The model turned restaurateur is a classic example of the modern woman who has mastered each phase of her life, be it motherhood or entrepreneurship. The drop-dead gorgeous woman Vesna Vrankovic has been at the top of her game throughout her 20+ yearlong modeling career, working with the plenitude of uber-talented personalities including Carolina Herrera, Philip Plein, Galliano, Amato, and Valentino and reputed brands including Tom Ford beauty, Mac Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Carolina Herrera, Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana, Dior, Luis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and many more.
Below, we joined Vesna in a heart to heart conversation, where she talks about her inspiration behind coming up with the exuberant concept of ‘Tribecca Kitchen & Bar’ located in the world’s famous city Dubai and how it led her to myriads of other opportunities.
Being a supporter of organic food and a healthy lifestyle, Vesna reveals that she indulged in the passion for following a healthy diet after her son’s birth. “I reminisce being always fatigued post-partum, and that came in between my vision to chase my ambitions. I could not afford to let go of my dreams at the hands of unhealthy eating habits and thus decided to opt for organic food. Relishing into the plenteous advantages that clean eating brought forth, I just could not resist but make it my lifestyle. Who knew that just a mere shift of lifestyle would ignite the spark of becoming a restaurateur? That is how I conceived the idea of what the world now knows as the multi-award-winning restaurant and lifestyle venue,” she says.
Vesna further unleashes that she had literally poured her heart out into establishing her own organic restaurant, which is evident in the fact that with her untiring efforts, she managed to win the Best Bar Food Award in Timeout Magazine Restaurant Awards and Best Ladies Night in the Hype Magazine Award. “This restaurant is the manifestation of the epitome of place I desired to go out in Dubai. From interior to design to events and marketing, everything is managed by me whole-heartedly because it is just not another restaurant or a business venture for me; it a conceptual realization of my dream,” she says. “While being an art aficionado, the interior resembles my artistic soul in each of its elements,” she adds.
In 2015, Vrankovic sold her restaurant and joined as the Lifestyle Manager at V Hotel. “It was really ravishing to realize that my work as the Creative Director of my organic restaurant was appreciated throughout the UAE. I truly believe that this restaurant served to be pivotal in my life, for it opened numerous doors of opportunities for me. From indulging in rebranding V Hotel to getting a job role made specifically for me at Al Habtoor Group, I ventured into the realm of F&B following the success of her own organic restaurant,” she says. Since then, Vesna Vrankovic has served as the wellspring of information, consulting prestigious projects within the Middle East & Europe, including brands like Puro Beach Dubai and Pineapple Express, providing them with the creative kick they desired.
Vesna Vrankovic, apart from being a mother, model, and restaurateur, is also a dedicated philanthropist at heart who considers it her responsibility to become the voice of marginalized groups. Being an advocate for human rights, Vrankovic extends support to the victims of vulnerable pressing human rights violations advocating for several non-profits, including UNICEF, Child Rescue Coalition, World Food Program, and the Red Cross. “Before mother, model, entrepreneur, restaurateur, Creative Director, or even woman, I am a mere ‘Human,’ and it is certainly my responsibility to work for humanity. These fancy labels do not define me, but what defines me is how much I am contributing to make this world a better place for people who are suffering,” says Vrankovic.
Vesna Vrankovic, with her unwavering determination and constant desire to make it to the top, remains an inspirational force for all modern women and young girls to never give up on their dreams.