Thrust into the “strange world” of modelling at 19, Helena Christensen had left her home country of Denmark for Paris to try her hand at the business on the assumption that the pursuit would be short-lived. “At first, I just thought it was an interesting opportunity [of] a couple of years if I could last that long mentally; and if the business wants to deal with me for that long,” she recounts with a laugh. “But it just kind of ended up being a different story.”
Christensen, who turns 53 this month, has a modelling career spanning decades. She’s a founding member of the original supermodel wave—Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, et al.—who, along with the legendary photographers of the time, redefined fashion photography forever. The work they produced initiated collaborative energy between photographer and subject and catapulted models to celebrity status for the first time.
“It was a lot to take in from a very young age because each job was an experience in itself and we used to shoot all over the world,” she says. “I'd find myself in temples in Thailand; at castles in Russia; at the top of Machu Picchu; on an elephant’s back; riding horses through deserts... There have been movies made [chronicling that particular time in the 1980s and ’90s], but I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to ever make a movie about what it was really like. That secret will stay with us girls and we always laugh about it. We all know how crazy and amazing it is that we were given that strange opportunity.”
This story is from the December 2021 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2021 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Twice As Nice
Thai actresses Sarocha "Freen" Chankimha and Rebecca "Becky" Patricia Armstrong have broken barriers for inclusivity with their onscreen portrayals, leaving global audiences wanting more.
10s Across The Board!
Ten Lee is stepping into an even bigger spotlight. The K-pop superstar opens up about going solo and growing into his many facets.
The House That Fred Built
FRED, the jewellery Maison that Fred Samuel created, pays tribute to his philosophy of life, light, and an unmistakable bold aesthetic in the art and pioneering craft of precious gems.
Impossible Is Possible
In a marriage of aesthetics and technology, Richard Mille strikes the perfect balance with its RM 07-01 Automatic collection.
Beauty Visual Cues
Amp up your peepers with bold lines and punchy colours that accentuate metallic frames. Librarian chic never looked so good.
Hair - Raising Issues
Unpacking the relationship between hair, health and mental well-being.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Managing consultant Corinne Ng's brutalist home is a safe space that showcases her passion for minimalist design and playful art.
FEELS GOOD. MAN
Feather-light hydrators and sunscreens that pamper and protect, without the weight.
MOST WANTED
The Kelly clasp is one the most distinctive visual codes in the Hermès canon-one of the many reasons why a product from the House never needs any logos to be recognisable.
HOROSCOPE
TAURUS (21 APR - 21 MAY) Happy birthday, Taurus! This May, your life takes the form of a mandala an intricate shape made from coloured sand that is destroyed after its creation. This doesn't mean that you'll lose everything. In fact, the whole month has the potential to be highly abundant, especially around the 19th, when Venus transits through your sign. Be brave and let go of attachments.