Cindy Crawford: Gold Standard

On the eve of her 50th birthday, supermodel Cindy Crawford looks back on her most arresting images.

- Kate Betts

It took several years to persuade Cindy Crawford to write a book about her brilliant career. But on the day before her 50th birthday, the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur decided it was the right time to share some of her life lessons, and to marry them to the iconic photographs she created with some of fashion’s greatest lensmen, from Richard Avedon to Watch! contributor Patrick Demarchelier to her mentor, Herb Ritts. Crawford tells the story of what it took to catapult her out of small-town DeKalb, Illinois, and into the brightest spotlight of the most glamorous industry. We sat down with her to talk about her beautiful new book, Becoming.

Watch!: You’ve had such an incredible career as a model, an entrepreneur and a television personality. What inspired you to add author to your résumé?

Cindy Crawford: Several years ago, I did a book with [makeup artist] Sonia Kashuk. After that, I had no interest in doing another one ... but I was having lunch with [my publicist] Annette Wolf a few years ago and we were talking about my 50th birthday. This idea came up of 50 images married to 50 essays, and it just clicked. It is a great way for me to embrace turning 50, to share my stories about how I’ve grown and gained insight as a woman.