10 things you didn't know about Denmark-born international couturier Isabell Kristensen

It has been said of the island of Jamaica, since it was 'discovered' by the Europeans, that this land of enchanting people and tropical splendour is the crossroads of the Old and New Worlds.

Since being discovered, Jamaica has been the preferred getaway for many of the world's leading personalities, from the ranks of academia, glitz and glamour, and of course, leading politicos, not to mention the uber classes and the very rich and famous!

Today, Jamaica still remains the preferred getaway for the international jet set and gadabouts, while more and more of the international hoi polloi have been flocking to our shores to experience and share in the cachet, for which the island is legendary, and for which the uber fab and superrich made it their preferred getaway!

Well, my dears, enter Jamaica-born and bred British socialite and international 'A-Crowder' Theresa Roberts, and her very charming husband, Britain-born Andrew Roberts - two devotees of Jamaica, Jamaican art, and the support of Jamaican art in the international art world.

LARGE ART COLLECTOR

Andrew and Theresa Roberts are not just passionate about the promotion of Jamaican art, they are listed as the single largest collector of Jamaican art in all of Europe.

And so, motivated by all things Jamaican, but especially the promotion of Jamaican art, Andrew and Theresa Roberts built a fabulous home in the trés exclusive Tryall Estate in Hanover, appropriately named 'Hanover Grange'. It was built to house part of their Jamaican art collection; and as an idyllic getaway, to entertain their coterie of international friends, as ambassadors at large, representing and promoting Jamaica internationally.

A few weeks ago, the Roberts threw open the doors to their simply fabulous Tryall residence, and dears, Hanover Grange was the scene for the showing of international couturier Isabell Kristensen's Dusk to Dawn Collection, said to be inspired by Jamaica, its music, and people. And dears, what a spectacular do it was!

Now, my dears, Isabell Kristensen is simply one of Europe's leading couturiers whose client list is simply the who's who of Europe, including a number of royals, the indomitable and oh-so fabulous Shirley Bassey; and of course, Theresa Roberts herself. Showcasing her collection here in Jamaica was no simple matter, but was done at the behest of Theresa Roberts, as part of her initiative to raise funds for the Jamaican Arts Council.

Today, Outlook Magazine shares 10 things not known about the fabulous Isabell Kristensen, haute couture fashion designer extraordinaire and celebrity at large!

1 Since her visit to Jamaica, her new favourite food is Jamaican rum cake.

2 Her love for designing new and exciting things, as well as her love for working with diverse and creative people, made her experience as a costume designer for Shanghai Baby one of the most highly valued and cherished experiences of her career.

3 She has always dreamed of doing a fashion show in space and actually flew into zero gravity herself, with a team of Russian astronauts, just to test the idea.

4 Sometime ago, she gave world-renowned hip-hop star Snoop Dogg a bottle of her fragrance 'Dreams', as a gift for his wife. Snoop Dogg loved the fragrance so much, he called her later that same day and asked if she could bring him a whole caseful for himself.

5 She is probably the only person who can be sat in the sun in the Sahara and still say she is freezing, so when she was presented with the opportunity to design a homeware line, the first thing she wished to create was a very warm and heavily quilted bed cover.

6 One of her favourite but most challenging photo shoots was of her posing underwater in one of her gowns, as inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.

7 She gets pretty nervous at times and one such occasion was when she was asked to be the maid of honour at the royal wedding of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco to HSH Princess Charlene. She was so nervous, she forgot her own gown, which she specially designed for the ceremony that day, but luckily managed to get it in time for the nuptials.

8 Her idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon is one where she is sitting in bed with her four children enjoying a good film while munching on some Haribo, though this doesn't happen as often as she would like anymore as they are all grown up and spread across the globe.

9 She has a deep love for nature and the environment and will cry for hours at the sight of a felled tree.

10 For many years, she has admired Sandra Bullock's work both as an actress and as an avid supporter of relief efforts and organisations after disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti 2010. Isabell is a fan of many of Ms Bullock's films, from comedies such as Miss Congeniality to beautiful performances such as Bullock's role in The Blind Side, Isabell has long wished for an opportunity to dress the very beautiful and very talented Ms Bullock and still hopes to do so.

- CFJ