Angela Lindvall

Top models from the U.S. are actually rare, so when one arrives on the scene, the Americans does not miss a beat in making her a star. Such was the case with Angela Lindvall who became the face of Tommy Hilfiger and one of the beautiful girls of Victoria's Secret.

At 29, the svelte Lindvall continues to dominate the catwalks. Her 1m80cm (5'9") height and her special aura have given her, despite her long absences from the scene, an indestructible rating with the designers and the press.

Lindvall has been graced with remarkable beauty: neither too common nor too unusual, she has grown through the years without showing the least signs of age, all the while continuing (like Bündchen) to be a role model for beautiful and healthy girls. For all of these reasons, and many others, this Oklahoma girl is not ready to leave the stage, despite her almost 30 years.

Lindvall was born in 1979, the fourth of five children. Her family moved soon afterwards to Missouri where the frail Lindvall spent most of her childhood. She learned early to respect nature and others, and the Lindvall family (of Swedish origin) cultivated a very healthy lifestyle that she later transmitted to her children.

At 14, her beauty - perfect physique, ash blond hair, and forget-me-not regard - did not go unnoticed. During a small fashion show in Kansas City in which she participated, she was scouted by a New York agency. At an age where her friends were dealing with braces and sleepovers, she signed with the famous IMG Agency. Under the advice of her family, however, she waited until she was 17 to start working in order to have an adolescence as normal as possible

When she appeared on the cover of ID in November 1996, the critics announced the arrival of a new top model on the market. Barely several months later, Steven Meisel sealed her destiny by photographing her for the cover of Vogue U.K. Other covers followed and she found herself booked for numerous campaigns in 1998, e.g., Prada, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana. Later that year, she was given the Model of the Year Award.

Lindvall was one of those rare models who did not start their careers on the catwalks. The shows came later. She continued to appear on covers and replaced Stella Tennant at Chanel. In 2000, she closed for Marc Jacobs and was nominated for a second time Model of the Year. This was a rich time for the young girl, and her ratings shot through the roof. Her daily fee climbed to $50,000.

The big photographers sought her out. Mario Testino insisted that she participate in the Pirelli calendar for 2001 with the most famous models of the moment. Designers requested Lindvall for their shows and often gave her the opening or closing slots, which in the business made her a sure thing.

Like many of her colleagues, however, Lindvall aspired to other things than just posing for magazines. She dreamed of being in movies and her success in the fashion world helped her. She landed a role in CQ, which came out in 2001. She was not nominated for a Golden Globe, but she did earn the title of an actress.

The same year, she became part of Victoria's Secret's dream team. She also met and quickly married William Edwards, a boat promoter. In 2002, she gave birth to a boy, William Dakota. Thanks to her metabolism, she was able to pose for several ad campaigns only several months later, e.g., Missoni and Jil Sander (photographed by Richard Avedon).

Motherhood may have led her to become aware of the necessity to take a stand, because in 2003, Lindvall became the spokesperson for the Red Dress Project, an organization whose goal is to raise funds for cardiac research, and started a website to teach young people about the environment. She was designated the best dressed environmental defender by the Sustainable Style Foundation. At the same time, she made a sensation in Paris by closing the Dior show.

In 2004, she lived with her family on a boat anchored in the Port of New York, and then became the face of Calvin Klein. Despite having a career envied by many, she took the risk of having a second child in 2005, Sebastian. Then she was called again by the world of cinema and appeared in the role of Flicka in the offbeat Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Lindvall worked very little between 2002 and 2006. She accepted only prestigious contracts that did not take her far from her family. In 2006, she divorced, however and gradually rejoined the world of fashion with a new energy. She was one of the stars chosen by H&M to redo their image, and the following year, Zara called on her, as well. She was also recruited by Testino for the Versace campaign and landed a role in Pearlblossom, a horror film.

In 2008, the media-hyped photographer duo Mert and Marcus asked her to pose for Louis Vuitton and Just Cavalli. Despite her absence, the press welcomed her and the fashion editors jumped at the chance to work with her again, e.g. her recent appearance in Vogue France. Lindvall herself finds it hard to believe the warm reception she was given and is thankful for having regained her place as a fashion "it" girl, even after the birth of her two children. She is slated to appear in the new Jimmy Choo campaign shot by the controversial Terry Richardson.