One of the leading supermodels of the 1990s, Helena Christensen was born on Christmas Day, 1968, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The daughter of a Danish father and a Peruvian mother, she claimed the title of Miss Denmark in 1986, at age 18. After that she moved to Paris to pursue a modeling career. Helena is most famous for starring in the music video for Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” which was selected the Sexiest Video of All-Time by MTV.

She has been romantically linked to the late singer Michael Hutchence, Leonardo DiCaprio and Billy Corgan and is a self-proclaimed cheese addict.

Helena Christensen’s Career Highlights

25 DEC, 1968

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark

1977

Begins modeling

1986

Wins the Miss Denmark competition

1986

Leaves home to pursue modeling career

1989

Discovered by photographer Friedemann Hauss

1990

Dates Michael Hutchence, the lead singer for rock band INXS

MAR 1990

Appears on the cover of British Vogue

1991

Appears topless in the music video for Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” Video»

1991

Arrives in Paris and is hired immediately by Karl Lagerfeld and fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh

1992

Plays herself in TV movie Inferno Video»

APR 1992

Appears on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar

APR 1993

Appears on cover of Vogue

1994

Appears in print ads for CoverGirl

1994

Appears in print ads for Gianni Versace, who describes her as having “the most beautiful body in the world”

25 DEC, 1994

Has cameo role in Robert Altman’s movie Prêt-à-Porter

1996

Travels to Peru for a Marie Claire editorial, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier

1996

Models for Victoria’s Secret

1997

Briefly dates Leonardo DiCaprio

1997

Appears in print ads for Ralph Lauren

JUL 1997

Appears on cover of British Vogue

AUG 1997

Appears on cover of Dazed & Confused magazine

1998

Appears in Dom Pérignon ad campaign, directed and photographed by Karl Lagerfeld

1998

Dates actor Norman Reedus

1999

Co-founds Nylon magazine

1999

Retires from the catwalk

SEP 1999

Appears on the cover of British GQ

22 OCT, 1999

Gives birth to Mingus Luchien Reedus

2002

Appears in print ads for Montblanc

2002

Separates from Norman Reedus; takes custody of son Mingus

2002

Appears in the music video for the Dirty Vegas song “Simple Things” Video»

JUL 2002

Photographs Carlsberg ad campaign

JUL 2003

Opens the Ungaro fall couture show in Paris

APR 2005

Opens her own boutique, Butik Christensen & Sigersen, in the West Village with longtime partner Dane Leif Sigersen

JUL 2006

Appears on cover of French Elle

JUL 2007

Unveils “A Quiet Life,” an exhibition of her photographs focusing on landscapes and portraits, in Amsterdam

2 JUL, 2007

Returns to the catwalk for the fall Christian Dior 60th-anniversary couture show in Paris

18 JUL, 2007

Holds a party for the auctioning of her photography at Milk Studios Story»

31 JUL, 2007

Announces new hair-care line, Model.Me, with Erin O’Connor; to be launched September 12

MAR 2008

Appears in Harper’s Bazaar editorial mocking the extremely late start of the Marc Jacobs spring show, photographed by Peter Lindbergh

MAR 2008

Begins dating Interpol singer Paul Banks Photo»

APR 2008

Photographs Valentina Zelyaeva for a Spanish Vogue editorial

SEP 2008

Featured on the cover of Italian GQ, photographed by Guy Aroch

2008

Solve Sundsbo photographs Christensen for the fall issue of Man About Town

DEC 2008

Launches a line of jewelry line for Pilgrim Story»

DEC 2008

Featured on the cover of French Elle, photographed by David Vasiljevic

2009

Gergory Derkenne photographs Christensen for the cover of Citizen K

MAY 2009

French Vogue features Christensen

JUL 2009

Appears in Italian Vogue editorial, photographed by Mario Sorrenti

SEP 2009

Appears in Harper’s Bazaar editorial, photographed by Peter Lindbergh

2009

Kayt Jones photographs Christensen for the winter cover of i-D, alongside Eva Herzigova and Claudia Schiffer

JAN 2010

Featured on the cover of British Elle, photographed by Jan Welters

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