The entrepreneur, content creator and L’Oréal Paris ambassador shares how her dramatic mindset shift has opened up a world of opportunities in fashion and beauty.
Riley Hemson is a master of reinvention.
Her story starts in Wellington in 2016, when Riley launched her Instagram account under the name
While changes were happening on the outside, the real shift was happening on the inside. Riley soon came to realise that her worth wasn’t dictated by the number staring up at her on the scales.
That was eight years ago, and in the time since, Riley has established her modelling career, graced the cover of Women’s Health, launched a successful fashion brand with Remmie by Riley, fronted Ruby’s Resort 2025 campaign, and forged a longstanding partnership with global beauty brand L’Oréal Paris.
Today, she shares glimpses into her life in sunny Queensland with her 650,000 Instagram followers – from runway moments to running diaries.
For Riley, aligning with the likes of L’Oréal Paris feels like a full-circle moment – a brand that she says encourages “confidence and worth over perfection”.
The brand’s tagline “Because I’m Worth It” is one Riley now stands by, too. “It sounds dramatic but sometimes you need that little mantra in your head to remind you to take up space,” she says.
Riley speaks exclusively to Viva about the mindset shift that changed the course of her life, the future of social media and her signature straight brows.
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Advertise with NZME.ASHLEIGH COMETTI: Did you think the opportunities you’re being presented with now would be possible when you first started @healthychick101 back in 2016?
RILEY HEMSON: Not even slightly. I started @healthychick101 to track my weight loss, literally just me posting my meals and gym selfies so I’d stay accountable. I wasn’t trying to “become” anything.
So to go from that to modelling, red carpets, and now being with L’Oréal Paris ... it still blows my mind. It’s one of those “life went left in the best way possible” moments.
AC: What shifted your mindset from weight-loss content to a more holistic view of health?
RH: It was realising that shrinking myself was becoming my entire personality. At some point I was like: “Okay, there has to be more to life than counting every calorie I eat.”
I always thought success and acceptance was rooted in being skinny. I lost weight and got to a point where I realised I’m still the same person with the same values and the same beautiful friends. Life is for living, not obsessing over your size.
AC: How has this realisation shaped your beauty philosophy now?
RH: My beauty philosophy is basically: if it makes you feel hot, do it. Beauty is meant to be fun. I don’t care about rules. I like to experiment with different looks. You only live once!
AC: Do you believe women today approach beauty differently than how they did a decade ago? How do you see this changing in the future?
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Advertise with NZME.RH: We have so much more representation now, thanks to social media. The future is even more unfiltered, more individual, more fun and way less judgmental.
AC: Talk me through your daily beauty routine.
RH: I never skip my skincare, morning and night. I focus on a lot of hydration. And SPF in the mornings, always.
For makeup, my ride-or-die is the L’Oréal Paris Glotion. I can’t live without it. It’s going all over my body for a [red] carpet. If Glotion has no fans, I’m dead.
AC: Your signature beauty look includes your straight, thin eyebrows. What motivated you to try something new with your brows?
RH: I fear they’re iconic! I had my brow tattoos removed after six years. I feel so much more like myself after having them removed. I started experimenting with my brow shape and love a thin, straight brow on me. When I look back at pics of me as a kid, my natural brow is really straight. No plans for bushy brows any time soon but never say never.
AC: One of the many things you’re known for is your running videos. How do you prep or protect your skin before your run?
RH: I keep skincare lightweight so I’m not sweating off a thick layer – moisturiser, SPF and Glotion of course. A bit of lip liner and I’m ready.
AC: How does prioritising your personal wellbeing – both mental and physical – tie into your overall ‘glow’?
RH: When you feel hot, you look hot. I don’t make the rules. Life can get so busy but I feel like it shows when I don’t prioritise my mental and physical health.
AC: You’re a frequent flyer. What products do you use to combat jet lag or changing climates?
RH: Planes are not the one! Dry skin, puffy face, the whole thing. I always load up on hydration before and after flying. For hair, I use masks a lot and avoid heat because different climates send it into chaos. Also being on set takes its toll on my hair, that mixed with being blonde is diabolical.
As for jet lag? Water, movement and coffee.
AC: Who do you consider your muses – both in beauty and in life?
RH: I have an incredible support system and I’m so lucky to have the people I do in my life but my drive is younger me. Everything I do, I picture 8-year-old me watching and being like: “OMG she’s cool (and really pretty)!”
AC: Do you have any beauty regrets?
RH: Two words: Apricot Scrub.
AC: Beauty is...?
RH: Not that serious. Be fun, be cute. We only live once.
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