8 things you should know about Elle Macpherson
With some pretty incredible vital statistics and the kind of sporty appeal that comes with growing up on a surfboard, Elle Macpherson revolutionized modelling in the 1980s and 1990s, paving the way for a new, athletic body ideal alongside Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour and Christie Brinkley. Find out more about The Body, as she celebrates her birthday today.
1/81 - Her name isn't really Elle Macpherson - Born March 29, 1964 as Eleanor Nancy Gow, she took the surname of her step-father, Neil Macpherson.
2/82 - She is Australian - Elle Macpherson was born in Killara in suburb of Sydney. With sunbleached hair and a deep beach tan, her strong physique may just have something to do with Australia's national sport, surfing.
3/83 - She was discovered skiing in Aspen - She was scouted at 18, skiing in Aspen, Colorado.
4/84 - She is known as 'The Body' - At nearly six feet tall with a sport-sculpted figure, Elle Macpherson was nicknamed "The Body" by the fashion community when she notched up a record five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers in the 1980s.
5/85 - She speaks fluent French - She learnt French when she was with Swiss banker Arpad Busson for ten years, with whom she had two sons, born in 1998 and 2003.
6/86 - She has cameoed in film and TV - Elle Macpherson has appeared on the big screen in "Alice" by Woody Allen (1990) and "Batman & Robin" by Joel Schumacher (1997) and also famously had a cameo role in "Friends", as Joey's new roommate.
7/87 - She made a runway comeback in 2010 - At 45, "The Body" closed Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2010-2011 at Paris Fashion Week in March 2010.
8/88 - She is now a seasoned businesswoman - At the head of the Elle Macpherson "The Body" beauty line since 2005 and a lingerie line since 2007, she has also worked on television series including "Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model" and "Fashion Stars" on NBC.
