A platinum blonde, blue-eyed beauty with legs for miles! This German stunner is one of the most successful models of all time. And you won’t believe her secret!
Born to two successful bankers in West Berlin, Nadja Auermann never actually thought of becoming a model. In fact, her original desire was to be an architect or to pursue a career in politics. However, after leaving school with the equivalent of a high school diploma, she had decided to be a waitress until she made up her mind on what path she should take. A woman suggested she try modeling, & as fate would have it, she was discovered by a scout while sitting in a coffee shop in 1989. Her first gig? Posing for a travel catalogue. Not very glamorous, but unknowingly to her, she would go on to work for the most elite of fashion & become one of the highest paid model ever.
In 1990, she signed with Karin’s Models in Paris. Unfortunately, that agreement did not work out to her expectations so she left Karin’s Models & signed with Elite Model Management (Paris). She immediately started working for French Vogue & got her first ad campaign with Benneton. But Auermann wasn’t really being noticed nor causing any kind of buzz in the industry. So when it was time for the upcoming ready-to-wear shows, guess what she did?? Her secret? She went PLATINUM BLONDE! That’s right! This supermodel known for her gorgeous platinum blonde tresses is NOT a natural blonde. (However, she has gone to brunette in most recent times.)
It worked! Since her new do, everyone from Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani & Hermès came knocking! Fashion designer Valentino once commented on her physical resemblance to Marlene Dietrich. She would also go on to appear iconic Versace campaigns shot by Richard Avedon which shows her with Kristen McMenamy, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell & Stephanie Seymour in different shots modeling mini skirts. She has also appeared on countless covers & editorials of different fashion magazines, such as American, British, French, Italian & German editions of Vogue, W, V, Harper’s Bazaar & i-D. Just to name a few.
Kristen McMenamy & Nadja (right)by Richard Avedon for Versace’s campaign Spring 1995
Nadja on Harper’s Bazaar September 1994
One of the many Versace campaigns Nadja (first from left) was featured in
Dre DeCarlo 