ELLE SUISSE INTERVIEWS MARIO TESTINO ON BEAUTY AND TRADITION

ELLE Suisse presents an in-depth conversation with Mario Testino, exploring beauty, identity and the evolving role of tradition in contemporary culture. In the interview, Testino reflects on photographing many of the world’s most recognised figures and speaks about beauty as something rooted in truth and self-acceptance. The session with Princess Diana is cited as a defining moment in understanding authenticity within portraiture.

The feature also examines A Beautiful World, Testino’s ongoing project documenting traditional dress and cultural identity in more than thirty countries. Testino discusses the origins of the series, which began with archival Peruvian garments and developed into a global study of ritual, craftsmanship and community. He notes the urgency of recording traditions at risk of disappearing and describes the project as both documentation and personal discovery.

During his recent work in Switzerland, Testino encountered a depth of heritage that challenged expectations. He describes Swiss traditions as refined yet unexpectedly primal, shaped by regional diversity and a strong sense of collective identity. The interview includes reflections on Zurich, the influence of Balthus and Setsuko, and Testino’s experience photographing the Swiss Guards in Rome, where the fusion of ceremony, history and national symbolism shaped one of his most striking studies of institutional portraiture.

The interview concludes with Testino’s perspective on sustaining joy and optimism throughout his career, grounded in a practice shaped by light, curiosity and the pursuit of beauty.
Read the interview here.