Claudia Schiffer Biography

Name : Claudia Schiffer

Date of Birth : 25 August 1970, Rheinberg, Germany 

Height : 5' 11" (1.80 m) 

Occupation : Fashion Model    

Born on August 25, 1970, the model grew up in Rheinberg, one of four children in a well-to-do family. She was just 17, when, in a Dusseldorf disco, she was approached by a representative for the Metropolitan modelling agency. And six months later – after graduating from high school – the statuesque 5ft 11in blonde who had always considered herself too tall and too thin, made her first appearance on the cover of Elle magazine. High profile jobs with Guess? Jeans and Chanel followed, with a series of long-term contracts with Revlon helping make her one of the highest-paid models in the world. Known for her business savvy and language skills, Claudia did not initially find her consistent success in the modelling industry mirrored in her personal life. 

Originally eager to follow in her father's footsteps by becoming a lawyer, Schiffer warmed to modeling after being discovered in a nightclub in 1987. With her 5'11" frame and striking angular countenance, Schiffer was a natural, first gracing the cover of Elle magazine, then in 1989, landing the coveted spot as the centerpiece of the Guess? jeans advertising campaign. The sultry black-and-white ads turned her into a familiar face, and paved the way for over 500 magazine covers throughout her career. Schiffer made her first appearance on celluloid in Richie Rich (1994), as an aerobics instructor. The role apparently encouraged some real-world pursuits, as she would release a line of workout videos the following year. Also in 1994, she was a natural to cameo in Robert Altman's fashion industry send-up Ready to Wear, the first of Schiffer's many film appearances as herself, including Ben Stiller's Zoolander (2001). 

Schiffer has also been the face of Spanish clothes store, Mango and Accessorize, where she had her ears pierced especially for her Autumn/Winter 2006 Accessorize advertising campaign in 2006. Schiffer still holds a contract with L'Oréal and Ebel watches, and her billboard picture for Kenar has also hung over millions of tourists at Times Square. Since 1990, she has created a swimsuit calendar each year which she stars in and designs herself.