For ten years, horse racing presenter Rosie Turner lived a life many girls could only dream of. At 15, she was discovered during a school trip to The Clothes Show by representatives from five modeling agencies. After signing a contract with Storm Management, she was sent to Paris to attend the show of Nicolas Ghesquière, then creative director of the Parisian fashion house Balenciaga. Rosie recalls how the other models swooned at the sight of him.
Two weeks later, she was already in New York shooting for the brand, and then became the cover girl for some of the world's biggest magazines.
«"You took me from farm life to the world of fashion. I couldn't walk. I'd never worn heels in my life, I'd never worn makeup," Rosie says of her modeling career.
It was a completely different world from her childhood in the countryside, where she had been riding horses from a young age - in fact, she was spotted wearing riding breeches and boots.
«"I thought the designer was one of the girls; I had no idea," she says. "You took me from farm life to the world of fashion. I couldn't walk. I'd never worn heels, I'd never worn makeup in my life.".
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In the whirlwind of events that followed, 30-year-old Rosie juggled her studies, and then university, with photoshoots for fashion photographer Tim Walker, advertising campaigns for Topshop and Selfridges, and glamorous industry events such as parties with Robbie Williams.
She recalls a school trip to London, passing "massive billboards" with her image on both sides of the motorway. "I remember the whole bus screaming as we passed. I just hid under my seat and screamed, 'Oh my God, this is awful!'"«
The profession wasn't for her. "I never wanted to be a model," she says. "But I'm so grateful to the modeling industry because it's what got me where I am today.".
Rosie also recalls worrying about her weight for years. "I dropped to 110 pounds, and people started calling me fat. You think, 'Tomorrow they might call me and tell me to go to Paris, and my clothes won't fit.'".
«"I definitely starved myself. I spent hours on the treadmill.".
«"It's the most iconic race of the whole season," says Rosie, showing off her green Derby outfit by Suzanne London in this exclusive photoshoot for hello! at Epsom Racecourse.
At the time, horses and racing offered a way out. At the Longines World Racing Awards, Rosie spoke to a man who asked her if she'd ever considered riding a racehorse. "The next day, he texted me: 'Any chance you'd ride the Magnolia Cup [a charity race] at Goodwood?'"«
Rosie signed the contract without telling her agency. "I knew they wouldn't be happy because I'd need to get stronger and build muscle, not be completely skinny," she says.
She enjoyed it so much that she entered the 2018 race and signed up for another charity race at Ascot later that year; she was thrilled to meet the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (then Charles and Camilla) at the prize-giving.
«"I was lucky enough to walk up, shake their hands, and say hello, and then I was able to go into the box and chat with them," she says. "They took so much time to show up for all of us girls who were working hard to raise money for the charity and were there.".
New chapter
The joy of racing, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, when "the whole world stopped," prompted Rosie to quit modeling at 24, after eight years in the industry.
«I thought, „I think I’ve had enough,“» she says. «I was really nervous about sending that letter because I was essentially ending my ten-year career.» At the time, she was sitting with a friend who said, «I want you to send that letter and eat a piece of cake guilt-free for the first time in ten years.» And I did. I get goosebumps [thinking about it].
«"I was lucky enough to go up and shake their hands and say hello, and then I was able to go into the box and chat with them," she says of her meeting with the King and Queen.
From a young age, when she admired Claire Balding, she dreamed of becoming a fashion presenter at Ascot, so when Rosie was offered the opportunity to host the fashion shows in 2021, she was delighted to accept.
«"I went to Royal Ascot and learned everything I could about racing," she says. Her enthusiasm paid off, and she was invited to speak at various courses, commentating on the performances of competitors and riders.
She is now a regular on the summer racing circuit, serving as a presenter at the biggest events on the calendar: Ascot, Goodwood and this weekend's historic Epsom Derby.
«"It's the most iconic race of the whole season," says Rosie, showing off her green Derby outfit by Suzanne London in this exclusive photoshoot for hello! at Epsom Racecourse.
«"It's incredible that this race has been running for almost 250 years. It features the best horses, the best jockeys, trained by the best trainers. The Derby is the ultimate event.".
Last November, Rosie gave birth to a son, Oliver, her first child with her husband, 37-year-old Ross Turner, a professional traveler. The couple, who married in 2024 and live in Berkshire, met at the Cartier Queen's Cup races, which Ross attended with his twin brother, Hugo.
«"I guess I never talked to my husband, but I felt like I talked to both of them because they're identical twins," she says. "It took me a while to figure out which twin was which.".
«"I never wanted to be a model," she says. "But I'm so grateful for the modeling industry because it's what got me to where I am today.".
Rosie is enjoying motherhood. "It's the hardest thing in the world, but at the same time, it's heaven. I'm looking forward to having a second child; I want a big family," she says.
She also has high career aspirations: she dreams of hosting a game show and covering the Olympics. "I grew up watching Davina McCall's 'Don't Try This at Home.' I'd love to host something like 'This Morning' or 'The One Show.'".
«"I'm very lucky," she adds. "Life is wonderful.".
Rosie will host the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs from June 5-6; thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom-derby/
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