Daria Werbowy

Daria Werbowy is a Canadian fashion model born on November 19, 1983. Recognized by Vogue as the "ultimate model muse," she became a leading figure in fashion and served as a spokesmodel for the French beauty brand Lancôme beginning in 2005. According to Forbes, Werbowy appeared on over 50 international Vogue covers throughout her career.

Born into an ethnic Ukrainian family in Poland, Werbowy moved at age three to Mississauga, Canada, alongside her brother and sister. Her family relocated to escape the generational effects of the World Wars. A tomboy who had not considered modelling, strangers frequently encouraged her to pursue it. At age 14 and standing 5'11", she signed with Susan J. Model & Talent Management in Toronto and won a national modelling contest.

After moving to Elite Model Management, Werbowy found limited early international success in England and Greece, and her initial runway bookings were canceled due to the 9/11 attacks in New York City. She temporarily returned to Canada before giving modelling a final attempt in New York to fund an art school education. She secured an exclusive deal with Prada the following day. Her career expanded rapidly after joining scout Elmer Olsen's new agency and gaining international representation with IMG Models.

In her debut Fall/Winter 2003 season, Werbowy landed three Vogue Italia covers and Prada's ad campaign. She holds the record for opening and closing the most shows in a single season. Over her career, she walked for brands including Balenciaga, Givenchy, Dior, Tom Ford, Chloé, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Celine. In September 2004, Steven Meisel photographed her for American Vogue's "Models of the Moment" cover.

Werbowy signed a contract with Lancôme in 2005 after a bidding war with Victoria's Secret, later launching a Sephora makeup collection benefiting the Vik Muniz charity Centrao Especial in 2008. In September 2008, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Named one of the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris, Werbowy was repeatedly ranked by Forbes among the world's highest-earning models, including in 2007, 2011, and 2015.

An avid sailor, Werbowy sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea in 2008 and completed a Central American expedition in 2011. She also appeared in the 2009 and 2011 Pirelli Calendars. In 2016, she retired after a decade in fashion to focus on photography and sailing. In 2023, Werbowy returned to modelling for a Gucci campaign by creative director Sabato de Sarno.