November-December Issue 2015 By Gisel Habibnejad Photography by Nino Munoz Legendary on all counts, Cindy Crawford has made a successful career in everything she touches. It’s no secret she reigned as not only a supermodel in the golden era, but also as a pop culture icon dominating the fashion runways, redefining beauty, and finally winning over the world with her dynamic presence on television. In her book, Becoming, she shares her intimate point-of-view into the journey that made her the person she is today. Cindy’s career path began in high school, when she attained her first modeling gig leading up to her very first magazine cover. Soon enough, she became one of the most sought-after and universal supermodels of the 1980s and 1990s. She has graced endless magazine covers, such as Vogue, Elle, W, and Harper’s Bazaar and participated in countless fashion campaigns, like Gianni Versace and Revlon. She ruled the era of the ‘supermodel’ alongside her peers, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. However, she never really stopped working with full determination; hence, the longevity of her career. Contrary to popular belief, this elite group partook in friendly competition amongst each other. Perhaps it’s because they all represented different looks; Cindy effortlessly gravitated towards the all-American girl look. Needless to say, she is believed to be responsible for spearheading the new face of the all-American girl—blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls had to make room for brunettes with sultry eyes. Born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois, Cindy is the definition of small-town girl. Not only is she rich in beauty, tapping into her intellectual side was never a foreign concept. Graduating as valedictorian of her high school, she then attended Northwestern University to study chemical engineering before she decided to focus on modeling full-time; a decision we’re sure she doesn’t regret. She made plenty of waves in the fashion world as a model, but who can forget that red Versace dress she donned at the 63rd Academy Awards in 1991? The dress was voted 12th most iconic red carpet dress of all-time by Marie Claire and even has a Wikipedia page dedicated entirely to it. She cemented her television career when she debuted as the host of MTV’s House of Style for six years. However, it was her famed string of exercise videos, beginning with Cindy Crawford: Shape Your Body, which solidified her TV stardom. Easily one of the top iconic Super Bowl ads ever, Cindy’s Pepsi commercial premiered in 1992 and forever left a mark in pop culture history. As if that weren’t enough, she starred alongside Naomi, Linda, Christy, and Tatjana Patitz in the entrancing and dark music video “Freedom ‘90” by George Michael, which instantly became a cult classic. Most recently, she played the Head Mistress of the all-star cast in Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.” After dominating these industries, Cindy took her talents to designing furniture with her Cindy Crawford Home Collection, and later her very own skin care line, Meaningful Beauty. Throughout her career, Cindy has always believed that confidence comes from within, and loving yourself means loving your body and skin. Rightfully so, she’s sharing her flawless skin beauty secrets with the world. In collaboration with her trusted skin specialist, Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh, Meaningful Beauty was born. How does Cindy Crawford appear not to age? One of her essential secrets lies within Meaningful Beauty. She’s been making visits to Dr. Sebagh periodically since she was 28 years old, and finally decided to share it with the world a few years ago. “Knowing Dr. Sebagh and learning from him, I wanted to share it with whoever asked for my beauty tips. This is my way of bringing Dr. Sebagh out of Paris and sharing his work,” shares the supermodel. Containing natural elements and vitamins, the formulas feed your skin the right nutrients to tighten, glow, and firm. The revolutionary concept behind the products stem from the extracts of a rare orchid found in the Emerald Coast of France, called The Youth Messenger Extract. It is exclusive to Meaningful Beauty so you won’t find it within any other beauty brand. Really having a close relationship with the brand, Cindy herself tests all products before they are released to ensure its effectiveness and likeness. Among the many products is the Ultra Lifting and Filling Treatment, containing a unique formula to lift sagging skin and fill lines. No routine is complete without the right facial cleanser, the Skin Softening Cleanser includes natural ingredients so as not to strip your skin from the natural oils produced. The Cremé de Serum proves to be vital, as it hydrates and reduces signs of aging. Infused with superoxide dismutase from a rare French melon, anti-aging peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid, each pump goes a long way and ensures a lasting effect. Who doesn’t love a little secret skin care advice from an international supermodel? Cindy advises that it’s never too early to begin the anti-aging process. Taking care of your skin from your early twenties can prevent most of the harmful aging elements from taking effect. “I think a lot of women don’t start worrying about taking care of their skin until they reach their forties. The earlier you start using preventative techniques–sunscreen, moisturizing at night, and cleaning your skin well–the better it is.” With skin care regimens such as those found in Meaningful Beauty and with the help of Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh, she has managed to maintain flawless skin and a youthful appearance throughout her career. Cindy marks the beginning of the next chapter of her life with the celebration of Becoming, a reminiscent account of all the defining moments taken place throughout her personal and professional journey. Featuring 150 iconic photographs, the wide collection includes shots by legends Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, and Patrick Demarchelier–with a few never-before-seen images. Her most critical points are highlighted throughout, such as her path to success and becoming a mother and wife. You will also find advice on the importance of having a healthy body image and the guidance she would give her
