From Runway to Lens: Romney Müller-Westernhagen’s Masterclass on Creative Resilience at ESE London

Event Recap: The European School of Economics (ESE) London welcomes acclaimed photographer and former model Romney Müller-Westernhagen for an exclusive guest lecture on navigating the fashion industry, the art of reinvention, and the power of authentic portraiture.

The European School of Economics (ESE) London was recently honoured to welcome acclaimed international photographer, illustrator, and former model Romney Müller-Westernhagen for an intimate and inspiring guest lecture.

With a dynamic career spanning global fashion houses, creative direction, and award-winning portrait photography, Romney offered ESE students a powerful masterclass. She provided an honest look into the realities of the creative industries; and the vital importance of cultivating a resilient, authentic self within them.

From Versace Runways to Creative Reinvention

Romney opened her talk by reflecting on her high-impact years in the modelling industry. While often perceived as purely glamorous, she described it as a fast-paced environment where self-confidence can be undermined as easily as it is built.

“It’s just a job—you open your makeup bag, you go to work, you close it, and the day is over.”

She explained that maintaining perspective and staying grounded were essential to surviving the industry. Having worked with legendary European designers such as Gianni Versace, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, and Karl Lagerfeld, she discovered early on that rejection was rarely personal. It was simply about fitting the specific “type” a designer required at that moment.

Her message to the audience of aspiring creative professionals was clear: safeguard your essential identity, or the industry will attempt to define it for you.

A New Lens: Capturing the Human Spirit

Romney’s second, celebrated career began when her husband, the renowned German recording artist Marius Müller-Westernhagen, put a camera in her hand.

Despite never dreaming of becoming a professional photographer, her extensive experience as an illustrator and model gave her an innate understanding of framing, movement, shape, and emotion. Shifting her focus from being the subject to the creator, she rediscovered the profound art of human presence.

Romney’s signature style relies on natural light to capture vulnerability, strength, and soul. “Daylight helps people relax, so I don’t use artificial lighting,” she noted. “It lets their true selves emerge.”

A Global Portfolio: Visual Storytelling

During the lecture, Romney displayed her global reach by sharing eye-catching photos from her vast portfolio, demonstrating the power of visual storytelling to ESE students:

• Vladimir Klitschko: Intimate moments in the locker room after a victorious fight.
• Boris Becker: Quiet, unguarded moments of the tennis legend.
• Editorial Series: A powerful exploration of the tension and beauty of women smoking.
• Cultural Immersion: Young Buddhist novices in Laos, photographed after Romney spent a week teaching them English to build genuine trust.

Street Photography: Candid portraits captured from vibrant India and New York City to Berlin and the vast Sahara Desert.

The students listened intently as she discussed the logistics of shooting colourful Hindu festivals and chasing the perfect shot across endless desert sands. This journey culminated in an invitation from teNeues Publishing to produce her own collection of portraits, marking a significant turning point in her career.

The ESE London Takeaway: Resilience, Identity, and Leadership

Romney’s visit was more than a lecture; it was a masterclass in identity, resilience, and creative evolution.

Her non-linear path demonstrated to students that careers in the competitive industries of media, fashion, and luxury management are rarely simple. While raw talent is critical, success also requires self-assurance, emotional intelligence, and the courage to reinvent oneself.

At ESE London, we are dedicated to bringing real-world voices like Romney Müller-Westernhagen into our classrooms, who embody the courage to reinvent themselves. Her message aligned with the ESE ethos: reminding us that technical skill is secondary to the quality of one’s Being. Ultimately, she showed our aspiring leaders that to conquer the most competitive industries, one must first conquer oneself.