Supermodel Christy Turlington came to Dharamsala to interview His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Lobsang Wangyal put questions to her. We publish here the ones she answered

Christy Call
Christy Turlington, 33, hit the US Vogue cover at the age of 17. She has since reached supermodel status, having worked with the world’s best photographers and designers. She has been the face of Calvin Klein’s Eternity, and the Maybelline cosmetics line.

Known for her interest in the world at large, Christy donates all the proceeds from her calendar to the American Foundation for El Salvador, an organisation that helps the poor in the small Central American country that was her mom’s homeland. She also works with a number of other volunteer organisations including Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and PETA.

What brought you to Dharamsala?
I had never met His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And after hearing of his health and the events of last year, I felt it was important to come to Dharamsala to meet him. He represents peace and is a valuable reminder of it in these less-than-peaceful times we live in. Robert Thurman (actress Uma Thurman’s father) was kind enough to facilitate this meeting and arranged for us (NBC and ‘The Today Show’) to have an interview.

How do you feel after your meeting?
I feel blessed to have had an audience with His Holiness. Everything that he said was rich and optimistic. He is a supreme model.

New Beginnings
Is TV anchoring your new career?
I have always enjoyed many interests and always welcome an opportunity to challenge myself and try something new. Journalism offers me an opportunity to reach many people, as did my modelling career.

What did you enjoy most about being a supermodel?
Travelling the world — it was always educational and mind expanding.

Yoga
You are now known for your interest in yoga. What inspired you to write the book Living Yoga?
I began practising yoga in 1987 and have found that it has affected so much of my life that I wanted to share it with others in a way that is hopefully more inclusive and practical than other books on the subject. My book came out in the US in October 2002.

Do you still get angry, sad and frustrated? How do you handle these emotions?
Of course! Even His Holiness the Dalai Lama admitted to having these kinds of emotions or reactions to the world. I have found that yoga is very helpful in coping with these emotions and the sources of them when they arise.

On Tibet, Peace And The World At Large
What do you know about the Tibetan people?
I know as much as most, and probably less than others. I have heard many stories of the inhumane treatment of the Tibetan people that has gone on in Tibet for many years now. I know that the Tibetan people would like to return home again to live and practise their religion freely.

What do you think the world should do to live in peace?
As His Holiness said in his interview with us, prayer is the only thing we can do to ensure this now.

What role can you play as a supermodel to ensure a better world?
All that anyone can do, really. We must work to improve ourselves and our relationships with others in whatever way possible, using whatever means necessary. I do what I can to help raise awareness when I can.