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Vendela KirsebomSwedish model
Date of Birth: 12.01.1967
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
Early Life
Vendela Maria Kirsebom was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 12, 1967. Her father, Lennart Kirsebom, was of Turkish descent, while her mother, Gerd Kristensson, was Norwegian. Shortly after Vendela's birth, her father left the family. "My mother says I look like him," the model has said. "I only have one photo of him, and it's my greatest wish to meet him someday."
Modeling Beginnings
Vendela's entry into the world of modeling was purely coincidental. At the age of 13, she was eating pizza with her mother and stepfather in a restaurant in Stockholm when managers from the Eileen Ford modeling agency, who were dining at a nearby table, approached them and offered to have Vendela audition for their agency. "Two women came up to us: Eileen Ford herself and Eva Kjallander," Vendela recalled.
International Success
At 18, Kirsebom graduated from the Rudolf Steiner School and moved to Italy to pursue her modeling career with Ford Models. In the early 1990s, she signed a contract with the cosmetics company Elizabeth Arden and relocated to the United States. In 1993, she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, which boasted a readership of over 50 million worldwide. This marked a major success for the Swedish model.
She went on to work with Elizabeth Arden, Revlon, Lay's, Barbour, Diesel, Hanes, JH Collectibles, Lipton, Mikimoto, and Victoria's Secret. Her photographs adorned the pages of magazines such as Bride's, Flare, FHM, Shape, and Zest, as well as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Acting and Marriage
In 1996, Vendela married Norwegian politician Olaf Thommessen. After their wedding, Vendela moved to Oslo, where she gave birth to two daughters, Julia and Anna. In 2007, Olaf and Vendela divorced after 11 years of marriage.
In 1997, Vendela starred in the film "Batman and Robin" and also voiced several characters in Disney cartoons. She made frequent television appearances, including roles in "The Larry Sanders Show" and the television series "Romy and Michele: In the Beginning." Along with Swedish and Norwegian, Kirsebom became fluent in German, Italian, and English.
Philanthropy and Writing
Following her modeling career, Vendela Kirsebom turned to philanthropy and educational programs with UNICEF in the early 2000s. She visited numerous third-world countries, interacted with children, and appealed to other celebrities to donate funds to aid disadvantaged nations. Prior to that, she worked with troubled youth in New York City's Bronx and Harlem. She also authored several books, sharing her experiences in the modeling industry and providing advice on success in the modern world.
