Gruner + Jahr Spa Awards in Baden-Baden

A weekend of beauty! For the 23rd time the Gruner + Jahr SPA AWARDS (formerly GALA SPA AWARDS) were awarded in the end of March in Baden-Baden at the beautiful Brenner’s Park Hotel that is part of the Oetker Collection. My avid readers might remember my time to unwind at Villa Stéphanie, their «House of Wellbeing» next door. For me, it was an absolute pleasure to be back at one of my favorite places to detox and relax. I enjoyed the warm temperatures in the garden next to the blossoming cherry blossom trees after a wonderful facial and massage before getting ready for the night.

How beautiful is Brenner’s Park Hotel’s pool when you see the cherry blossom trees blossoming outside?!

The Gruner + Jahr SPA AWARDS are among the most important international beauty and spa awards. In addition to winners in six categories, two outstanding personalities are awarded the «Beauty Idol» and the «Special Prize». Personally speaking, I have a close relationship to Gruner + Jahr as my first job after my studies was at German Marie Claire magazine that belonged 50% to the  publishing house.

Spoiled upon arrival in the room…

Over 200 invited guests from the cosmetics industry, well-known representatives of the luxury hotel industry, from culture and show business gathered at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, among them Franziska Knuppe, Eva Padberg, Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi, and Verona Pooth. Scroll through the best moments of the weekend, the bright winners and the glamorous looks of the evening that was hosted by Barbara Schöneberger, who is truly one of the most entertaining women I know.

Model Miranda Kerr is Beauty Idol 2019
The «Beauty Idol» was awarded to Miranda Kerr, the famous Australian «Victoria’s Secret» angel. Miranda is known not only as a top model, but also as an entrepreneur. Together with her mother Therese Kerr, she runs a beauty brand for sustainable natural cosmetics under the label «KORA Organics» (TO SHOP KORA ORGANICS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.icon). In addition, Miranda Kerr, a certified health coach and practicing buddhist, has dedicated herself to the topic of empowerment: In 2010, she published her first book «Treasure Yourself», followed by «Empower Yourself» in 2013. Despite her success, Miranda Kerr is very much down to earth and announced that she is pregnant with baby number three that night. For this inspirational personality, the jury honored her this year as «Beauty Idol» in 2019.

To read a previous interview I did with Miranda about her travel tips for Australia, click here please.

Special Prize for Günther Bonin
This year, the «Special Prize» went to environmental protector Günther Bonin, who set up the organization «One Earth – One Ocean». Together with his team of experts and volunteers, he developed the concept for a «maritime garbage collection». This special coastal waste collection catamaran, the so-called «SeeKuh», fishes floating plastic parts on the water surface with the help of a net. It uses solar energy and can pick up two tons of garbage per trip, which can then be recycled ashore. In addition to cleaning up the waters and seas, Günther Bonin wants to provide information in the long term, so that not so much garbage gets into the environment. The jury thanked Günther Bonin for his special commitment with the «Special Prize».

All other award winners at a glance:


Category «Luxury Concepts»: ShiseidoFuture Solution LX / Intensive Firming Contour Serum

Category «Innovation Concepts»: ForeoForeo Ufo

Category «Cult Concepts»: NiveaQ10 Series

Category «Organic Concepts»: Dr. HauschkaRegeneration Day Cream 

Category «Medical & Health Concepts»: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & SpaSpa Nescens, Switzerland

Category «Spa Concepts»: – Corinthia Hotel LondonESPA Life at Corinthia, United Kingdom

From left to right: Award winners Thomas Kochs (ESPA Life at Corinthia), Hans-Peter Veit (Victoria Jungfrau Frau Hotel & Spa), Maren Speckmann-Munz and Nicoline Woehrle (Dr. Hauschke), Kerstin Unger (Nivea), beauty idol Miranda Kerr, Editor-in-chief Gala Anne Meyer-Minnemann, host Barbara Schoeneberger, winners Günther Bonin, Johannes Scheer (Shiseido Group Germany) and Audrey de Saint Priest (Foreo) with their awards.

Switzerland in the house: with my dear Alana Netzer.

Barbara Schöneberger and CEO Oetker Collection Frank Marrenbach on stage.

A true beauty idol: Miranda Kerr

Eva Padberg with me

Anne Meyer-Minnemann and Cathy Hummels

Franjo and Verena Pooth

GNTM juror and celebrity make-up artist Armin Morbach with me

Franziska Knuppe

Always fun times with Princess Lilly Sayn-Wittgenstein

Let’s Dance: Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi and Victoria Swarovski

The night culminated in a fun after party… thank God we had lots of beauty products in our room to look fresh the next day.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of GALA, © Axel Kirchhof/Gala, the respective locations and © Sandra Bauknecht

The Louis Vuitton Maison Opening in Munich

LV-Munich_Residenzpost_opening

After I had finished my amazing shoot with Louis Vuitton for the Art of Packing in Munich, I went to the opening of the house’s new ‘Maison’ in the evening. As some of you might already know, I had been living in the Bavarian city for eight years and it is definitely my favourite German spot. Therefore, I was completely excited to see Louis Vuitton’s new location as well as spotting so many familiar faces in an iconic location at the heart of the city. It was the former Munich post office known as Residenzpost and I had been there many times in my life.

Sandra_Bauknecht_Vuitton_Opening

For more details about my look, please click here. The fabulous trench coat is also from Louis Vuitton and belongs to the Icons collection.

LOUIS_VUITTON_RESIDENZPOST_OPENING-2

When I entered the new ‘Maison’, I felt like entering ‘Vuitton Heaven’… I embarked on a journey of unexpected discoveries through an outstanding range of must-haves and inspiring art installations. Paying tribute to the history of the building, the store also showcases an area dedicated to ‘Ecriture’, the new collection of writing instruments.

LV_MUC_EINSER

A real eye-catcher can be spotted in the form of the first German postage stamp, the ‘Schwarze Einser’ in permanent display. A limited edition of Louis Vuitton stamps were also edited for the event and I am very happy to have such a set at home.

LV_Stamps

Many celebrities from all over the world had flown in to attend the superb event.
Enjoy my impressions:

Hannah_Herzsprung_LV_opening

German actress Hannah Herzsprung

Franziska_Knuppe_Sandra_Bauknecht

Model Franziska Knuppe with me

Moritz_Bleibtreu_Sandra_Bauknecht

German actor Moritz Bleibtreu

Louis_Vuitton_Store_Opening

Sandra_Bauknecht_Olivia_Palermo

Gorgeous Olivia Palermo

Sandra_Bauknecht_Shoot_LV_Store

Jamie McGregor Smith, photographer for Louis Vuitton, shot some nice pics of me on the stairs of the new store.

LV_Munich_Opening_Sandra_JS-004

Louis_Vuitton_Shop_Munich_Display

Alexandra_nedel_Sandra_Bauknecht

German actress Alexandra Neldel

MUC_LV_Opening-10

Sandra_Bauknecht_Uma_Thurman_Roberto_Eggs

What an honor: American actress and star of the night Uma Thurman framed by Roberto Eggs, President of Louis Vuitton Northern Europe, to the left and my humble self to the right.

Richard_ Deacon_Louis_Vuitton

Richard Deacon‘s sculpture “Sunday in the Country”, 2005

MUC-LV_Opening-2

The after party took place right next door. The decoration was amazing, with hot-air balloon dummies placed in the center of the room.

LV_MUC_Ambiance

Johannes_Huebl-LV-MUC

Olivia Palermo’s model-boyfriend, Johannes Huebl.

Sandra_Bauknecht_Cosma_Shiva_Hagen

Very sweet Cosma Shiva Hagen with me

LV_MUC_Diamonds

Live act: Marina and the Diamonds

Diamonds_Sandra_Bauknecht

The famous singer with me

Sandra_Bauknecht_Roberto_eggs

Sara-Nuru_Sandra_Bauknecht

Germany’s Next Top Model winner 2009, Sara Nuru

LV-Opening_Sandra_Bauknecht

The German magazine Bunte named me a style icon, wow! It was an unforgettable event and I am so happy that I was part of it. A huge thank you to the Louis Vuitton team!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, © Brauer Photos and © Jamie McGregor Smith