Claudia Schiffer at 51: Whatever happened to the supermodel of the 90s?

Claudia Schiffer was 20 years old when she caught the eye of an advertising agent in a nightclub in Düsseldorf (Germany). She had no idea that one day she would be a global fashion icon. You'll be surprised to see how she's doing today.

Claudia Schiffer was born on 25 August 1970 in Rheinberg, Germany. The model recalls that she had good grades at school but was not the most popular girl. As a teenager, she was bullied by her classmates because of her height.

The prestigious photographer Walter Chin showed Claudia Schiffer's beauty to the fashion world by publishing an essay and photo shoot in the French edition of ELLE.

After the breakthrough in ELLE, Schiffer moved to Paris and started working with the top models of that era. Designer Karl Lagerfeld chose her as the new face of Chanel.

Quickly, this 5.91ft (1.80m) tall blond model with intense blue eyes had all the great brands of the world at her feet: Guess, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, and more.

The German model also tried her luck in the world of acting. The first film she appeared in was 'Ri¢hie Ri¢h' (1994) with Macaulay Culkin. However, cinema was not her most successful enterprise.

In addition to acting and modelling, Claudia Schiffer embarked on a business adventure. Together with other models (Elle McPherson, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell), she started Fashion Cafe. Although the idea was interesting, the company did not prosper.

Claudia Schiffer's romantic affairs were closely followed by the media. She had a relationship with the illusionist David Copperfield until 1999. He was not to be the man of her life.

In 2000, Claudia Schiffer began a relationship with film director Matthew Vaughn. They were married in 2002 at a ceremony in Suffolk (England). The model was then 32 years old.

Claudia Schiffer and Matthew Vaughn had their first child in the year after their marriage. His name is Caspar Matthew. In 2004 the model gave birth to Clementine and in 2010 to Cosima Violet.

Claudia Schiffer appeared less on the catwalks, but she continued working as a photo model. Her image went around the world through brands like Mango, Chanel and Guess.

From 2010, Claudia Schiffer's media presence began to diminish. She focused on other projects and dedicated much time to her three children. The family lives in Oxfordshire, UK.

Claudia Schiffer does not seem to have much nostalgia for the 1990s and her supermodel lifestyle. "My past is a pleasant memory," she told ELLE magazine. "It would be awful if someone were to come and tell me about a magic pill that would make me look 20 again," she added.

In recent years, Claudia Schiffer has become interested in the art of ceramics. She is also working in the backstage of cinema, as a producer.

Together with her husband, Matthew Vaughn, Schiffer has invested money and energy in films like 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' and 'Rocketman,' the movie about Elton John. She is listed as a producer for both these films.

In 2017, the model released an autobiography. Simply titled 'Claudia Schiffer,' it contains hundreds of photos from her career in the world of fashion.

In 2020, Claudia Schiffer turned 50. Looking back on her career, she told ELLE magazine:  "I remember the years past as if it was something crazy, as if we were rock stars. We couldn't get in or out of a car without someone helping us."

"There were people who cut the canvas of the dressing rooms where we were preparing ourselves for the fashion shows, just to be able to take a picture of us," she added.

Claudia Schiffer also remembers that she used to be surrounded by security guards all the time, and that there was even a person who guarded her underwear to prevent it from getting stolen.

Nowadays, Claudia Schiffer lives a much more relaxed life with her family in the countryside. Her kids are teenagers now.

Even though she turned 50, Claudia Schiffer has not lost any of her radiance. She is still the beautiful model from before.