Few can compete with Cindy Crawford in the All-American beauty category. Known for her curvaceous silhouette, brilliant tresses, and a signature beauty mark above her bee-stung lips, Cynthia Ann Crawford was born February 20, 1966, in De Kalb, Illinois. After a newspaper photographer encouraged the 5`9 beauty to get in front of the camera, Crawford started in on the Chicago modeling circuit at age 16. The high school valedictorian started studying engineering at Northwestern University , but opted to move to New York City in 1986 to pursue a modeling career. Crawford quickly made a name for herself, appearing on over 500 magazine covers, became the poster-girl for Pepsi and Revlon among others. Cindy made history in 1988 as the first supermodel to pose for Playboy. The appearance–which later led to a 6-year stint as host of MTV`s House of Style with designer Tod Oldam???was one of the magazine`s all-time best-sellers. Crawford`s entrepreneurial accomplishments rival her modeling feats: She started a number of best-selling swimsuit calendars and fitness videos, invested in Fashion Cafe chain with her fellow supermodels Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, and Christy Turlington, and later developed a production company called Crawdaddy.
Crawford`s personal life has been just as star-studded. On December 1991, she and actor Richard Gere were married after a 4-year courtship. Although People named the duo the Sexiest Couple Alive, Gere and Crawford divorced 3 years later. Crawford then wed hotel impresario Rande Gerber in 1998, with whom she now has two children, Presley and Kaya. After own her brother Jeff died from leukemia, Cindy became a big supporter of cancer related charities.