(Portrait)In the ever-evolving world of fashion and art, few individuals manage to transcend traditional boundaries with the effortless grace of Cate Underwood. A true Renaissance woman, Cate has made her mark as a model, photographer, DJ and art director, weaving her unique vision through each discipline she touches. But that’s not all—she used to be a professional tennis player and is a mother to a teenage daughter. Her multifaceted career is a testament to her boundless creativity and relentless drive, and it was a dream come true to not only win her over for Maison Ë’s first fashion editorial but also to sit down with her and talk about life.

Born in Ukraine, Cate’s journey began in front of the camera, where her striking presence quickly garnered attention on international runways and in high-profile campaigns. However, it wasn’t long before she moved behind the lens, capturing the world through her distinctive photographic style. Cate’s work as a photographer is celebrated for its raw, evocative quality, often blurring the lines between fashion and fine art. Interviewing her, it quickly becomes clear that she is naturally driven by curiosity, having learned everything from scratch, trying things out together with friends and looking at magazines from around the world to figure out how they were produced. When she was 19 years old, she eventually decided to participate in the Bazaar Fashion Forward Awards, which was held by Harpers Bazaar Ukraine—and won. A victory that kicked off her career in fashion photography, which she then paired with her love for Polaroid art and documentary photography, documenting the underground parties of the 90s in Kyiv.

But Cate’s talents don’t stop there. Her passion for music led her to the DJ booth, where she curates soundscapes that are as dynamic and layered as her visual work. Her ability to blend different artistic mediums has also seen her step into the role of art director, where she brings a cohesive, visionary approach to every project she undertakes. All of it is very intuitive, bringing together the right people at the right moment and trusting her gut. And that’s what she did when she took on the art direction and entire visual language (as well as all the photography) for her boyfriend’s Parisian Restaurant SUGAAR.

To my questions about how she manages all those careers and passions, Cate and I took a deep dive into the world of intuitiveness and reflection. In the end, she summarizes it pragmatically: “So I actually just strive for joy and pleasure in doing things. That’s what I am interested in. Whatever can bring me exactly that, I’m open to go for.”

However, there’s so much more to it than that, and talking to her about her professional tennis career in her teens I began to understand that sport manifested a mindset for Cate that helps her navigate life. “You cannot get stuck on things. When you make a mistake, you just have to let it go and move on and do whatever you have to do in a more sophisticated way. Tennis is a metaphor for me but any sport will teach you resilience. Resilience you need in life. Sport builds your endurance and your character. Tennis really helped me a lot in achieving my goals.”

The whole conversation feels very laid back and genuine and I can feel the love for every bit of her day to day. The part where we connect on yet another level is the part of our conversation where we talk about food, restaurants and culinary experiences. More than 50% of our interview went in that direction and I can tell that we will hear and read more recommendations on food from Cate. Here are her top three recommendations when it comes to restaurants and bars.