English actress Donna Air showcased her enviable, age-defying figure during a luxurious winter escape to the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique. The 46-year-old star, best known for her role in The Split, shared a sun-kissed snap of herself in a burgundy bikini as she bid farewell to the tropical paradise.
Magical Mother-Daughter Memories
Donna was enjoying the holiday with her lookalike daughter, Freya Aspinall, 22. She posted a heartfelt tribute on Sunday, writing: 'The hardest part of the holidays is saying goodbye. I love making memories with you @freyaaspinall ❤️ and so grateful for this magical trip. Back to work tomorrow!!' The pair have a strikingly similar appearance, with Freya having inherited her mother's stunning good looks.
Freya is the daughter of Donna and her ex-partner, multimillionaire conservationist Damian Aspinall. Donna was just 21 when she met Damian, then 40, at a dinner party in 2000. They were introduced by mutual friend, the late It Girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. Their relationship lasted seven years before an amicable split in July 2007.
Heir to a Conservation Legacy
While Freya has forged a path in modelling, becoming the youngest model on the books of the prestigious Storm agency in 2018, her true passion lies elsewhere. She is being lined up to one day inherit her father's position as chair of The Aspinall Foundation.
The Aspinall Foundation is a British charity founded in 1984 by Damian's father, John Aspinall. It partners with Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne park in Kent, which spans 600 acres and houses the UK's largest breeding herd of black rhinos. The charity is dedicated to wildlife conservation, returning captive animals to the wild, and protecting endangered species globally.
Freya, who describes herself as a 'mini version' of her father, has made it clear she is not a typical 'nepo baby'. She reportedly insisted her modelling contract would be used to promote conservation issues. She told the Financial Times she would only do a magazine cover as a conservationist, not a model. She said: 'I grew up with animals and couldn't imagine my world without them. This is in my blood – I've always known what I wanted to do.'
A Life Amongst Wildlife
Freya's unique upbringing explains her profound bond with animals. As a baby, she was placed in a gorilla enclosure at Howletts to be carried off by the group's dominant female, a ritual Damian also performed with his two older daughters from a previous marriage. Damian told the Evening Standard at the time: 'It's a ritual. I'll probably give her to the dominant female who will take her off, sex her, and introduce her to the others. I did this with my other daughters, now it's Freya's turn.' Donna fully approved, trusting the animals.
Today, Freya dedicates her time to caring for animals at the parks, including orphaned lion cubs and gorillas, and travels to Africa to assist in releasing them back into the wild. She frequently shares heartwarming content on her Instagram, where she has 1.5 million followers, cuddling big cats and hand-feeding gorillas like Silverback Kifu and Tambabi, whom she has known since birth.
She has described Port Lympne Wild Animal Park as one of her 'favourite places to be,' often feeding the giraffes. Her life is a unique blend of high-fashion and hands-on conservation, firmly establishing her legacy within the Aspinall family's remarkable mission.
