Helena Christensen

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Helena Christensen bigraphy, stories - Danish model

Helena Christensen : biography

25 December 1968 –

Helena Christensen (born December 25, 1968) is a Danish fashion model, former Victoria’s Secret Angel, beauty queen, and photographer. She has also served as creative director for Nylon magazine, designed clothing, and supported funding for breast cancer organizations and other charities.

Personal life

Christensen dated and lived with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence on and off in France and Denmark for a period of five years in the early 1990s.

She was in a relationship with actor Norman Reedus for five years; together they have a son named Mingus Lucien Reedus (born October 13, 1999).. Hello! magazine. 2006. Reedus and Christensen split in 2003. While maintaining careers in photography and clothing design, Christensen says of her son, "He's all that matters," she says. "He's my best friend."Mendoza, Elizabeth Lamont (March 2009). . Cookie Magazine 

Christensen has an apartment in Copenhagen and lives in Manhattan, where she drives "the only type of car I’ve ever had", a Morris Minor.Gerard, Jasper (November 27, 2005). . The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2010-08-26.Philby, Charlotte (November 21, 2009) . The Independent. Retrieved 2010-08-26. She reported in 2007 that she would be giving up her place in Monaco.

Christensen has claimed on several occasions to be a cheese addict. The Independent (archived via Highbeam Research), September 7, 1999

Modeling career

Christensen appeared on many magazine covers (including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, W) and in fashion campaigns (including Revlon, Chanel, Versace, Lanvin, Prada, Sonia Rykiel, Hermes, Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld) during the 1990s. One noted campaign featured her in a billboard in Times Square, bare, "except for a strategically placed banana leaf."

She was in the Victoria's Secret catalog and in their television commercials as one of the signature Angels, along with Tyra Banks, Karen Mulder, Daniela Pestova, and Stephanie Seymour. She also became a spokesmodel for Revlon cosmetics. 

In 1991, she starred in the music video for Chris Isaak’s song "Wicked Game." The video was later featured on MTV’s "Sexiest Video of All-Time", voted #4 on VH1’s "50 Sexiest Video Moments", and voted #13 on VH1’s "100 Greatest Videos".

Christensen continues modelling; recently she graced the covers of Spanish Vogue, British Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE, and American Vs. Magazine. She was also featured in the advertising campaigns of Ermanno Screvino, Reebok, Caractere and Triumph. Christensen is signed to Marylin in Paris, D Management in Milan and 1/One Management in New York City.. Fashion Model Directory database. Retrieved 2008-07-11.

Business

Christensen was creative director of Nylon magazine at its 1999 founding by publisher Marvin Scott Jarrett.

Note: Nylon’ s credits her as follows: "founders mark blackwell, helena christensen, marvin scott jarrett, jaclynn b. jarrett". She launched her own clothing line, Christensen & Sigersen, with lifelong friend Leif Sigersen. The pair previously ran Butik, a shop in New York’s West Village.

Christensen has sold some of her vintage clothes line in her mother's store, the Yo-Yo Second Hand Shop, in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

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Christensen famously once said, when asked if normal girls would feel comfortable in her new clothing line, "I don’t care. I have no clue. I don’t think about anyone but me." The quote is printed on the back of Denis Leary’s 2008 book, Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid.

Christensen is a photographer whose work has appeared in Nylon, Marie Claire, and ELLE. Her exhibition "A Quiet Story", curated by Jim Cook, premiered in at the Locus Gallery in Rotterdam, 2006, and HotelArena in Amsterdam, 2007.

Press release. 

Her exhibition "Far From, Close" appeared at Dactyl Foundation in 2008/09, to benefit International Center of Photography educational programs and Chernobyl Children’s Project International.

Breast cancer fundraising

Christensen launched the second Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign which involves the sale of exclusive designer t-shirts to raise millions for Ireland’s Action Breast Cancer (Irish Cancer Society) and Europa Donna Ireland to help younger women with breast cancer.

Early life

Christensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her father is Danish, and her mother is Peruvian.Nome, Valerie. (May 7th, 2008). . OK Magazine.

Miss Denmark

Christensen won the Miss Denmark crown in 1986

and represented Denmark in Miss Universe 1986. Pageantopolis.com. Retrieved 2010-09-12. Lists contestants, w/photo of Christensen & contestants. She left her home soon afterwards to pursue modeling in Paris.. Superiorpics.com.