Katie-Jane L’Herpiniere

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Katie-Jane L’Herpiniere is the first woman to walk the entire Great Wall of China from its most westerly terminus to its most easterly. This trek spanned six months and covered 3,000 miles.

Katie-Jane’s story is even more inspiring because she left behind the international catwalk to take on expeditions in challenging environments – swapping high heels for ice-climbing boots; lipstick for crampons and salads for double-cream. Katie-Jane’s unique story is shared with great humor alongside amazing film footage and photographs. This acclaimed talk is entertaining, moving, dramatic, and truly awe-inspiring. Her key messages focus on change, challenge, and above all, the hidden reserves of strength and potential we have to face the toughest tasks. Katie-Jane proves that we can confront fear, doubt, exhaustion, and Nature at her worst, and still find the courage to take another step towards seemingly impossible goals.

Katie-Jane L’Herpiniere (formerly Cooper) built a successful career as a commercial model. Working for M&S and Alexander McQueen among many others, Katie-Jane enjoyed the opportunities that modeling created. Katie-Jane was Cameron Diaz’s body-double in the film 'The Holiday' and appeared in several other Hollywood movies. However, meeting experienced adventurer and polar explorer Tarka L’Herpiniere changed everything. They were complete opposites. Tarka climbed mountains and excelled at endurance events and tough expeditions, while Katie-Jane focused on making it down the catwalk in heels. Despite their differences, romance bloomed, and Tarka suggested they undertake a major expedition together. Katie surprised everyone by accepting the challenge.

Katie-Jane and Tarka chose to be the first people to walk the full route along the Great Wall of China that had recently been revealed by scientists. No one had walked it continuously. It was to be a grueling six-month trek through inhospitable landscapes. To succeed, Katie-Jane had to undergo a colossal transformation – she began intensive physical and mental endurance training, and she had to put on three stone in weight.

Katie-Jane knew the goals in China would be tough: walking up to 30 miles a day across difficult terrain while carrying a huge backpack. She faced blizzards, temperatures as low as minus 35°C, frostbite, starvation, exhaustion, and dehydration. She lost an inch in height from the weight of her backpack. Against all odds, Katie-Jane and Tarka completed this monumental journey from West to East – through the heat of the Gobi Desert and the sub-zero temperatures of the mountains – and they cherished encounters with people from remote rural villages along their route. They completed 4,300km (3,000 miles) in 167 days, a world-first. And they only argued twice – about directions.

Katie-Jane continues to embrace change and opportunity. She has set goals and taken on challenges far beyond her comfort zone. Katie-Jane cycled through Ethiopia (2008) and worked as part of a scientific support team near the North Pole (early 2009). In late 2009, Katie-Jane made the longest crossing by a woman on the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap, the world’s third largest ice cap and an area that remains mostly unmapped. During this expedition, Katie-Jane and Tarka’s tent was ripped to shreds in a terrifying storm. They spent 5 nights in a makeshift shelter, slowly making their way down a glacier in horrendous conditions, with Katie-Jane suffering from temporary snow blindness, until they reached safety. Despite not completing the full crossing, Katie-Jane became the first woman to make a major crossing of this Ice Cap - an extraordinary achievement. They are also the first British expedition to do so.

In 2011, Katie-Jane founded the luxury dog accessories business Hugo & Hennie and combines life as an entrepreneur with planning her next adventure.

Katie’s story reveals that we can leave our comfort zones and achieve what seems impossible. Her story is about succeeding in harsh conditions and not losing hope and motivation when it gets tough. Katie is passionate about awakening potential in others. Audiences relate to her honesty and humor as she speaks about her inexperience and the changes she has made in leaving the glamorous world of modeling behind.

Katie-Jane and Tarka’s adventures have been made into two inspirational documentaries: The Great Walk of China (2009) and The African Way (2009). Their story has featured on BBC and ITV news, UK national newspapers such as The Telegraph and Sunday Times, and magazines like Bella and Hello!

Speaking Style

Natural, vivacious, entertaining, and charming, Katie brings the highs and lows of her journey through remote, rural China and across the Patagonian Ice Cap to life. Katie’s story is delivered with good-natured humor and candid honesty, and audiences enjoy hearing about her transformation from glamorous model to endurance athlete, adventurer, and entrepreneur.

To book this female adventurer motivational speaker, contact us at Scarlett Entertainment.