Elle Macpherson
The Australian supermodel who transcended the runway to build a wellness and business empire on her own terms.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Australian model and actress·Birthday: March 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
Elle Macpherson didn't just grace the covers of a record-breaking number of *Sports Illustrated* swimsuit issues; she became 'The Body,' a moniker that defined an era of modeling but which she later worked to define on her own broader terms. Sensing the fleeting nature of modeling fame, she leveraged her image into successful business ventures, most notably her Elle Macpherson Intimates lingerie line, which became a retail powerhouse. Her interests evolved towards health and wellness, leading her to co-create The Body, a superfood supplement, and host Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model, shifting from subject to mentor. Macpherson's career arc is a study in savvy reinvention, moving from iconic pin-up to a poised entrepreneur focused on holistic living.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Elle was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Elle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Held the record for the most covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (five) for over two decades.
- Built Elle Macpherson Intimates into a globally distributed lingerie brand generating millions in annual sales.
- Co-founded WelleCo, a wellness company centered on The Body superfood supplement line.
- Served as host and executive producer for multiple cycles of 'Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model.'
Did You Know?
She was discovered while studying law at the University of Sydney.
Macpherson is an accomplished sailor and has competed in regattas.
She holds dual Australian and British citizenship.
Her nickname 'The Body' was coined by Time magazine in 1989.
“Beauty is not just physical. It's a state of mind, a state of being.”
