Helena Christensen

Helena Christensen
Christensen at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival
Born (1968-12-25) 25 December 1968
Copenhagen, Denmark
Occupation
  • Model
  • photographer
Known for Miss Universe Denmark 1986
Look of the Year Denmark 1987 (Top 7 at Look of the Year 1987).
Partner(s) Michael Hutchence (1991–1995)
Norman Reedus (1998–2003)
Paul Banks (2008–2015)
Children 1
Modeling information
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Hair color Brunette
Eye color Green
Agency
  • One Management (New York)
  • ZZO (Paris)
  • d'management group (Milan)
  • Unsigned Group (London)
  • R1 Mgmt (Barcelona) [1]

Helena Christensen (born 25 December 1968) is a Danish model and photographer. She is a former Victoria's Secret model and beauty queen. Christensen has also served as creative director for Nylon magazine, designed clothing, and supported funding for breast cancer organizations and other charities.

Early life

Christensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the eldest of two daughters of a Danish father and a Peruvian mother.[2][3] She is fluent in Danish, Spanish, and English as well as French and German.[4] Winning the Miss Universe Denmark crown in 1986, at the age of just 17,[5][6] she subsequently represented Denmark in the Miss Universe 1986 pageant.[7] The following year, she participated in the Look of the Year 1987 competition, where she was a finalist. Christensen left home soon after to pursue modeling in Paris.[8]

Career

Modeling

Christensen appeared on over 600 magazine covers—including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and W[9]—and in fashion campaigns (including Revlon, Chanel, Versace, Lanvin, Prada, Sonia Rykiel, Hermes, Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld) during the 1990s. She rose to prominence in the 90s as one of the most popular models of her time and hailed as one of the supermodels by the media for her fame and popularity. One noted campaign featured her in a 20 by 40 feet (6 by 12 m) billboard in Times Square, bare, "except for a strategically placed banana leaf."[10] She was in the Victoria's Secret catalog and in their television commercials as one of the signature "angels", along with Tyra Banks, Karen Mulder, Daniela Pestova, and Stephanie Seymour. She also became a spokesmodel for Revlon cosmetics in 1992.[11] In 1991, she starred in the music video for Chris Isaak's song "Wicked Game".[12] The video was later featured on MTV's "Sexiest Video of All-Time", voted #4 on VH1's "50 Sexiest Video Moments", and voted #13 on VH1's "100 Greatest Videos".

In 1996, Frank DeCaro of the New York Times cited Christensen, along with Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer, as "The Magnificent Seven". DeCaro reflected, "Known by their first names to legions of fans, they are the legends of the modern catwalk, the girl next door pretty underneath all the paint".[13]

Christensen has continued to model. She graced the covers of Spanish Vogue (2011), British Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE, and American Vs. magazine. She was also featured in the advertising campaigns of Ermanno Screvino, Reebok, Charactere and Triumph. Christensen is signed to ZZO Management in Paris, D Management in Milan, Unsigned Management in London and 1/One Management in New York City.[12]

At a 2007 Sustainable/Green Home opening party

In September 2017, Christensen, along with models Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Carla Bruni and Cindy Crawford, closed the Versace spring/summer 2018 fashion show, which was an homage to the late Gianni Versace.[14]

Business and photography

Christensen was creative director of Nylon magazine at its 1999 founding by publisher Marvin Scott Jarrett.[15][16][17][18] She launched her own clothing line, Christensen & Sigersen, with lifelong friend Leif Sigersen. The pair previously ran Butik, a shop in New York's West Village.[19][20] Christensen created a vintage clothing line, sold in her mother's store, the Yo-Yo Second Hand Shop, in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.[21][22] In 2012, she created a lingerie collection, Helena Christensen for Triumph, for the UK-based lingerie brand.[23] Christensen's collaboration with Triumph started in 2008 as the face of the Triumph brand.

Aside from her modeling work, Christensen is an accomplished photographer herself, whose work has appeared in Nylon,[16] Marie Claire, and ELLE.[12] Her exhibition "A Quiet Story," curated by Jim Cook, premiered at the Locus Gallery in Rotterdam, 2006,[24] and HotelArena in Amsterdam, 2007.[25] Her exhibition "Far From, Close" appeared at Dactyl Foundation in 2008–09, to benefit International Center of Photography educational programs and Chernobyl Children's Project International.[26][27]

In 2014, Christensen worked on a photography series: Libery Ross, Liv Tyler, and The Pursuit of Grace. "I like doing personal, very intimate projects that don’t require a lot of pre-meetings".[28]

Christensen has traveled extensively and often finds herself on both sides of the camera. In 2016, she was announced as the "Global Explorer" for the Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts. Her major project for the company was documenting a trip from the seaside town of Paracas to the colonial city of Cusco and the nearby Urubamba Valley.

Climate change awareness

Christensen partnered with Oxfam in 2009 to document the impact of climate change in Peru, where her mother was born. "Climate change in Peru is already devastating and we welcome Helena’s commitment to show this to the rest of the world," said Frank Boeren, Oxfam’s coordinator in Peru. "Peru is on the frontline of climate change, along with other developing countries, which have played little part in causing the problem".[29]

Breast cancer fundraising

Christensen launched the second Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign, which involves the sale of designer t-shirts to raise money for Ireland's Action Breast Cancer (Irish Cancer Society) and Europa Donna Ireland to help younger women with breast cancer.[30][31]

Personal life

Christensen dated and lived with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence on and off in France and Denmark for five years in the early 1990s.[32] She was in a relationship with actor Norman Reedus for five years; together they have a son, Mingus Lucien Reedus (born 13 October 1999).[33] Reedus and Christensen separated in 2003.[34][35] She previously dated Interpol singer Paul Banks in 2008.[36]

Christensen has an apartment in Copenhagen and lives in Manhattan, where she drives "the only type of car I've ever had", a Morris Minor.[37][38] She reported in 2007 that she would be giving up her place in Monaco.[39]

References

  1. ↑ https://models.com/models/helena-christensen
  2. ↑ "Portraits of Peru: Why supermodel Helena Christensen returned to her roots". independent.co.uk. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Nome, Valerie. (7 May 2008)."Helena Christensen: Model Mom". OK Magazine.
  4. ↑ http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG11566579/Helena-Christensen-on-modelling-at-46-surgery-and-her-new-perfume.htmlP
  5. ↑ Mueller, Andrew (31 August 2003). "Reversing the lens: Helena Christensen". Sunday Tribune. Ireland: Tribune.ie. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  6. ↑ Mottram, James (10 June 2006). "Helena Christensen: Role Model". The Independent. London: independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  7. ↑ Miss Universe, 1986 Archived 2010-03-30 at the Wayback Machine. Pageantopolis.com. Retrieved 2010-09-12. Lists contestants, w/photo of Christensen & contestants.
  8. ↑ "The Helena Christensen Picture Pages". Superiorpics.com.
  9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/helenachristensencovers/
  10. ↑ Wechsler, Pat; Feld, David (20–27 December 1993). Times Square bananas over billboard. Intelligencer. New York Magazine. p. 19. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  11. ↑ Bjorkman, James. "Helena Christensen, Danish Delight". Filminspector.com. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  12. 1 2 3 "Helena Christensen Profile". Fashion Model Directory database. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  13. ↑ DeCaro, Frank (21 April 1996). "Supermodels Hot As Ever Or On Ice?; No Stars Means No Sizzle". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  14. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2018-ready-to-wear/versace
  15. ↑ Powers, Bill (11 October 1998). "PULSE; A Model Will Call The Shots". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Mr. Jarrett offered the top editorial position to Ms. Christensen
  16. 1 2 Colford, Paul D. (3 March 1999). "Nylon Not a Stretch for the Man Behind Ray Gun". latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-21. [Jarrett's] partners in the new venture include supermodel Helena Christensen, who acts as creative director.
  17. ↑ Wells, Melanie (1 November 1999). "Entrepreneur as Stunt Man". Forbes.com Magazine. p. 2. Archived from the original on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 2010-08-21. Upstart style magazine Nylon has gotten ink for making supermodel Helena Christensen its creative director.
  18. ↑ Note: Nylon' s masthead Archived 2010-02-13 at the Wayback Machine. credits her as follows: "founders mark blackwell, helena christensen, marvin scott jarrett, jaclynn b. jarrett".
  19. ↑ Vine, Sarah (24 March 2007). "Model's own - Helena Christensen is the latest model to turn fashion designer". London: The Times.
  20. ↑ "Butik.com website, circa 2008". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  21. ↑ Bahnsen, Lea Kathrine (11 May 2008). "Helena Christensen er vintage-dronning ("a vintage Queen")" (in Danish). Oestrogen.dk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-21. (English tr.)
  22. ↑ "Yo-Yo Second Hand Shop".
  23. ↑ Karmali, Sarah (18 September 2012). "Helena Christensen Talks Lingerie". Vogue.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  24. ↑ "Helena Christensen, A Quiet Story". Locus Gallery. Archived from the original on 2007-05-15.
  25. ↑ "Helena Christensen - Selections from A Quiet Story". FashionCapital.co.uk. HotelArena. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Press release.
  26. ↑ Nelson, Karin (14 December 2008). "The Imperfectionist". Style. New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-23. Slideshow
  27. ↑ "Helena Christensen, Far From, Close, photography exhibition - December 15th 2008 – January 18, 2009" (includes Flash gallery). Dactyl Foundation. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  28. ↑ Codinha, Alessandra. "Helena Christensen on her latest photography series: Liberty Ross, Liv Tyler, and the pursuit of grace". Vogue.
  29. ↑ "Helena Christensen witnesses impacts of climate change in Peru". Oxfam America. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  30. ↑ O'Brian, Jason (8 June 2007). "Erin-go-bra - Fashion targets breast cancer". Independent. IE. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  31. ↑ "Tommy Hilfiger Teams Up With Helena Christensen For Limited Edition Bags". The Daily. PapierDoll.net. AHN. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  32. ↑ INXS; Bozza, Anthony (2006). Inxs: Story to Story: The Official Autobiography. Atria. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-7432-8404-2. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  33. ↑ "Helena Christensen profile". Hello! magazine. 2006.
  34. ↑ "Helena Christensen profile". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  35. ↑ "Helena Christensen's son Mingus is a chess prodigy". People.com. 2 September 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  36. ↑ David Kaufman (19 October 2012). "Queen of the Runway". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Gerard, Jasper (27 November 2005). "Me and My Motors: Helena Christensen". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  38. ↑ Philby, Charlotte (21 November 2009) "My Secret Life: Helena Christensen, Supermodel, 40". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  39. ↑ Crichton, Torcuil (21 July 2007). "Helena Christensen Interview". Herald-Scotland. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
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