Elle Macpherson is an Australian supermodel and businesswoman. She was born Eleanor Nancy Gow in Killara, New South Wales, on March 29 1964, to parents Peter and Frances. The Australian native is known for her record six covers for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s, leading to her nickname "The Body", coined by Time Magazine in 1989.
Before entering into the fashion world, Elle gained a place at Sydney University to study pre-law but left after a year when she was spotted by a modelling scout while on holiday in Aspen. It was to be the start of an extremely lucrative career, which led to her fortune being valued at an estimated £21 million by 1999. Elle was the Covergirl for the prestigious swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated three years in a row, and her magazine namesake was so taken with her statuesque beauty that she was featured in its pages every month for six years.
Elle Macpherson's career
Elle made a name for herself in the eighties. Her unparalleled physique catapulted her into the limelight, enabling her to forge a career alongside names such as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. Despite noting that her Amazonian figure and dark features set her apart from the crowd, the star found her runway-ready feet among the cult of supermodels.
© Getty“The supermodel movement facilitated the uniqueness of women. We were all so diverse and our individuality was supported by the business. You didn’t have be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American girl. That’s why we loved that group of girls as they were so different from each other and they leaned into their uniqueness," she told HELLO! in May 2023.
© GettyIn 1990 she branched out into acting, first appearing on the silver screen in Woody Allen's Alice. Perhaps her most famous role was that of Sheela in the Australian film Sirens. She has appeared in the TV series Friends, and starred opposite George Clooney in Batman And Robin.
She also appeared as a mentor on Britain's Next Top Model and founded a supplement range, Welleco, which helps others to embody her wellness-infused lifestyle.
Elle Macpherson's family life
On February 14, 1998, Elle gave birth to Flynn, her son by French banker Arki Busson. Their second child, Aurelius Cy was born on February 5 the following year. Elle and Arki decided to call it quits after nine years together.
© InstagramHer now-20-year-old son Cy, has tested the waters of modelling, following in the runway-ready footsteps of his famous mother.
