Helena Christensen

Helena Christensen is a Danish fashion model, photographer, and former Victoria's Secret Angel. She achieved international prominence in the 1990s as one of the era's leading supermodels, featuring on major magazine covers, starring in notable music videos, and representing major international fashion houses. In addition to modeling, she co-founded Nylon magazine, created several clothing lines, and has engaged in photography projects and philanthropic campaigns.

Christensen was born on December 25, 1968, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish father, Fleming, and a Peruvian mother, Elsa. The elder of two daughters, she grew up fluent in Danish, English, French, and German. In 1986, she won the Miss Universe Denmark title and represented Denmark at the Miss Universe pageant in Panama. After placing as a finalist in the Look of the Year 1987 competition, she moved to Paris to pursue a modeling career.

During the 1990s, Christensen established herself as one of the most prominent models of her generation. In 1990, she starred in the music video for Chris Isaak's song "Wicked Game." She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and W, and starred in advertising campaigns for brands including Chanel, Versace, Prada, Lanvin, Hermès, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, and Revlon. She served as one of the original Victoria's Secret Angels and appeared in a prominent Times Square billboard campaign. In 1996, New York Times fashion writer Frank DeCaro included her among "The Magnificent Seven" supermodels of the modern catwalk.

Christensen maintained an active career on the runway and in fashion print in subsequent years. She appeared on covers for Vogue Italia, Portuguese Vogue, British Tatler, and French Elle. In September 2017, she joined other supermodels to close the Versace spring/summer 2018 fashion show as an homage to Gianni Versace. She also walked for Dolce & Gabbana and featured in their spring/summer 2019 campaign. Throughout her career, she signed with agencies including ZZO Management, D Management, Unsigned Group, and 1/One Management.

In 1999, Christensen co-founded Nylon magazine, serving as its original creative director. She launched the clothing line Christensen & Sigersen with Leif Sigersen, operated the West Village shop Butik, created a vintage line for her mother's shop in Copenhagen, and designed a 2012 lingerie collection for Triumph. As a photographer, her work has been published in Nylon, Marie Claire, and ELLE. Her photography exhibitions include "A Quiet Story" and "Far From, Close," and she was named "Global Explorer" for Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts in 2016.

Christensen has also participated in humanitarian and social causes, partnering with Oxfam in 2009 to document climate change impacts in Peru and launching the 2006 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to support Irish charities. Her personal life includes past relationships with musician Michael Hutchence, actor Norman Reedus—with whom she has a son, Mingus—and singer Paul Banks. She is the aunt of footballer and model Oliver Sonne and maintains residences in Denmark and New York.