by Maritess Garcia Reyes
May 03, 2024
COVER Georgina Wilson-Burnand wears Mugler top, Alaïa latex skirt and Tom Ford shoes (Photo: BJ Pascual)
Georgina Wilson-Burnand makes a sensational return, armed with new experiences and a fresh mindset
I have to do 15,000 steps every day, which is why I am walking right now,” says Georgina Wilson-Burnand from Shanghai as Tatler speaks to her over the phone one sunny day before the Easter break. The cover star moved to the Chinese city early this year with her husband, Arthur Burnand, and three children, Archie, Alfie and Charlotte.
“We moved quite abruptly,” says Wilson-Burnand, something that is not unfamiliar due to the nature of her husband’s job—Burnand works for international property developer Swire Properties. But that doesn’t stop her from always being excited to discover what a new city can add to her family’s colourful and adventurous life. “Many people don’t know how beautiful Shanghai is. It’s such a green city,” she says.
See also: Georgina Wilson-Burnand and husband Arthur welcome their firstborn son Archie
ABOVE Wilson-Burnand wears Mugler top, Alaïa latex skirt and Tom Ford shoes
ABOVE Wilson-Burnand wears Alaïa tights and bodysuit, and Gianvito Rossi shoes
The family lives in the historic former French Concession, famous for its gorgeous tree-lined streets, museums, art galleries, hip cafés, breweries and dining spots. However, there’s plenty for little ones to do. “I think people also don’t know how child-friendly Shanghai is. It’s so fun for the kids: we go to the aquarium often, and there’s a dinosaur museum in the middle of the city,” Wilson-Burnand says. She is also excited about the city’s vibrant culinary scene, especially the fusion of western and traditional Chinese cuisine, all adding to an experience even more significant than the sum of its parts. “There’s the best coffee … the best ice cream. So, for me, it feels like a European city in Asia. Sometimes, because of the energy, it can also feel like New York.”
Wilson-Burnand was a Manila It girl in the early 2000s and was regarded as her generation’s face long before social media became popular. She was a prominent figure in Philippine society, featuring in advertising campaigns, hosting TV shows such as the reality series Asia’s Next Top Model, walking the runway for much-loved Bench fashion shows, and making headlines with her personal life. She was among the first influencers when social media exploded in the country and remains a force to be reckoned with, having been named a 2016 Tatler Gen.T and 2021 Asia’s Most Influential honouree and cofounding Philippine eyewear brand Sunnies Studio, not to mention her 3.4 million followers on Instagram.
