Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Maria Schiffer, Lady Vaughn (Template:IPA; born 25 August 1970) is a German model and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the world's most successful models, attaining supermodel status.

Born in Rheinberg, Germany, she initially aspired to join the legal profession, but her life took a turn when she was discovered at 17 in a Düsseldorf nightclub by Michel Levaton, the CEO of Metropolitan Models. This discovery led her to Paris and onto the cover of Elle, marking the start of her modeling career.

Schiffer's breakthrough came with Guess? campaigns in 1989, elevating the brand and her career. Notably resembling Brigitte Bardot in her early career,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> she became Chanel's new face in 1990, walking in Karl Lagerfeld's fashion show. Her striking looks and appeal garnered international success, making her a fixture on magazine covers across Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Time, among others. Schiffer appeared on over 1,000 magazine covers<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and walked for high-profile fashion houses, boasting a runway fee of $20,000 per show in 1992. She holds the record for model with the most covers, listed in Guinness World Records.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Her endorsements span luxury and high street brands, including Chanel, Versace, and Mango. Beyond modeling, Schiffer ventured into acting, with roles in films like Richie Rich and Love Actually, and engaged in charity work with UNICEF and Make Poverty History. She launched her own cashmere collection in 2011. In 2023, her net worth was estimated at US$70 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Schiffer's personal life attracted significant attention, including her engagement to magician David Copperfield, followed by high-profile relationships and her marriage to film director Matthew Vaughn in 2002. The couple owns several properties, including the Tudor manor house, Coldham Hall in Suffolk.

Early life

Claudia Maria Schiffer was born in Rheinberg,<ref name="lofficiel1">Template:Cite news</ref> a small town Template:Convert northwest of Duisburg, on 25 August 1970, to mother Gudrun and father Heinz Schiffer (1937–2007), a lawyer.<ref name="askmen">"Biography Template:Webarchive". Ask Men. Retrieved 19 June 2007.</ref><ref name="Abendblatt">Tod beim Golfspielen – Claudia Schiffer weint um ihren Vater Template:Webarchive, Hamburger Abendblatt, 26 July 2007</ref> She has two brothers, Stefan and Andreas, and one sister, Ann Carolin (born 1975).<ref name="Stylist">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Abendblatt" /> Schiffer is fluent in three languages – German, English and French.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Modelling

File:Claudia Schiffer Césars 1993.jpg

Schiffer in 1993

Schiffer originally aspired to become a lawyer and used to work in her father's law firm.<ref name="lofficiel1"/><ref name="msn">"Claudia Schiffer: Biography Template:Webarchive". MSN. Retrieved 12 June 2007.</ref> In October 1987, at age 17, she was scouted in a nightclub in Düsseldorf<ref name="lofficiel1" /><ref name="ocala">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Wmagazine">Template:Cite news</ref> by Michel Levaton,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the founder and CEO of the French modeling agency Metropolitan Models,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was later signed to the agency as a model.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="AnOther">Template:Cite news</ref> After leaving high school, Schiffer flew to Paris for a trial photo shoot, and subsequently appeared on the cover of Elle.<ref name="ocala"/><ref name="five">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1989, Schiffer starred in campaigns for Guess?.<ref name="msn"/><ref name="ocala"/><ref name="lofficiel2">Template:Cite news</ref> Early on in her career, Schiffer was said to resemble Brigitte Bardot.<ref name="lofficiel1" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Robesonian">Template:Cite news</ref> After several other magazine appearances including the cover of British Vogue, shot by Herb Ritts,<ref name="Vogue cover">"[1] Template:Webarchive". Vogue cover. Retrieved 6 March 2012.</ref> Schiffer was selected by Karl Lagerfeld to become the new face of Chanel,<ref name="Wmagazine"/><ref name="five"/><ref name="lofficiel2"/> where she walked in her first fashion show in January 1990.<ref name="AnOther"/>

In 1992, Schiffer signed an exclusive global contract ith Revlon, for an estimated $6 million a year for 10 years; this agreement made heer the highest-paid model in history.<ref name="nytimes.com">Nathaniel C. Nash (17 February 1996), Claudia Inc.: A Model Seeking a Life After 30 Keeps an Eye on the Balance Sheet New York Times.</ref>

In addition to Elle and Vogue, Schiffer has appeared on the covers of numerous other magazines including Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Time, and was the first model to be featured on the covers of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and People.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was one of 10 models on VogueTemplate:'s 100th anniversary cover in 1992.<ref name="lofficiel2" /><ref name="AnOther"/> In May 1997, Schiffer was featured on the cover and in the pictorial of Playboy.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She has appeared on a total of more than 1,000 magazine covers.<ref name="lofficiel1"/><ref name="Wmagazine"/>

Schiffer has walked in fashion shows for various fashion houses, including Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Chloé, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Fendi, Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Anna Sui, Oscar de la Renta, Jil Sander, Donna Karan, Helmut Lang, Thierry Mugler, Chanel and Valentino. In 1992, she was earning a runway fee of $20,000 per show.<ref name="Robesonian" />

She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Versace, Balmain, Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Dom Pérignon,<ref>"[2] Template:Webarchive". Fab Sugar. Retrieved 13 June 2007.</ref> Alberta Ferretti, Bulgari, Chloé, Escada, Blumarine, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, Liz Claiborne, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Guess?, Salvatore Ferragamo, Neiman Marcus, Gap, Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Revlon, Intergaz and Pepsi. In 1994, she starred in a campaign for Valentino, photographed by Arthur Elgort in Rome, which was inspired by the film La Dolce Vita.<ref name="AnOther" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1997, Schiffer signed an exclusive worldwide contract with L'Oréal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Schiffer still holds a contract with L'Oréal and is one of their longest standing ambassadors.

As well as endorsing luxury brands, Schiffer has appeared as the face of high street retailers including Mango and Accessorize, and had her ears pierced for the first time specially for the 2006 Autumn/Winter Accessorize campaign.<ref>Style File: Claudia Schiffer (image #18). Template:Webarchive Vogue. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref><ref>Claudia Schiffer Vogue. Retrieved 31 March 2012. Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name="fmd">Claudia Schiffer Profile Template:Webarchive in the FMD Template:Webarchive database. Retrieved 10 June 2008.</ref><ref>Designed to delight Template:Webarchive India Today, 26 November 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref> From her appearances in a 1998 Citroën advertisement she allegedly earned £3 million.

In 2012, Schiffer posed for Guess? again, marking the brand's 30th anniversary.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She made her runway return in September 2023, closing out Versace's Spring 2024 show at Milan Fashion Week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Acting and media

Schiffer made her film debut in the children's movie Richie Rich (1994, as the title character's personal fitness trainer). She then starred opposite Dennis Hopper and Matthew Modine in The Blackout (1997). She then went on to appear in Friends & Lovers, Black and White (both 1999), In Pursuit, Life Without Dick (both 2001), and Love Actually (2003) in a semi-cameo role. Films in which Schiffer has made cameo appearances include Ben Stiller's Zoolander (2001).<ref name="msn"/>

Schiffer has appeared on several talk shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Jonathan Ross Show, and sitcoms Dharma & Greg and Arrested Development. In 1996, she briefly interviewed movie stars like Dennis Hopper and Melanie Griffith for German television channel RTL 2.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>Sonja Pohlmann (11 April 2013), Medien: Mode-Show für Claudia Schiffer New York Times.</ref> She made a cameo appearance in the music video for Bon Jovi's "Say It Isn't So" in 2000, and appeared in the music video for Comic Relief's 2001 charity single, Westlife's "Uptown Girl".

Schiffer has hosted the French Fashion Awards, and also the 1995 World Music Awards in Monaco.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She helped present and carry the trophy with Pelé during the opening ceremonies at the 2006 World Cup. She also presented Prince William with a polo trophy in 2002.<ref name="askmen"/>

Schiffer was a judge on Fashion Fringe in 2011.<ref name=autogenerated1>"Template:Cite web". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2012.</ref>

Fashion design

In collaboration with Iris von Arnim, Schiffer launched her eponymous cashmere collection during Paris Fashion Week in March 2011.<ref name="Vogue">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> From 2015, she served as creative director for Claudia Schiffer Made by TSE, another women's cashmere collection.<ref>Rosemary Feitelberg (2 February 2015), Claudia Schiffer Teams With Tse for Capsule Collection Women's Wear Daily.</ref><ref>Lorelei Marfil (27 January 2016), Claudia Schiffer Unveils Own Collection With TSE Cashmere Women's Wear Daily.</ref>

In 2014, Schiffer partnered with Rodenstock on an eyewear collection featuring sunglasses and optical frames for women.<ref>Alexandra Steigrad (26 September 2013), Claudia Schiffer Launching Eyewear With Rodenstock Women's Wear Daily.</ref>

In 2017 and 2018, Schiffer worked with Aquazzura on two limited-edition “Claudia Schiffer for Aquazzura” footwear capsule collections.<ref>Sandra Salibian (19 September 2018), Aquazzura Fetes Second Collaboration With Claudia Schiffer Women's Wear Daily.</ref>

In 2020, Schiffer partnered with numerous fashion and cosmetics brands including Frame, Bamford and Lucie Kaas, which released special limited edition and one-off pieces in celebration of her 50th birthday.<ref name="wwd.com">Sofia Celeste (6 March 2025), EXCLUSIVE: Claudia Schiffer Eyes More Home Projects After Bordallo Pinheiro Collaborations Women's Wear Daily.</ref>

Other business activities

Schiffer has released four exercise videos for CBS/Fox, entitled Claudia Schiffer's Perfectly Fit, which reached the best seller list. Starting in 1992, Schiffer was the star of her own line of annual calendars. Her initial 1992 calendar sold more than 300,000 copies.<ref name="Robesonian"/>

Along with fellow models Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Elle Macpherson, Schiffer became the joint owner of the Fashion Café chain of restaurants in 1995.<ref name="msn"/>

Schiffer first partnered with Mattel in 2017, when the toy manufacturer debuted a Versace-clad Claudia Schiffer Barbiedoll inspired by a 1994 Vogue Italia photo shoot.<ref name="Hannah Mallach 2023">Hannah Mallach (November 29, 2023), EXCLUSIVE: Fans Can Now Buy Versace-clad Claudia Schiffer Barbie Women's Wear Daily.</ref> Three years later, in celebration of her 50th birthday, Mattel released two more Schiffer Barbies: one wearing the a blue gown, and another dressed in a Balmain design similar to one worn by Schiffer in the label's spring 2016 campaign.<ref name="Hannah Mallach 2023"/> In 2024, Mattel released a third Claudia Schiffer Barbie.<ref name="wwd.com"/>

Also in 2020, Schiffer unveiled her first collaboration with ceramics-maker Bordallo Pinheiro called Cloudy Butterflies, a detailed decorative collection adorned with butterflies in several colors. This was followed in 2023 by an informal dinnerware collection that extended the ceramics range and further developed the butterfly designs. In 2024, she unveiled “Gudrun”, a ceramics and porcelain collection adorned with characters and fall flora and fauna.<ref name="wwd.com"/>

Charity work

Schiffer began her involvement with UNICEF by becoming a member of the Arts & Entertainment Support Committee, and is currently a UK Goodwill Ambassador for the organisation. She was also a spokeswoman for Make Poverty History, and appeared in their "Click" campaign. In July 2005, she appeared as a presenter at both the Berlin and Edinburgh Live 8 concerts.

Personal life

File:SchifferVaughn cropped.jpg

Schiffer with her husband Matthew Vaughn, 2010

In 1993, at a Berlin celebrity gala, Schiffer met the American magician David Copperfield when he brought her on stage to participate in a mind reading act and in his flying illusion, and they became engaged in January 1994. During this engagement, Schiffer sometimes appeared on stage with Copperfield to act as his special guest assistant in illusions including being levitated, guillotined, and sawn in half.<ref>Style File: Claudia Schiffer (image #7). Template:Webarchive Vogue. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref><ref>Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum's secret wedding: 10. Claudia Schiffer and David Copperfield Template:Webarchive The Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref><ref>David Copperfield Biography Template:Webarchive Ask Men. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref> She also appeared alongside Copperfield in David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic, a 1994 documentary in which she played the role of a reporter interviewing him, and at the end of which they reprised their performance of the flying illusion. In September 1999, they announced they had ended their relationship, citing work schedules.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1997, Copperfield and Schiffer both sued Paris Match after the magazine claimed their relationship was a sham, that Schiffer "[was] paid for pretending to be Copperfield's fiancée and [didn't] even like him".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Schiffer Boots British Fiance Template:Webarchive ABC News. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 9 April 2012.</ref> In 1999, Schiffer won an undisclosed sum and a retraction from Paris Match when a French court ruled that the magazine's story was false.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Copperfield's publicist confirmed that while Schiffer had a contract to appear in the audience at Copperfield's show in Berlin where they met, she was not under contract to be his "consort".<ref name="consort">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>

Following her break-up with Copperfield, Schiffer had a short relationship with art dealer and Green Shield Stamps heir Tim Jefferies until 2000.<ref>Claudia Schiffer Template:Webarchive Hello. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref><ref>Serial celebrity model-daters: Tim Jefferies Template:Webarchive Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2012.</ref> On 25 May 2002, she married English film director Matthew Vaughn in Suffolk.<ref name="Vogue"/> Schiffer and Vaughn have a son and two daughters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Hello">Template:Cite web</ref>

Schiffer and Vaughn bought Coldham Hall, a Tudor manor house in Suffolk, in 2002.<ref name=AD17>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple have homes in Notting Hill, London, Northamptonshire and Coldham Hall, Stanningfield, Suffolk.<ref name="East Anglian Daily Times">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2002 an Italian kitchen porter was arrested after making nine visits to Coldham Hall; he was subsequently sectioned under the Mental Health Act.<ref name="stalker">"Supermodel stalker to be deported Template:Webarchive". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2007.</ref><ref name="East Anglian Daily Times"/> In 2004, a Canadian man was accused of harassing Schiffer, repeatedly leaving letters at her Suffolk residence.<ref>"Claudia Schiffer is plagued by second stalker". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2007.</ref>

The Pandora Papers list Schiffer as one of many celebrities who have used offshore financial constructs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Films

List of Claudia Schiffer film credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Richie Rich	Herself as an aerobics instructor
1994	Prêt-à-Porter	Herself	American title Ready to Wear
1996	Perfectly Fit	none	Fitness program by Claudia Schiffer
1997	The Blackout	Susan
1999	Desperate But Not Serious	Gigi	USA DVD release titled Reckless + Wild
1999	Friends & Lovers	Carla
1999	Black and White	Greta
2000	Meeting Genevieve	Genevieve
2000	Chain of Fools	Herself
2001	In Pursuit	Catherine Wells	USA DVD release titled Rules of the Game
2001	Zoolander	Herself
2002	666 – Traue keinem, mit dem du schläfst!	Herself	English title 666: In Bed with the Devil
2002	Life Without Dick	Mary
2003	Love Actually	Carol
2024	Argylle	Template:N/A	Executive producer

Documentaries

List of Claudia Schiffer documentary credits

Year	Documentary
1993	Noche de tu vida, La
1994	David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic
1995	Die schönsten Frauen der Welt – Claudia Schiffer
1995	Around Claudia Schiffer
1996	Catwalk
1996	68th Annual Academy Awards
1997	Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
1997	An Audience with Elton John
1997	1997 VH1 Fashion Awards
1998	Beautopia
2000	The Sound of Claudia Schiffer

Television

List of Claudi Schiffer television credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Inferno		Television film
1999	Futurama	Claudia Schiffer's Head	Episode: "A Head in the Polls"
2002	Dharma & Greg	Gretchen	2 episodes

Music video

List of Claudia Schiffer music video credits

Year	Title	Performer	Album	Template:Refh
2000	"Say It Isn't So"	Bon Jovi	Crush
2001	"Uptown Girl"	Westlife	World of Our Own

See also

• Fashion Cafe

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Fashionmodel
• Template:IMDb name