How Renowned Supermodel Cindy Crawford Created Career Longevity in the Industry

Welcome to Second Life, a podcast spotlighting successful women who've made major career changes—and fearlessly mastered the pivot. Hosted by Hillary Kerr, co-founder and chief content officer at Who What Wear, each episode will give you a direct line to women who are game changers in their fields. Subscribe to Second Life on iTunes, and stay tuned.

Known to the world as one of the original supermodels, the iconic Cindy Crawford defined the pivotal moment in the industry when fashion models transitioned into stars and style icons in their own right. Crawford’s career is nothing short of extraordinary; from covering magazines such as Vogue (17 times), Harper’s Bazaar, and W to gracing the runway for top fashion houses including Versace, Chanel, and Dior, she has paved the way for those who follow. Using her modeling success as a springboard to launch her career, Crawford has built a successful brand spanning more than three decades in the industry—no easy feat.

At her first-ever photo shoot dressed in a kimono, sporting yellow eye shadow with a side ponytail, and holding both a cat and an umbrella (if you can picture it) for, Crawford began her renowned modeling career and soon-to-be entrepreneurial journey. She's proven that hard, rigorous work and putting in countless hours will pay off, and now she enjoys offering her industry insight to her mini-me daughter, Kaia. Since 2004, Crawford has created and produced exercise videos with personal trainer Radu; co-founded her anti-aging skincare line, Meaningful Beauty, with "Youth Guru” Jean-Louis Sebagh; and became a New York Times best-selling author with her book Becoming.

Head to iTunes to subscribe to Second Life, and listen to this episode to hear more about how Cindy Crawford dropped out of Northwestern University to pursue modeling as a career and ultimately create an exceedingly successful, timeless brand. 

Next up, meet the woman who is breaking the Wall Street wheel.