Daria Werbowy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daria Werbowy
Werbowy in 2008
Born	(1983-11-19) 19 November 1983 (age 41) Kraków, Poland
Citizenship	Canada
Occupation	Model
Years active	2002–2016; 2023 - Present
Modeling information
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Blue-green
Agency	IMG Models (worldwide)

Daria Werbowy, born on November 19, 1983, is a famous Canadian fashion model. She became a special representative, called a "spokesmodel," for the French beauty company Lancôme in 2005. She has been on the cover of Vogue magazine more than 50 times around the world. Daria was one of the top models in the industry when she decided to take a break from fashion after ten years. Vogue magazine even called her the "ultimate model muse."

About Daria Werbowy

Early Life and Family

Daria Werbowy was born in Poland to a family with Ukrainian roots. Her family keeps their old traditions alive. When Daria was three years old, her family moved to Mississauga, a city near Toronto, Canada. They moved to escape the lasting effects of the World Wars on their family. Daria is very thankful to Canada. She believes she would not have had the same chances if she had stayed in Europe. She has one brother and one sister.

Hobbies and Adventures

Daria loves to sail. In 2008, she spent three months sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This was a big adventure! In 2011, she went on another long trip. She traveled for two months from Guatemala through Central America all the way to Costa Rica.

Daria's Modeling Journey

How Her Career Started

Daria Werbowy never really thought about becoming a model. She was more of a tomboy. But many strangers often told her she should try modeling. When she was 14 years old and already 5 feet 11 inches tall, a local agency in Toronto signed her. She even won a national modeling contest.

After joining a new agency, Elite Model Management, Daria got some good jobs in Canada. However, she did not have much success internationally at first. She lived in England and Greece, but work was hard to find. Her first big fashion show season was canceled because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. So, she went to Europe. After eight tiring months, Daria returned to Canada.

A Big Break

Daria decided to give modeling one last try. She wanted to earn money to go to art school. She said, "I returned to New York, met my agent and the next day I had an exclusive deal with Prada. From then on, it was all a bit of a blur."

When Elmer Olsen, the head scout from Elite Toronto, started his own agency, Daria followed him. This is when her career really took off. Within a few years, with help from IMG Models, Daria became famous around the world.

Major Achievements

Daria Werbowy holds a record in modeling. She has opened and closed the most fashion shows in one season. In her very first big season, Fall/Winter 2003, she achieved two major things. She appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia three times that year. She also got the main ad campaign for Prada's Fall/Winter collection.

In 2005, she signed a big contract with Lancôme. This happened after a competition between Lancôme and Victoria's Secret. If she had chosen Victoria's Secret, she would have become one of their "Angels."

Magazine Covers and Campaigns

Daria has been on the cover of many famous magazines. These include international editions of Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, V, W, Marie Claire, Allure, Glamour, and Numéro.

She has also walked the runways for many top fashion brands. Some of these include Balenciaga, Givenchy, Dior, Tom Ford, Chloé, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Versace, Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen, Prada, John Galliano, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Carolina Herrera, La Perla, Max Mara, Calvin Klein, Missoni, Zac Posen, Moschino, Oscar De La Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, Burberry, Celine, Hermès, Michael Kors, Balmain, and Lanvin.

Daria has also appeared in many advertising campaigns. These include campaigns for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Hermès, Prada, Missoni, Versace, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Dior, Lancôme, Zara, Balmain, Jean Paul Gaultier, David Yurman, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hugo Boss, Isabel Marant, DSquared2, Loewe, Diane Von Furstenberg, Mango, Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co., AG Adriano Goldschmied, H&M, and Bloomingdale's.

Recognition and Earnings

In September 2004, Daria was featured on the cover of American Vogue. She was photographed by Steven Meisel and called one of the "Models of the Moment." In July 2007, Forbes magazine listed Daria as the ninth-highest-earning model in the world. She earned about $3.5 million between June 2006 and June 2007.

On September 6, 2008, Daria Werbowy was honored with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. She is only the second Canadian model, after Linda Evangelista, to receive this honor. Earlier that year, Daria launched a special makeup collection with Lancôme for Sephora. The money from this collection went to a charity called Centrao Especial. This charity helps young people in Brazil who do not have many opportunities.

Daria was also one of the famous faces on the September 2008 issue of V magazine. This issue had fourteen different covers, each showing a famous model. Vogue Paris magazine named her one of the top 30 models of the 2000s.

In 2009 and 2011, Daria was featured in the famous Pirelli Calendar. These calendars are known for their artistic photographs. In 2011, Forbes listed her as the sixth-highest-earning model. She earned an estimated $4.5 million between May 2010 and May 2011.

For Vogue's September 2013 issue, Daria appeared in a special photo story. It was a tribute to her life in Ireland. She was photographed by Annie Leibovitz alongside American actor Adam Driver. In 2015, Daria was the face of campaigns for Equipment, Salvatore Ferragamo, and H&M. She also appeared on the March and June covers of Vogue France. In 2015, she ranked 12th on the Forbes list of highest-paid models, earning about $4.5 million. In 2016, Daria was on the October cover of Grazia France.

Taking a Break and Returning

In 2016, even though she was still a very popular model, Daria Werbowy decided to take a break. She wanted to spend more time on her interests, like photography and sailing. When looking back at her career, Vogue magazine called Daria the "ultimate model muse." They noted how she could change her look for different roles and how her relaxed attitude helped her succeed.

In 2023, Daria Werbowy returned to modeling. She appeared in a campaign for Gucci, led by their new creative director, Sabato de Sarno.

See also

In Spanish: Daria Werbowy para niños