Love from Hong Kong with Cara (Grogan) McIlroy

This series is close to my heart as I am a born and bred Hong Konger. After four years of being abroad I dig back into the lifestyle I grew up with – finding the trendsetters making a mark, changing the pace in the concrete jungle.

If you’re in 852 (Hong Kong), Cara (Grogan) McIlroy needs no introduction. You’ve probably seen her around town for Shiseido, Levi’s, Jimmy Choo, to name a few.  ara has walked for Dior, Max and Mara, been published in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and is also a blogger for Harper’s Bazaar. She has been a TV host for Channel V, FOX and National Geographic. Few years ago she has also appeared in Duran Duran’s Girl Panic music video (3:13) with the likes of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Yasmin Le Bon.

Few years ago her life took another huge leap – she got married, had two adorable children, started her own successful juice products company named The Genie Concept and is getting into starting her own children clothing line. Meet the stunning mix of Australian, Singaporean, Swiss, Irish, Thai, German, Arabic descent, Mrs. McIlroy is unstoppable!

Photography and interview by Lauren Engel

Describe your childhood growing up on a dairy farm in Victoria, Australia?
I’m definitely a country girl. Living here in the city is a big contrast from where I grew up. I was a total tomboy always climbing trees, collecting bugs. I have a lot of siblings but they’re all from my dad and I am the only child of my mom and dad. My childhood was pretty complicated because my mom had me when she was really young and she and my dad split up when I was two and I didn’t see my mom again until I was eleven. My dad raised me but he worked overseas so sometimes my nanny looked after me or my next door neighbours. I went to twelve different primary schools but one high school. My favourite subjects have always been art or drama and I’m very good at maths, terrible at English. I did every kind of dance–tap, jazz, modern, ballet, etc. and I did touch football and surfing for so many years.

Tell me a bit more about your family
My dad was born in Switzerland it was kind of a funny story. My grandmother was working for the Australian consulate in Switzerland and my grandfather was a prisoner of war in France and escaped over the French alps into Switzerland. They fell in love and she went to Australia with him.

And how did your parents meet?
My parents met in Singapore, where my mum was also born and my dad went there for work. He was a dirty old man with yellow fever (laughs).

I read in a previous interview that your parents also came from very different backgrounds. You said that your dad’s from a middle income background and your mom came from poverty. Was it difficult?
My mom came from pretty extreme poverty. She has around 19 brothers and sisters. They lived in a hundred square foot apartment in Singapore and she slept under her parents bed with four of her sisters. Some slept outside the building. My dad’s from middle-class in Australia where he lived in a small country town and had a farm. My mom’s Muslim and my dad’s a very strict Christian.

Did you have difficulties–did they tried to convert you?
No, not at all. My parents are really open about religion even though my mom says she’s Muslim and my dad says he’s Christian, they believe in the same things. Be a good person, don’t do bad things.

Describe your initial start of modeling–being scouted at the age of seventeen
I had a bit of a psychotic relationship really young so I needed to move overseas. My parents wanted me to go overseas to get away from that situation, so my mom sent me to Singapore to stay with my uncle for a few months. I got scouted there and started modeling. My uncle in Singapore works in the film industry and he got me a job working with him as a PA getting coffee and drinks for everyone on set. There was an agent there who said I would be perfect for a Dove commercial and asked if I would want to go to a casting. I was like ‘ok sure! And I got the job’

When you moved to Hong Kong did your managers build you up to be a celebrity face?
I don’t really know if that’s what they originally had in mind although my manager who brought me to Hong Kong in the first place is Maggie Q’s manager. At that time she was looking for someone because Maggie was starting to do more work in America. She was looking for someone to get the agency more paying jobs when Maggie was out of town (laughs). But I don’t think it was intentional that I worked out so well.

How did you get to do video stuff for Channel V and National Geographic?
I go to all the music events in Hong Kong and because it’s a small place the people from Fox (that’s the network of Channel V) kept seeing me at these music events and asked me if I would come in and try out to be a host. Actually, when I first started modeling in Singapore I tried out for MTV. I didn’t get it and got really upset. So initially I said no I wouldn’t come in as I’ve already failed at this before (laughs). But then I went in and got the job in the end.

How did you meet your husband?
He was modeling and we lived in the same models apartment. A bunch of horny girls (laughs). I actually had a fiancee at the time so we were just friends for a little while.

How did you know he was the one you wanted to marry?
He’s very different to my exes. I knew right away; he’s so sweet. We’ve been together for eleven years this year–a really long time. I fell in love with him right away.

How did you realize it was the right time to have kids?
We didn’t really decide. We got married only three years ago. Right after we got married I fell pregnant and then fell pregnant again.

Do you think your relationship with your husband has changed?
Our relationship changed in so many positive ways. We have been together for so long it was like we were married anyway. I didn’t think anything would change but it has. It just gives you a gooey feeling inside. It’s nice to feel like you’re officially family. With kids our relationship changed because kids are really challenging. One is really easy but when you have two it’s hectic. It puts a lot of pressure on a relationship because you’re tired but it also makes you stronger.

How did you come up with the idea for your bottled juice company, Genie Juicery?
My moms always been a hippie but I wasn’t into health and nutrition growing up. I thought it was weird but when I got into modeling and got older I stopped drinking so much. I wanted to take care of myself and my health. When I went to New York to work I saw so many juice companies. When I came back to Hong Kong I looked into it here but there weren’t any so I thought it was a good opportunity to start a business. It’s been nearly five years since then.

Tell us about your children clothing company?
I always wanted to do that before I started the juice company. I always had the idea to do children´s clothing before I had kids. I was so busy with Genie Juicery and when I had my first kid I had no time. I started having time when I was pregnant with my second child so I started doing designs. then she was born and I was like what am I doing? I have no idea to actually see this through so I just started with accessories first then I’ll move onto the clothing later.

Lace kimono: Arnhem Clothing, Lingerie: Kayser Lingerie

Crochet pieces: San Lorenzo from iSHINE365

Kimono: Arnhem Clothing, Crochet pieces: Sweet Cheeks Designs

Urban Bird Clothing