Vendela was an excellent choice, because she provided them with a continuous visual identity whose values were clear. She was a grown woman, but had the appearance of being "forever 31" and could wear couture as well as she did a swimsuit.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult these days to find a range of representative models who could establish the same expensive image, yet with a twist that keeps it slightly apart from Estee Lauder et al.