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Background:
Linda Evangelista is most well-known as one of five original supermodels, along
with Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer,
and is famous for her capricious quote, “I don’t get out of bed for less than
$10,000 a day.” Reacting about her controversial statement, she said, “I can’t
stand the way this follows me around. I said it a long time ago, and I hope
today I am a different person. Now I get out of bed for a much better reason.
I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV
and AIDS all over the world.”
During her flourishing stints in the world of modeling, she has grossed in
numerous magazine covers like in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and has appeared in
a slew of advertising campaigns, including Calvin Klein, L’OREAL and Yardley.
Additionally, one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World”
(1990), Evangelista has been cemented her reputation as a supermodel with
appearances on many runways. She earned a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame in
Toronto in June 2003, as well as won the 1997 VH1 Fashion and Music Award for
Special Lifetime Achievement.
Outside the supermodel life, Linda Evangelista, who both her grandmother and a
family friend suffered from breast cancer, is famous for her involvements in
charities aiming to raise awareness for breast cancer research. She has teamed
up with other celebrities, including Brian Adams, to host a charity fundraiser
in support of breast cancer research. As for her love life, the Italian-Canadian
beauty was married to Gerald Marie, the former head of Elite Paris, from
1987-1993, and has been linked to Andre Rau. She was once also engaged to Twin
Peaks actor Kyle MacLachlan (February 22, 1959), whom she met at a photo shoot
when she was still married. The two, however, never got married.
Millioner Linda
Childhood and Family:
In St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Linda Evangelista was born on May 10, 1965,
to Italian parents. She grew up in a working class, conventional Italian
Catholic family and had chosen to pursue a modeling career by the time she was
12. In Portuguese and Spanish, her last name means “gospel singer.”
On a more personal front, Linda, whose estimated worth in 1994 was $8 millions
and $29.8 millions as of 2000, owns apartments in such places as Ibiza, New York
City and Paris. An animal lover, she keeps four dogs: Coco, Willow Flower, Enzo,
and Willy as her pet in her home. As for her marriage life, Linda was married to
the ex-chairman of Elite Paris Gerard Marie in July 1987. The couple ended their
romance by filing for divorce in 1993.
The Trinity
Career:
“There is not another model in the world as professional as she is. Evangelista
was the ‘top of the tops.’” Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld
The naturally brown-haired, blue/green-eyed beauty with 1.77 m tall, Linda
Evangelista knew she wanted to become a model when she was 12. Entering the
business soon after being spotted by a talent agent while competing in the1978
Miss Teen Niagara Contest, Evangelista made her way to New York City at age 18,
following high school graduation, and signed with the Elite Model Management.
She later moved to Paris to further pursue her dreams.
Evangelista’s career achieved much boost when she eventually got job booking
with the high profile fashion magazine Vogue. Since then, her stunning facial
structure has decorated on every fashion magazine cover throughout the world.
Her successful supermodel status was well-established with countless appearances
in advertising campaigns such as for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Alberta Ferretti,
Gianni Versace, Hermes, Perry Ellis, American Express, Anne Klein, Barney’s,
Bloomingdale’s, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Jill Sander
Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Kenzo, Jones New York, Max Mara
and L’OREAL. She is also memorable for being the spokesmodel for Yardley.
A trend-setter, Evangelista cut off all her hair into a little-boy style haircut
in the mid-80s that led her being written out for all the important runway shows
that season. On the other hand, her hair soon became a role model for women all
over the world and Evangelista herself did numerous cover shoots for magazines,
breaking the rule of models never had a short hair cut.
Her career continued to elevate during the late 1980s and early 1990s, reaching
the reputation of becoming the hottest high-fashion model with her frequent
appearances on such famous magazines as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Following the
footsteps of fellow supermodel Helena Christensen who starred in a music video,
Evangelista was seen in two George Michael videos: “Too Funky” and “Freedom 90,”
which also featured the other top supermodels. She also appeared in documentary
films like Catwalk, for producer Christy Turlington, and Unzipped, by one of the
most flourishing designers in high fashion, Isaac Mizrahi. With her fellows
Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, Evangelista formed The Trinity and the
trio became the elite supermodels that dominated the fashion industry in the
early 90’s.
“People think modeling’ mindless, that you just stand there and pose, but it
doesn't have to be that way. I like to have a lot of input. I know how to wear a
dress, whether it should be shot with me standing or sitting.” Linda Evangelista
on modeling
Unlike other models that usually branched out to acting, Evangelista kept away
herself from an acting career. She could only be seen in the 1999 movie The Loss
of Sexual Innocence, where she made an uncredited cameo as Italian woman, and in
an episode of the popular TV series “Sex and the City” (2003), appearing as
saleswoman.
“I can do anything you want me to do so long as I don’t have to speak.” Linda
Evangelista
Awards:
- VH1 Fashion and Music: Special Lifetime Achievement, 1997
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