Rachel Hunter
A New Zealand model who became a global beauty icon, gracing the covers of Sports Illustrated and Vogue while building a media empire around wellness.
Born 1969 (age 57)·New Zealand model and actress·Birthday: September 9·Generation X
Biography
Rachel Hunter landed covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1994 and again in 2006, a span of 12 years that demonstrated her enduring appeal. Born in Auckland in 1969, she moved from local modeling contests to the international stage as a teenager. Her breakthrough came with that SI platform, which she commanded with a combination of classic glamour and approachable energy. Beyond modeling, Hunter hosted television shows, authored books on beauty and fitness, and advocated for holistic health. Her marriage to musician Rod Stewart from 1990 to 2006 placed her in the global spotlight. She redirected that attention toward entrepreneurial ventures and charitable work, building a career as a businesswoman and wellness advocate. Hunter continues to work in media and modeling.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rachel was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rachel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rachel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
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
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
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
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice, in 1994 and again in 2006.
- Hosted and produced the internationally syndicated television series 'Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty'.
- Authored the book 'The Beauty of Living', detailing her philosophy on health and wellness.
- Has been featured on major magazine covers including Vogue, Elle, Rolling Stone, and Harper's Bazaar.
Did You Know?
She is a certified yoga instructor and has integrated yoga deeply into her wellness philosophy.
She was discovered at age 17 while working at a hair salon in New Zealand.
She is the face of several major skincare and beauty brands, including her own product lines.
She has a twin sister named Pauline.
“Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It's about knowing who you are.”
