Aimée Humbert offers to transform Parisian women into princesses through her Talon Academy workshops and Princess Bootcamps held in Dubai. Through these experiences, she provides unique guidance, direction, and genuine support to help women flourish through entertainment and solidarity. But what exactly is a princess? Where does this need come from? Why take these women to Dubai, and what experiences do they have there?
"When I created the Princess Bootcamp in Dubai, I wanted a princess to be someone who is not served or put on a pedestal. Instead, the concept of a princess is a woman who puts herself back at the center of her life, who allows herself to exist fully, to trust herself, and to take her rightful place in society or in a group. This need often stems from feeling overwhelmed: too many responsibilities, too many constraints, too little time for oneself. Dubai is a trigger. You step outside the box, you dare, you surpass yourself, you leave your daily life and therefore your comfort zone completely behind. They have powerful experiences, among women, supporting each other, it's an obligation to surpass oneself... and above all, they leave transformed, having had wonderful experiences!" Aimée Humbert
cover photo by Tania Cohen
1. Having participated in one of your Bootcamps, I saw how involved you are. Isn't that a form of management? Do women find it difficult to let themselves be guided during the first few days, or does Dubai's multi-energetic effect act as an accelerator?
"Yes, it's clearly a form of management, or even coaching on a human scale. I advocate kindness and I'm very hands-on. At first, some women find it difficult to let go and allow themselves to be guided because they're used to managing everything on their own. And then Dubai plays an incredible role as an accelerator: the energy of the place, the change of scenery, the group... Very quickly, barriers come down, confidence sets in, and they allow themselves to follow, to experiment, to reveal themselves." Aimée
2. What result do you want to achieve, and when will you know that your mission as a Princess Maker is accomplished?
"I'm not looking to transform women, but to reveal them. The real result is when they dare to talk about themselves differently and finally dare to say “I.” I know my mission is accomplished when I see them leave more aligned, more confident, and above all when they understand that they no longer need me to continue moving forward on their own." Aimée
3. How do you select your clients, and what is the profile of your future princesses?
"I don't select profiles, I try to create encounters instead. What matters to me are women who are open-minded, ready to enjoy a group experience, and willing to give as much as they receive. The future princesses come from very different backgrounds, but they have one thing in common: they feel the need to come together, to lean on other women, and to allow themselves to move forward together in a true spirit of sisterhood." Aimée
4. You are accompanied by a team—a photographer, hairstylist, and makeup artist. What role does appearance play in your mission?
"Appearance is not an end in itself, it is a revelation. It allows women to see themselves differently, with more gentleness and pride. Thanks to the team, everyone feels supported, valued, and never judged. Above all, they experience this together: we look at each other, we celebrate each other, we encourage each other... self-esteem is also built through the kind gaze of other women, and I want to emphasize that." Aimée
5. Why did you call your journey “Princess Bootcamp”? What do you think a modern princess is?
"I chose the word Bootcamp because it's not a passive fairy tale. It's intense, engaging, sometimes uncomfortable, but always transformative. For me, a modern princess is a conscious, free, and supportive woman. She moves forward with elegance, but above all with courage, surrounded by other women, without ever crushing anyone else to shine." Aimée
6. In a few words, can you tell us how you came up with this idea? Was it a personal experience that transformed a simple concept into a real vacation format dedicated to women?
"Yes, it clearly came from my own journey. At one point in my life, I realized how much changing your surroundings, walking with other women, and feeling supported could transform everything. What started as an intuition became a real format because I saw how much mutual support, sharing, and sisterhood could bring out women who were freer, more confident... and deeply aligned." Aimée
7. This is your sixth Bootcamp. What has changed since the first one, and how do you see it evolving in the future?
"The biggest change has been the depth of the bonds formed. Over the course of the Bootcamps, a sisterhood has developed naturally, more fluidly, more obviously, almost immediately. Today, women arrive ready to share, help each other, and support each other. For the future, I want to take this collective dynamic even further, creating a network of strong, supportive women who continue to move forward together long after the trip is over. I am currently thinking about a “Talons Academy” club, which should be launched in early 2026." Aimée
8. I discovered you through Talon Academy (I was looking for a coach to teach me how to walk in high heels and I discovered much more than just an exercise). Conceptually, do you offer the same type of personal development with Princess Camp, but this time through the entertainment of Dubai?
" Yes, it's exactly the same philosophy, but in a different setting.Talon Academy workshops start with the body and walking in high heels to build confidence, while Princess Bootcamp starts with experience, fun, and a change of scenery. In Dubai, entertainment becomes a lever: we dare, we laugh, we push ourselves together. And just like at Talon Academy, what really transforms us is the group, the mutual support, and the collective energy that allows each of us to go further than we ever imagined." Aimée
9. Can you tell me about the photo shoot in the desert, where women transform into haute couture models on the dunes at sunset? What is the power of this moment?
"This moment is extremely powerful because it combines vulnerability and sisterhood. Being photographed in the desert means exposing yourself, daring to show yourself... but never alone. The other women are there, encouraging, admiring, supporting. At that moment, everyone feels legitimate, beautiful, strong—and this collective gaze transforms the shoot into a true ritual of confidence and recognition." Aimée
10. Having experienced Princess Bootcamp, I think it would make an incredible movie script. Have you thought about pitching it to a movie producer?
"I often hear that, and it's true that the experience has a very cinematic quality. But for now, what matters to me is preserving the authenticity and intimacy of what these women are going through. Each Bootcamp is already a movie in itself, but an internal movie, deeply human, played out in the bonds, emotions, and strength of being among women—and no camera can really capture that.
Thank you so much, Sophie, for this invitation and for this lovely conversation. It was a real pleasure to share the world of Princess Bootcamps and Talons Academy with you and your readers!" Aimée
Thank you so much, Sophie, for this invitation and for this lovely conversation. It was a real pleasure to share the world of Princess Bootcamps and Talons Academy with you and your readers!
