"She fills clothes with life and fire," John Galliano once remarked on supermodel Helena Christensen, who reached "super" status in the '90s and has carried her success far into the new millennium.

Helena Christensen was born on December 25, 1968, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish father and Peruvian mother. In 1986, at the age of 18, she was crowned Miss Denmark and went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Following this experience, Helena left home to pursue a modeling career in Paris. Unlike so many, Helena found instant success. After a spread in Elle, she scored a cover shoot by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue and was soon landing prominent contracts from important designers in both Europe and America.

In 1991 Helena was cast as the mysterious ingénue in Chris Isaac's now notorious video for "Wicked Game," which still airs regularly on music channels and was even heralded by MTV as the Sexiest Video of All Time. Helena was already a star in the fashion world, but it was this scintillating performance that made her a household name. Helena broadened her visibility even further when she starred in ads for Victoria's Secret, even serving as an Angel for the lingerie brand's 1998 show.

Over the years Helena has put her modeling savvy to use in other business enterprises. She owns and operates an antique store in New York City, is the cofounder of Nylon, and is also a photographer. In addition to having her work appear in glossies like Elle and Marie Claire, she was also given a solo exhibition in Rotterdam in 2006.

Outside of work, she is an advocate for the fight against breast cancer and has lent her famous face to campaigns that have raised millions for the cause. Helena, a lefty and self-confessed cheese addict, owns homes in Monaco, Copenhagen, and Manhattan. When she's not modeling or busy being a business mogul, she spends her time with her son, Mingus, rocking out to the Smiths and R.E.M.