Naked Beauty with Brooke DeVard:

Norma Kamali on Longevity, Creativity, and Finding Your Purpose
Released: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this inspiring conversation, host Brooke DeVard interviews fashion and wellness icon Norma Kamali. With over 50 years in the fashion industry and now 80 years old, Kamali shares deep insights about her journey, her creative process, wellness routines, and her approach to longevity and purposeful living. The episode explores how Norma pioneered trends, built resilience through hardship, stayed creative for decades, and cultivated health and vitality at every life stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Norma Kamali’s Roots and Early Influences

• New York Childhood and Cultural Identity
  • Norma recalls her upbringing in Manhattan, specifically around John Jay Park on the Upper East Side in the 1950s and 60s.
    • “There were cluster areas where immigrants from different countries would migrate to… You’d smell the food, you’d hear the language on the street.” (04:00)
  • As a Lebanese-Basque child in an Irish Catholic neighborhood, Kamali felt apart from the "standard" of beauty, influencing her later embrace of personal style as an act of self-definition.
    • “For a long time I thought, well, how do I compete with pretty girls? I'm not pretty... So I decided to do it with clothes and the way I wore the clothes.” (06:01)
• Family Influence and Early Wellness
  • Norma’s mother was “very creative... experimenting with lots of different things for good health.” Olive oil was central to their diet and beauty rituals. (07:12)
  • Inspired by her artistic mother, Norma was encouraged to try creative paths.

2. Beauty Ideals and Fashion Inspiration

• Celebrities & Changing Standards
  • Kamali cites Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Audrey Hepburn as childhood beauty icons she saw in “fan magazines,” the “Instagram of the time.” (08:14, 10:13)
  • She notes the universality of trends—body ideals shifting from Twiggy to Diana Ross to the Kardashians.
    • “This type, this body type and this beauty type started to emerge, and it was universal, and that was really great. That was the beginning of beauty kind of being redefined.” (11:24)
  • Brooke adds her own icons, like Dorothy Dandridge and Eartha Kitt. (09:57)

3. The London Years and Creative Beginnings

• Education and Discovering Design

  • Norma wanted to be a painter, earning scholarships to NYU and FIT, where she reluctantly veered into fashion and illustration.
    • “I was not at all interested in fashion design because that was the Jackie Kennedy period. And I did not at all relate to any of that.” (12:17)

• First Work Experience and Sexism in the Industry

  • Kamali recalls a “horrific, objectifying” job interview that turned her away from the garment industry.
    • “The guy... said, 'put your portfolio down and come here.'... 'Now turn around for me.' And I was like, what?” (14:00)
  • After quitting, she accidentally discovered London’s burgeoning creative scene, traveling spontaneously for $29 roundtrip weekends. (15:48)

• London’s Scene & Early Business Moves

  • Kamali describes the revolutionary spirit of mid-60s London—miniskirts, personal style, meeting rock stars at clubs like The Speakeasy alongside the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
    • “Everybody didn't want to look like anybody else. The worst thing is if you looked similar... you would run and change.” (21:35)
  • She began importing London fashion to NYC, opening her first shop for $285/month.

4. Becoming a Designer & Creative Spirit

• From Importing to Designing

  • Inspired by London, Kamali started creating her own pieces, embracing the uncertainty:
    • “In your 20s and 30s, you're faking it until you make it. So I was faking big time.” (23:44)
  • The positive response sparked a sense of purpose:
    • “I knew my purpose was really for women, to do whatever I could to make women feel good.” (24:41)

• On Value and Accessible Fashion

  • Norma discusses pricing across her career, striving for quality and access:
    • “Making that purchase timeless and giving it an opportunity to be a part of your wardrobe for a long time… It’s a real on-purpose part of what I do.” (26:50)

5. Hardship, Resilience & Redirection

• Divorce and Professional Independence
  • Norma recounts her divorce, leaving her company with only $98:
    • “I had $98 to my name when I picked up and walked out… I had to learn very quickly to tell my story so I could get help.” (29:33)
  • On painful events acting as life’s turning points:
    • “I am so grateful for some of the most horrific experiences in my life... The universe put him in my path to say, don't you dare get this job. There's other things for you.” (30:58 - 31:39)
  • Key takeaway: struggle and misfortune redirect us toward our greater purpose, if we pay attention.

6. Purpose, Relationships & Self-Discovery

• The Power of Knowing Purpose

  • Norma emphasizes the critical role of purpose:
    • “If you know your purpose, you know what road you're supposed to take, and you don't wander and get sidetracked.” (33:43)
  • Guidance: find quiet to reflect, discern what you truly love.

• Relationships as Support or Hindrance

  • Norma warns against relationships that diminish your sense of self:
    • “You should only be with somebody that you deserve. Anything less than that... will destroy your soul inside.” (35:35)

7. Longevity, Wellness & Vitality

• Fitness & Biological Age
  • Norma, at 80, credits her health and youthful energy to consistent exercise:
    • “My biological age is a lot younger than I am and it’s totally attributed to working out. Out of everything you can do, if you're consistent with working out... that's the most important.” (38:39)
  • Her studio hosts daily tough group workouts; she’s inspired by and trains with people of all ages.
    • “Being consistent and challenging yourself... this is a mind-body experience.” (40:08)
• Nutrition & Olive Oil Skincare
  • Kamali launched an olive oil-based skincare line rooted in her family tradition, using olive oil inside and out.
    • “It's a very natural and it works for me... Diet has so much to do with it and genetics love that.” (43:02)

8. Iconic Designs: Stories Behind the Pieces

• Hot Pants
  • Early work from London days—each pair was unique, made from fabric scraps. (43:51)
• Sleeping Bag Coat
  • Created after a cold camping trip post-divorce:
    • “I came back with the coat around me and I thought, oh my goodness, I need to make a coat out of this with my sleeping bag.” (45:00)
• Farrah Fawcett’s Red Swimsuit
  • The iconic poster swimsuit was an unreleased Norma Kamali design; Fawcett bought it herself and made history. (46:28)

9. Lifelong Creativity & Staying Inspired

• Constant Disruption as Fuel
  • Kamali disrupts her own routines to foster growth, even when things are going well:
    • “Sometimes when everything is fine, there’s an under layer that's saying, ‘No, maybe you should do it in a different way.’” (48:51)
  • She’s had the “same job for 58 years,” but nothing ever stays the same.
    • “You can ask the people that work here, they fear Monday mornings when I have new ideas…” (51:33)

10. Redefining Beauty

• Moment of Feeling Most Beautiful
  • For Kamali, peak beauty is when she achieves her goals—physical and mental beauty together:
    • “When you've reached the goal or the dream... there's nothing that could make you feel bad about yourself in any way when you get to that.” (51:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Norma Kamali:

• “For a long time I thought, well, how do I compete with pretty girls? I'm not pretty... So I decided to do it with clothes and the way I wore the clothes.” (06:01)
• “I am so grateful for some of the most horrific experiences in my life… The universe put him in my path to say, don't you dare get this job.” (30:58)
• “If you know your purpose, you know what road you’re supposed to take... That is key.” (33:43)
• "My biological age is a lot younger than I am and it’s totally attributed to working out." (38:39)
• "I knew my purpose was really for women, to do whatever I could to make women feel good." (24:41)
• “You should only be with somebody that you deserve. Anything less than that... will destroy your soul inside.” (35:35)
• "You can ask the people that work here, they fear Monday mornings when I have new ideas..." (51:33)

Brooke DeVard:

• “You need to be with a partner that pushes you, lifts you up, supports you, and is your number one fan and champion.” (37:35)
• “Taking these moments that are terrible, but using them as redirection... realizing that there's this higher plan for your life.” (33:00)
• “The prices of Ready to Wear have become so outrageous. And what I love about all of your collections... there are pieces that you can truly wear forever.” (24:50)
• “I could speak to you all day. The amount of wisdom that I’ve gained from this one hour conversation is incredible to me.” (51:33)

Important Segments by Timestamp

• Background & Early Life: 02:05–07:12
• Beauty Icons & Fashion Inspiration: 08:01–10:13
• London Adventures & Beginnings in Fashion: 12:09–23:00
• On Finding Purpose through Career and Struggle: 24:41–33:00
• Wellness, Fitness, and Longevity Secrets: 37:54–43:02
• Iconic Designs & Creative Process: 43:36–48:51
• Staying Creative & Peak Beauty: 48:51–52:55

Tone & Style

Norma is reflective, candid, and warm, blending practical wisdom with a playful, unpretentious energy. Brooke’s tone is enthusiastic, supportive, and curious, drawing heartfelt stories from her guest.

Summary Takeaways

• Creativity and reinvention don’t have age limits; disruption is key.
• Purpose anchors you through shifts, setbacks, and success.
• Consistency in wellness practices—exercise, nutrition, skincare—pays off more than trends.
• Resilience and openness to the universe’s “redirects” transform adversity into new opportunity.
• Style, beauty, and relationships are most powerful when authentic and self-affirming.

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking inspiration on longevity, self-expression, resilience, and thriving creatively through all stages of life.