Renée Simonsen

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Renée Toft Simonsen (born 12 May 1965) is a Danish former model who currently works as a writer. Simonsen was one of the most successful models in the world during the 1980s.

Biography

Simonsen was born in Aarhus, Denmark, where she worked as a supermarket cashier before she was discovered.

In 1981 she caught the attention of fashion editor Birte Strandgaard, who convinced photographer Leif Nygaard to take some photos. Simonsen subsequently participated in the Ekstra Bladet Contest and won 2nd place. In July 1981 she appeared on the cover of the Danish magazine Fotokino.

The following year she won the Ekstra Bladet Contest, and was chosen to represent Denmark at the Supermodel of the World contest, which she won in August 1982. In December 1982 she appeared in the American edition of Vogue.

From 1983 on she became one of the quickest rising stars of the international modeling world, being featured on the covers of numerous international fashion magazines. She was the cover girl for the German Vogue in March, April and September.

In 1983 she was featured on the cover of Roxy Music's Atlantic Years album.

From 1985-1989 she dated bassplayer John Taylor of the British band Duran Duran to whom she was engaged. That same year, she debuted as an actress in Carlo Vanzina's Sotto il vestito niente (The Last Shot), playing a psychopathic murderer. In America this film is entitled "Nothing Underneath". Besides her many modeling jobs, in 1987 she worked again with Vanzina on the comedy Via Montenapoleone.

In 1988 she decided to take a break from fashion. Before breaking up with Taylor in 1989, she lived for 4 months in a kibbutz in Israel with her sister Heidi. Despite an offer to audition for the role of a Bond Girl in one the upcoming James Bond films, the following year Simonsen ended her modeling career and returned to Denmark to study journalism. After failing the qualifying examination she began to study psychology instead.

From 1991 on she again worked as model for Vichy cosmetics. In 1993 Simonsen became the face of Biotherm cosmetics.

Renee has three children: two from a relationship with Kristian Sandvad: Ulrikke, born in 1993, and Jens-Kristian, born in 1995, and Hugo with her husband, Thomas Helmig.

In 1997 she worked as a fashion editor for the Danish magazine Asschenfeldts Magasin, which was however stopped after a few issues. In summer she started a relationship with Danish rock singer Thomas Helmig, whom she married in August 2000.

In 2002 she completed her degree in psychology. In 2003 Simonsen signed a contract to the French cosmetic company Clarins and began appearing in magazine advertisements for mature skincare products.

In October 2003 she published her first children's book, entitled Karlas kabale. In 2006 her children's book Anthony Greenwood was nominated for the Danish book-prize "Orla" and she was awarded with "The Most Dynamic Women" award by cosmetic company Clarins for her social engagement at Plan Denmark.

Her book "Karlas kabale" makes it 2007 to the movies and has premiere in November. In August appears her first novel "Tirsdag formiddag" (Tuesday Morning).

Filmography

Nothing Underneath (1985)
Via Montenapoleone (1987)

Notes

External links

Renee Toft Simonsen - Cover Girl Biography and magazine cover gallery
delebarn.dk Renee's website startup for divorced parents
Renee Simonsen at the Internet Movie Database
Renee Simonsen at the Fashion Model Directory

v t e 1980–89 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

1980	Christie Brinkley Irina Gerasimenko Jocelyn Javits Bernadette Swann

1981	Carol Alt Christie Brinkley Kelly Emberg Lena Kansbod Rita Tellone

1982	Kim Alexis Carol Alt Charissa Craig Kathryn Redding

1983	Kim Alexis Carol Alt Kelly Emberg Paulina Porizkova Hilary Safire Cheryl Tiegs

1984	Kim Alexis Carol Alt Kelly Emberg Kathy Ireland Jean Pelton Paulina Porizkova

1985	Kim Alexis Kathy Ireland Elle Macpherson Sarah Nursey Paulina Porizkova Renée Simonsen

1986	Jenna de Rosnay Kelly Emberg Kathy Ireland Elle Macpherson Coco Mitchell Paulina Porizkova

1987	Karen Alexander Kim Alexis Carol Alt Kathy Ireland Elle Macpherson Monika Schnarre Renée Simonsen

1988	Karen Alexander Kim Alexis Cindy Crawford Kathy Ireland Estelle Lefébure Elle Macpherson Stephanie Seymour

1989	Carol Alt Sabrina Barnett Christie Brinkley Kelly Emberg Rachel Hunter Kathy Ireland Estelle Lefébure Elle Macpherson Paulina Porizkova Ashley Richardson Stephanie Seymour Yvette Sylvander Yvonne Sylvander Cheryl Tiegs Maria von Hartz Kara Young

Covergirl in bold 2010–19 2000–09 1990–99 1980–89 1970–79 1964–69 Covers

Persondata
Name	Simonsen, Renee
Alternative names
Short description	Danish model
Date of birth	12 May 1965
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

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