| Full Name | Cynthia Ann Crawford |
| Birthday | February 20, 1966 |
| Birth Place | DeKalb, Illinois, United States |
| Spouse | Rande Gerber (m. 1998) |
| Children | 2 |
| Height | 5‘ 9" (1.75 m) |
| Net Worth | $400 million |
| Social Media | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube |
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Crawford is an American former supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur who achieved tremendous success at the peak of her career in the 1990s. With her signature beauty mark, athletic physique, and effortless grace, Crawford became the epitome of the All-American supermodel and global celebrity.
Early Life and Modeling Discovery
Born in 1966 in DeKalb, Illinois, a young Cindy Crawford was first discovered at age 16 by a local newspaper photographer. After winning a modeling contest put on by the newspaper, she began to establish her modeling career while still in high school. Crawford went on to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University but dropped out to pursue modeling full-time after just one quarter.
In 1986, Crawford made the move to New York City to advance her budding career. She quickly landed major modeling contracts and appeared on the covers of top fashion magazines like Vogue, ELLE, and Harper’s Bazaar. But her big break came in 1988 when she became the first modern supermodel to pose for Playboy magazine. This cemented her status as one of the preeminent models of the time.
Reign as Supermodel and Pop Culture Icon
From the late 1980s through the 1990s, Cindy Crawford was arguably the most in-demand supermodel in the world. She worked with renowned fashion photographers like Herb Ritts and Richard Avedon. Crawford graced the runway for fashion houses like Chanel, Versace, and Christian Dior. Some highlights include:
- Appearing on over 500 magazine covers, including Vogue, W, and Cosmopolitan
- Serving as the face of brands like Pepsi, Omega, and Revlon
- Having a bestselling fitness video called "Cindy Crawford: Shape Your Body"
- Posing for Playboy magazine five times, including a nude pictorial
- Walking the runway for the biggest names in fashion
- Defining the iconic supermodel image of the 1990s
With her trademark mole, natural beauty, and magnetic presence, Crawford transcended modeling to become a pop culture phenomenon and household name. But beyond her physical appearance, Crawford demonstrated professionalism, ambition, and business savvy that allowed her to create a lasting legacy.
Post-Modeling Endeavors and Advocacy
After decades of success, Crawford formally retired from full-time modeling work in 2000. But she continues to work and make public appearances when it suits her. She has focused her efforts on numerous business ventures and philanthropic causes:
- Launching the successful Cindy Crawford Home furniture and home goods line
- Co-founding the popular skincare brand Meaningful Beauty
- Starting the tequila company Casamigos with husband Rande Gerber
- Supporting cancer research, environmental activism, and youth empowerment programs
- Publishing her memoir, Becoming, in 2010
- Using her platform and voice to mentor young women and give back
Crawford also makes time for family life with husband Rande Gerber, with whom she has two children. The family splits their time between California and Canada. Crawford maintains an active social media presence interacting with her fans around the world.
Lasting Legacy as Fashion Icon
Without question, Cindy Crawford solidified herself as one of the most famous and successful supermodels ever. Her multifaceted career and business ventures expanded the possibilities for models. Crawford’s confidence, determination, and parlaying of her modeling fame into an enduring personal brand set a template for models after her. Even decades after the height of her modeling career, Crawford remains instantly recognizable and an inspiration to people globally. Her impact forever changed the fashion world and our wider culture. Crawford showed that with beauty, personality, drive, and smarts, models can achieve supermodel status and iconhood.