She’s a former lifeguard, qualified scuba diver, surfer and fashion designer who has represented her motherland, England, at various international beauty pageants. She also runs her own matchmaking agency and luxury concierge company. Yes, it’s time to meet the vivaciously versatile entrepreneur EMILY CORAL…
Hey Emily, congrats on your first MAXIM cover. How do you feel?
It’s a surreal emotion and it’s always been a dream of mine. MAXIM Australia has had so many inspirational women on the cover and I feel honoured to be part of it.
What did you enjoy most about this cover shoot?
We did the photo shoot at the beautiful White Pearl Resorts in Mozambique and there is so many aspects of the shoot I enjoyed. Not only did I get to work alongside an incredible team, I had the opportunity to escape my demanding business schedule in London and travel to the stunning Mozambique. This truly was a magical experience.
You look gorgeous. When do you feel sexy?
Thank you very much! For me, feeling sexy is a personal experience. Nothing beats getting up in the morning and doing an amazing workout at the gym then coming home, having a shower and slipping into my outfit for the day. This means I’m ready for business and nothing is sexier than a woman on a mission.
What is your best asset?
I’d say my mind and personality as it allows me not only to achieve business goals but to experience happiness and show others kindness.
Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I was born and raised in London, England and I’m a bit of a water baby — I’ve always loved the ocean. I used to be a lifeguard, am a qualified scuba diver and I’ve surfed and skied all over the world. I’m really fortunate as I’ve also been able to travel a lot as a model and through representing England at international beauty pageants – this has helped me experience new cultures and meet people from different walks of life. I studied fashion design at university and after graduating I went on to launch a fashion label called Aloura London – this inspired me to explore other business opportunities and start up two other companies.
Wow, nice work. So, what do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM?
Well, I like to keep myself busy. I manage my three companies – I run a high-end women’s wear brand, a matchmaking agency and a luxury concierge. As you can imagine, I’m always on the go but, when I do get a spare moment, I like to spend it with my close friends and family. I’m very blessed to have an amazing, supportive group of friends.
How is your matchmaking business going these days?
My company, Mayfair Matchmaking, is going extremely well. Finding my clients their ideal life partner is a wonderful experience, especially when I see how happy it makes them.
What made you start up this particular business?
After being involved within high society circles in London for some time, I realised there was a need for a discreet and exclusive dating service. So, I decided to give it a go and within a few months I had a handful of elite clients. Becoming a successful matchmaker came down to really listening to my client’s needs and desires. As love is formed through an emotional bond, the key is getting to know them well before going out and finding a partner with a similar set of passions and interests.
Describe how you go about helping men in this job?
Most of my clients are successful businessmen with little time to find a partner they can spend the rest of their life with. I take this matter into my own hands, making it more convenient with their demanding schedules. I consult with my clients, to get to know them, and go through what they are looking for exactly. My job is to then go out and find them their soul mate. If I find a match with a similar set of desires, I organise an introduction.
Describe your ideal man?
I am a very outgoing woman who knows what I want. My ideal partner would therefore have to be someone who is very confident in their own skin, someone who is driven, hardworking and handsome, but most importantly someone who is thoughtful and puts spending time with me as a priority.
What’s the best way for a man to win his way to your heart?
The small things in life are more important to me than big bold gestures. I love it when a man puts in the time to see how my day was and shows he genuinely knows me for who I am.
What are some important do’s and don’ts for men when it comes to finding the loves of their lives?
It’s extremely important to listen to their wants and needs as going out and finding them somebody who doesn’t suit their criteria won’t lead to a successful match. As love is an emotion, however, I do tell my clients that sometimes finding their complete checklist just won’t happen – but I’ve always been spot-on so far. I think it’s best to under promise and always over-deliver.
What’s one thing men should always remember about women?
Women and men are from different planets and therefore making the task of understanding each other sometimes tricky. A man should never assume that our thought patterns are the same. I think this is where a lot of men go wrong.
Describe your perfect date.
I love travel and adventure. Taking me somewhere tropical – there’s nothing more exciting than seeing the world and having new experiences with another half.
If you had to take MAXIM on a date what would we do?
I’d take you for a cheeky Nando’s – nothing beats a tasty meal with good company.
Would you ever date one of your social media followers?
Considering most people have social media, you never know – my prince charming might be following me. And social media is a great way to connect people.
What’s the weirdest thing someone has sent you via social media?
As you can imagine I’ve had so many weird comments over the years. A recent one was somebody asking me to send them money. I also had another person asking to buy my used dirty clothing!
Finally, where would you like to be in five years?
World domination – just kidding! I would like to have grown into an even better version of myself and for my businesses to be more successful. I’d love to even have a matchmaker television series in the UK. ■
Status Update
NAME: Emily Coral (Hill)
BORN: November 7
HOMETOWN: London, England
JOB: Entrepreneur, matchmaker and model
FIVE-WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “My friends would describe me as intelligent, witty, ambitious, confident, and worldly.”
HOBBIES: “I have a love for fashion and interior design. I enjoy finding cool ways to decorate my home or to make an outfit look on trend.”
HIDDEN TALENT: “I used to be able to fit though the door of a plastic Barbie doll house and use this as my party trick when I was younger. You know what they say – good things come in small packages.”
GO-TO DRINK: “Espresso Martini, please!”
HANGOVER CURE: “Sleep and eat pizza.”
WORST PICK-UP LINE: “What fabric is your dress made out of? Girlfriend material?!”
GIRL CRUSH: “Kendall Jenner – her body is out of this world.”
INSTAGRAM & SNAPCHAT: @emilycoralx
TWITTER: @emily_coral
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROCKY BATCHELOR
INTERVIEW BY SANTI PINTADO
STYLING BELINDA ROELOFS
LINGERIE MARY HOLLAND LINGERIE
HAIR & MAKE-UP SIMMY CARR
VIDEOGRAPHY ALEX SCAPENS
SHOT ON LOCATION: WHITE PEARL RESORTS, MOZAMBIQUE
For the full article grab the September 2019 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
