New York Magazine

Skip to content, skip to search, or go to the top of the page.

Skip to content, skip to navigation, or go to the top of the page.

Model bio for Helena Christensen Next bio

Helena Christensen

Helena Christensen's photoPATRICK MCMULLAN

Nationality:
Danish
Birthday:
December 25, 1968
Born in:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Lives now:
New York, NY
Agencies:
1 Model Management, Marilyn Agency
Known for:
My body, my eyes
Status:
Retired (mostly), sexy girl, supermodel
Dated:
Paul Banks, Josh Hartnett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Huston, Michael Hutchence
Married:
Norman Reedus (1998-2003)
Children:
Mingus Luchien Reedus (born 10/22/99)
Friends with:
Amber Valletta, James Rousseau, Jessica Miller, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Bosworth, Kate Moss, May Andersen, Michael Stipe, Naomi Campbell, Paulina Porizkova, Tatjana Patitz
Model turned…
Magazine editor (Nylon magazine, 1999), store owner (Butik Christensen & Sigersen, 2005), photographer
Interests:
Interior design, collecting antiques

Photos

Off the Runway

Parties, covers, ads, etc.View slideshow »

Career

British Esquire, 1999

1968
Born December 25 in Copenhagen, Denmark
1977
Begins modeling
1986
Wins the Miss Denmark competition
1986
Leaves home to pursue modeling career
1989
Discovered by photographer Friedemann Hauss
1990
Dates Michael Hutchence, the lead singer for rock band INXS
Mar 1990
Appears on the cover of British Vogue
1991
Appears topless in the music video for Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” Video »
1991
Arrives in Paris and is hired immediately by Karl Lagerfeld and fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh
1992
Plays herself in TV movie Inferno Video »
Apr 1992
Appears on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar
Apr 1993
Appears on cover of Vogue
1994
Appears in print ads for CoverGirl
1994
Appears in print ads for Gianni Versace, who describes her as having “the most beautiful body in the world”
Dec 25, 1994
Has cameo role in Robert Altman’s movie Prêt-à-Porter
1996
Appears in print ads for Victoria’s Secret
1997
Briefly dates Leonardo DiCaprio
1997
Appears in print ads for Ralph Lauren
Jul 1997
Appears on cover of British Vogue
Aug 1997
Appears on cover of Dazed & Confused magazine
1998
Appears in Dom Pérignon ad campaign, directed and photographed by Karl Lagerfeld
1998
Dates actor Norman Reedus
1999
Co-founds Nylon magazine
1999
Retires from the catwalk
Sep 1999
Appears on the cover of British GQ
Oct 22, 1999
Gives birth to Mingus Luchien Reedus
2002
Appears in print ads for Montblanc
2002
Separates from Norman Reedus; takes custody of son Mingus
2002
Appears in the music video for the Dirty Vegas song “Simple Things” Video »
Jul 2002
Photographs Carlsberg ad campaign
Jul 2003
Opens the Ungaro fall couture show in Paris
Apr 2005
Opens her own boutique, Butik Christensen & Sigersen, in the West Village with longtime partner Dane Leif Sigersen
Jul 2006
Appears on cover of French Elle
Jul 2007
Unveils “A Quiet Life,” an exhibition of her photographs focusing on landscapes and portraits, in Amsterdam
Jul 2, 2007
Returns to the catwalk for the fall Christian Dior 60th-anniversary couture show in Paris
Jul 18, 2007
Holds a party for the auctioning of her photography at Milk Studios Story »
Jul 31, 2007
Announces new hair-care line, Model.Me, with Erin O’Connor; to be launched September 12
Mar 2008
Appears in Harper's Bazaar editorial mocking the extremely late start of the Marc Jacobs spring show, photographed by Peter Lindbergh
Mar 2008
Begins dating Interpol singer Paul Banks Photo »
Apr 2008
Photographs Valentina Zelyaeva for a Spanish Vogue editorial

Quoted

“You look and you see something that with a camera somehow looks different because you’re zooming in on it.”

Nymag.com (July 18, 2007)

Fashion Show Shortcuts