also love Café Maison Fleuret, for its atmosphere like a book store, its beauty and thesense of intimacy it offers in the middle of Paris.

And for art, I am drawn to more confidential places such as Amélie Du Chalard, which I find particularly inspiring or Mennour gallery in Saint Germain. More generally, I love addresses that feel curated, soulful and quietly beautiful, places that leave an impression rather than simply being “seen.”

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Your favorite places on Earth?‍

A few places have left a deep imprint on me.‍

Paris, first of all, because it is home and a constant source of inspiration. It is where my personal and creative life have taken shape, and a city I never stop rediscovering.‍

Ibiza is also deeply special to me. I have a house there, and it is one of the rare places where I feel both completely free and profoundly grounded. There is a very singular energy on the island something raw, luminous and almost healing.

I also feel very connected to Hong Kong, where my father lives. It is a city that has always fascinated me with its intensity, rhythm and visual power a place that awakens all of the senses, especially through its food culture and its deep connection to Chinese medicine.‍

Cap Ferret is another place I hold close. I love its understated beauty, the light, the contrast between the ocean and the basin, and the way life feels softer there. I’m especially attached to the Dune du Pilat, which always leaves me with a sense of space and freedom.

I am also very attached to Val d’Isère, for the mountains, the silence, the purity and that rare balance between nature and elegance. Skying is amazing there.‍

Bhutan left a particularly deep impression on me. It is one of those rare places where spirituality, stillness and nature seem to exist in perfect harmony. It has a very powerful and humbling presence. More than destinations themselves, I am drawn to places that create a feeling , places that expand me, calm me and stay with me long after I leave.

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Do you think it is important to travel and why?‍

Yes, deeply.

Travel allows us to step outside of ourselves. It changes our perspective, challenges our habits and reminds us that there are many ways to live, think, eat, create, love and care. I think travel can be one of the most powerful forms of education. It teaches humility. It also teaches curiosity, adaptability and presence. For me personally, travel is often where I reconnect to inspiration. It feeds both my personal life and my work. Many ideas around beauty, rituals, hospitality or well-being come from what I observe while traveling.

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‍What do you think about the future of travel and what we (citizens) need to consider?‍

I think the future of travel has to become more conscious, more intentional and more respectful. We are moving away from the idea of consuming destinations and moving toward the idea of truly experiencing places. I think people increasingly want meaning, depth, slowness and authenticity rather than just accumulation.

As travelers, we need to think more about:,the environmental impact of the way we move, also the local cultures and communities we enter, and the quality of our presence.

Travel should not just be about “going somewhere.” It should also be about how we arrive, how we behave and what we leave behind.

I think the future of travel belongs to slowness, discernment and emotional richness rather than speed, excess and image.

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What would you advise?‍

I would advise people to travel a little less like tourists, and a little more like observers. Stay longer when possible. Walk. Wake up early. Talk to locals. Visit the market. Notice what people eat, how they dress, how they greet each other,what beauty means there, what time means there.

And above all, respect the traditions, the cultures and the people of the places you are visiting. I think that is essential. Travel should never be about imposing your own rhythm or expectations onto a place, but about being open enough to receive it as it is.

And I would also say: leave space. Some of the most memorable moments in travel are not the ones that are overplanned.They are the accidental, quiet, deeply human moments that happen in between.

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As a woman, how do you judge the future of our land or our societies?‍

I think we are living through a period of profound transformation.

There is a great deal of instability, noise and acceleration in the world right now, but I also believe there is a growing collective desire for something more aligned, more humane and more conscious. As women, I believe we have a crucial role to play in shaping that future. But for that to happen, we need to support one another more deeply, to protect women and younger girls, and to remain vigilant when it comes to women’s rights because none of it should ever be taken for granted.

I also feel that the future will need more of the qualities that have often been undervalued in our societies: intuition, care, emotional intelligence, embodiment, collaboration and long-term vision.

I am hopeful, but I also believe we must stay awake and engaged. The future will not improve by itself. It will depend on the values we choose to defend, protect and live by.

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How do you think you can contribute to it? Women who stand out to you?

I try to contribute through what I create.

With Holidermie, my intention has always been to go beyond products to create a space, a language and a way of living that reconnects women to themselves: to theirbodies, their rhythms, their health, their beauty and their inner world. If I can help women feel more grounded,more radiant, more informed and more aligned, then I feel I am contributing in a meaningful way. I am also deeply committed to building a predominantly female team, and to creating an environment where women can grow, support one another and fully express their potential.

Beyond my work, I support organizations such as Toutes à l’École,founded by Tina Kieffer, and Plan International, which are dedicated to empowering and protecting girls around the world.

And perhaps, in the most intimate way, I also hope to contribute through the way I raise my daughters by helping them become independent, confident and deeply grounded women, capable of building their own path in the world. There are many women I admire, women who combine vision with depth, intelligence with sensitivity, and ambition withintegrity. I am particularly inspired by women who build, transmit and elevate others women who create worlds, not just careers.

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What would be your travel dream?‍

My dream would be a long, beautifully curated journey through Japan, India, Bhutan and China ajourney shaped by culture, beauty rituals, traditional medicine, nature, craftsmanship, food and silence. I would want it to feel both deeply inspiring and deeply restorative, almost like a moving retreat. A journey where each destination offers a different lesson in beauty, presence, care and the art of living.