"The Body" even at 60

Elle Macpherson and the era of supermodels

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29.03.2024 06:00

The 1980s and 1990s were the era of supermodels. Glamorous icons such as Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer were the queens of the catwalks and graced the covers of major fashion magazines for years. But only one was nicknamed "The Body" because of her dream measurements and toned body: Elle Macpherson. It almost seems as if the Australian, who turns 60 on Friday, has outwitted time.

When she presented herself on a catwalk at the Melbourne Fashion Festival a few weeks ago for the first time in 14 years, the entire fashion world was amazed. The media spoke of a "breathtaking return".

Macpherson, who was born near Sydney in 1964, last walked for Louis Vuitton in Paris in 2010. Before that, she presented fashion for the who's who of the scene for more than three decades, from Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein to John Galliano, Michael Kors and Valentino.

At the same time, she was regularly photographed for the covers of prestigious magazines, including "Harper's Bazaar", "Marie Claire", "Vogue" and "Cosmopolitan" as well as particularly frequently - and fittingly - "Elle".

Because of covers like this one, Elle Macpherson was nicknamed "The Body". (Bild: www.PPS.at)
Because of covers like this one, Elle Macpherson was nicknamed "The Body".

Elle "The Body" Macpherson with the "Magnificent Seven"
She has been the face and body of the swimwear issue of the fitness magazine "Sports Illustrated" a record five times since 1986. Finally, in 1989, Time magazine dedicated the cover story to her under the headline "The Big Elle" - and declared her to be Elle "The Body" Macpherson for the first time in the article.

Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson in 1995. (Bild: APA/AFP/DOMINIQUE FAGET)
Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson in 1995.

She finally joined the ranks of the world's best-known and best-paid top models, however, when Frank DeCaro included her in his list of the "glorious seven" in the New York Times in 1996, together with Helena Christensen, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer.

The author mused: "Known to legions of fans by their first names, they are the supermodel legends of the modern catwalk. Girls next door who are pretty under all that color." Now Macpherson is the first of the "Magnificent Seven" to celebrate her 60th birthday - although Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista will follow in a few years' time.

Elle Macpherson in the early 2000s (Bild: www.pps.at)
Elle Macpherson in the early 2000s

From simple student to supermodel
Things didn't always go so smoothly in her private life: Macpherson has been divorced twice and separated from the father of her two sons Flynn (26) and Cy (21), to whom she was not married, back in 2005.

After high school, she briefly studied law at the University of Sydney, but in the meantime traveled to the USA, where she signed her first modeling contract. She was later also successful as an actress. Among other things, she repeatedly appeared in the hit series "Friends" in the late 1990s as idolized roommate Janine LaCroix. She also took on smaller film roles, for example in Franco Zeffirelli's romantic drama "Jane Eyre". From 2010 to 2013, she presented "Britain's Next Top Model", and last year Macpherson was a guest judge on Heidi Klum's "Germany's Next Top Model".

Elle Macpherson in the cult series "Friends". (Bild: Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / picturedesk.com)
Elle Macpherson in the cult series "Friends".

Today, she is less concerned with looks
But the days when covers and catwalks defined her life are long gone. Today, Macpherson is mainly a successful entrepreneur with her wellness brand "WelleCo", which specializes primarily in nutritional supplements. She also pays extreme attention to a healthy diet in her private life, has not drunk alcohol for years, does yoga and meditates, as she told Harper's Bazaar magazine in January. Today, she is less concerned with how she looks and more with how she feels.

Elle Macpherson was back on the catwalk at the Melbourne Festival after 14 years. (Bild: EPA/Daniel Pockett)
Elle Macpherson was back on the catwalk at the Melbourne Festival after 14 years.

"I spent a lot of years taking care of my appearance as 'The Body' and really living up to other people's expectations of me," she emphasized in an interview with the Australian magazine "Body and Soul" in November.

Today, the beauty pays more attention to her inner well-being and wants to help other women to enjoy their lives to the full. (Bild: EPA/Daniel Pockett)
Today, the beauty pays more attention to her inner well-being and wants to help other women to enjoy their lives to the full.

Her life is much more fulfilling now that she focuses on her inner well-being. "I just love this feeling of vitality and I'm grateful for my life, I'm grateful for my journey and I love turning 60." She sees her role as helping other women to enjoy their lives to the full as well.

Macpherson is still in touch with her supermodel friends
She plans to publish a book soon, as she revealed to "Body and Soul". She left open whether it will be an autobiography, a memoir about her modeling days or a health guide. "While the models of the 1980s and 1990s were icons, the women they have grown up to be are far more nuanced," the magazine aptly wrote.

Does she still have contact with her former supermodel colleagues? "Claudia (Schiffer) and I had our kids at the same school in London, so we saw each other every day, Cindy (Crawford) and I have a lot of mutual friends and Naomi (Campbell) and I have worked together on and off over the years," Macpherson said. "So yes, we're still connected, and that's wonderful."

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