A Timeless Beauty: Cindy Crawford's Journey Through the Decades

Cindy Crawford has always had a refreshing take on ageing. By the time she approached her fifties, she’d started noticing her age in little things: “Your skin, your hair, your body. I take care of myself but I know that I’m a 51-year-old woman,” she told The Cut at the time.

In the realm of supermodels, few names shine as brightly as Crawford, who features in the 40 Vogue icons gracing the cover of March's issue – the final edited by outgoing British editor Edward Enninful. From her humble beginnings in the small town of DeKalb, Illinois, to gracing the covers of countless magazines and dominating the fashion runways of the ‘80s and ‘90s, there’s no doubt she has cemented her status as a true icon of beauty and success, and what a journey it has been. Impressive stuff.

A Supermodel in the Making

Born on February 20 1966, Cynthia Ann Crawford grew up with dreams bigger than her small-town surroundings. With her signature mole above her lip and captivatingly statuesque figure, she was catapulted into the industry when she was scouted by a local newspaper photographer at the age of 16, and little did she know that this encounter would be the catalyst for her meteoric rise to fame.

It wasn’t long until she had signed with the legendary Elite Model Management and moved to New York City, where her classic American beauty and unparalleled presence quickly caught the attention of the fashion world. She soon became a muse for renowned photographers like Richard Avedon and Herb Ritts, gracing the covers of Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.

Crawford's career went on to reach new heights in the ‘90s, and she became synonymous with luxury brands like Versace and Chanel, walking the runways of Paris, Milan and New York with effortless grace. It’s no surprise that to this day, alongside Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Claudia Schiffer, she will always be known as one of the big five original supermodels.

Cindy Crawford: Ageing with Grace

Unsurprisingly, people tend to hold models to unrealistic beauty standards, especially as they get older, but Crawford proudly rejects any age expectations people might have for her and has shared plenty of words of wisdom with everyone who’s afraid of ageing.

In interviews, Crawford has emphasised the importance of self-acceptance and self-care at every stage of life. She also advocates for a holistic approach to beauty that prioritises inner confidence and well-being over external appearances, believing that true beauty comes from living authentically and embracing one's imperfections.

That doesn’t mean she hasn’t had a hard time with people online reacting to her changing appearance, saying: “I don’t need everyone on Instagram pointing out that I don’t look the same way I did when I was 20. I know that. But after the struggle came acceptance, which we can all learn from.”

Hear hear.