Claudia Maria Schiffer, the German model and actress, has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion. Born on August 25, 1970, in Rheinberg, Germany, she emerged as one of the most successful models of the 1990s, achieving supermodel status that transcended mere beauty. Her journey from a small town to international stardom is nothing short of captivating.

Her breakthrough came with the iconic Guess? campaigns in 1989. You know, the ones where she posed in denim cutoffs, looking like she’d just rolled out of bed after a wild night. But let’s be real—nobody wakes up looking that good. Karl Lagerfeld recognised her allure and appointed her as Chanel’s new face in 1990. She sashayed down the runway, leaving an indelible impression on the fashion world. The crowd gasped, and I swear I heard someone mutter, “Come on, man, she’s not human.”

Schiffer has graced over 1,000 magazine covers, a feat immortalised in the Guinness World Records. Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan—you name it, she owned it. High-profile fashion houses clamoured for her presence on their runways, paying her a staggering $20,000 per show in 1992. That’s more than my annual salary, and I’m here writing about her. Her elegance and poise made her the epitome of timeless beauty. Me? I trip over my own shoelaces.

But Claudia wasn’t content with just strutting her stuff. She has dabbled in acting, starring in films like Richie Rich and Love Actually. Yeah, you heard me right—she shared screen time with Macaulay Culkin and Hugh Grant. 

Her philanthropic endeavours includes work with UNICEF and the Make Poverty History campaign. She isn’t just a pretty face; she has a heart bigger than a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon bottle. Her net worth, estimated at $70 million in 2023, attests to her multifaceted success. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to figure out how to fold a fitted sheet.

Her personal life is equally captivating. From her engagement to magician David Copperfield (yes, the guy who made the Statue of Liberty disappear) to her marriage to film director Matthew Vaughn, Claudia has kept us guessing. But one thing’s for sure: she’s more elusive than my lost sock collection. And that’s saying something.

So here’s to Claudia Schiffer— You’ve given us more than just fashion; you’ve given us a glimpse of what it’s like to be superhuman. Or at least super fabulous.

In this editorial: Kerstin Weng, Luigi and Iango, Juan Costa Paz, Dena Giannini, Georgi Sandev & Claudia Schiffer.