A biography from the site, which is excellent by the way, with lots of other models represented.
Born on Christmas day to a Danish father and Peruvian mother, Helena Christensen grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her childhood interests included music and photography.
In 1986, she was selected as MISS DENMARK and competed in the Miss Universe pageant. Following this experience, Helena left her home for Paris at the age of eighteen to pursue a modelling career. She caught the eye of fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh who quickly shot her for the cover of English VOGUE. This lead to the many requests from photographers and designers for editorials, advertising campaigns, and runway shows.
The leaders of the fashion world have endlessly showered praise on Helena’s captivating looks. A favorite of GIANNI VERSACE, he once described Helena as having ‘the most beautiful body’ and KARL LAGERFELD added that she has 'a figure type that’s very rare. Nobody
has better legs.’ JOHN GALLIANO comments, ‘she fills clothes with life and fire’.
Helena's popularity sky-rocketed when she was cast in 1991 for Chris Isaak’s music video WICKED GAME. The video was shot on the dark sands and surf of Hawaii by Herb Ritts. The video was voted as THE SEXIEST VIDEO OF ALL-TIME by MTV.
Helena had lucrative cosmetic contracts with REVLON in 1993 & '94 and COVER GIRL in 1995.
Herb Ritts photographed Helena for the 1994 famed PIRELLI calendar.
Her great success, including countless magazine covers, has allowed Helena to be more selective about her work.
Helena is perhaps most recognized for her 1997 television and ad campaigns for VICTORIA'S SECRET, as one of their signature ANGELS.
After her contractual obligations with Victoria's Secret came to an end, Helena was signed by lingerie company PLAYTEX.
Helena has worked in various film and television projects including: MTV’s FASHIONABLY LOUD; the 1992 independent film INFERNO; Robert Altman’s (READY-TO-WEAR) PRèT-à-PORTER; and a cameo in the 1998 comedy THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.
Helena had offered her creative talents as reporter, photographer and journalist for the publication NYLON, believing that her constant travelling ventures could bring (the magazine) a perspective from an outside influence.
In fact, Helena consistently shoots editorial stories for publications including VOGUE and ELLE.
In 2000, designer ALESSANDRO DELL’ACQUA chose Helena for his advertising campaign, shot by Steven Klein. With the success of this campaign, Helena was also photographed by Helmut Newton for Alessandro Dell'Acqua fragrance. Helen then returned to the runway that season exclusively for the designer. In the Fall of 2003, Helena shot self-portraits for Alessandro Dell'Acqua's S/S 2004 men's collection which was celebrated at a photo exhibition in Milan.
Helena hooked-up with Emanuel Ungaro as photographer interpreting a publi-editorial exclusively for Italian Vogue's September 2003 issue. In the same month, Helena was photographed through the eyes of Alex Cayley in another Emanuel Ungaro publi.
As Helena continues her photography, she also chooses her modelling jobs carefully, as seen in Italian, French, Australian, Spanish and German Vogue with Mario Testino, Ellen Von Unwerth, Michel Comte and Mark Abrahams.
Helena teamed with Carlsberg Export to realize their new ad campaign, entitled Desirably Danish, which celebrates the hottest things to originate from Denmark. The campaign, which stars the muse of model Vibe Sorensen, marks Helena's biggest commercial job to date as photographer.
On April 27, 2005 Helena opened BUTIK, a Manhattan-based store located on Hudson Street which carries items from Danish designers as well as vintage pieces, antiques, furniture, chocolates and flowers...all the things Helena loves.
Helena has been quoted stating ‘real life starts when I stop being a model’ and has described having a family as a goal. In Oct 1999, Helena gave birth to her first son, Mingus, with her companion, actor Norman Reedus. They have recently relocated to New York City.
An editorial from 10, by Harri Peccinotti
