Veruschka the runway in London this week. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Don't believe Janice Dickinson. The first supermodel was born in 1939, and her name is Veruschka. A veteran of Vogue covers, art parties and surrealist '60s films, the Russian born star taught Janice, Naomi, Linda and the teenagers she shared a catwalk with in London yesterday, how to work the runway.
At 71, she took the stage at the Giles show at London Fashion Week in a fluffy helmet, Ziggy Stardust eyeshadow and a ballgown. She didn't look a day over 70.
Unlike other aging stars, Veruschka doesn't mask her wrinkles or gray hairs. She wears her years, paired with her signature quirky style, like a statement piece. You would too if you had her life. Here's a brief history:
- When she was five, her dad was executed for attempting to kill Hitler. Did you get that? Her dad tried to kill Hitler. She's made from the stock of heroes.
- As a teenager her family was homeless.
- She was discovered at 20 while studying art in Hamburg.
- She did a shoot with Salvador Dali.
- She was the subject of a photo book. Know what it was called? Veruschka.
- She played herself in Antonioni's 1966 cult hit, "Blowup"
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She modeled for Gucci in the '60s and the photo was so timeless, they pulled it out of the archives for a 2010 campaign.
- Her travels with Luigi Pistilli, the Steve McQueen of Italy, was captured in a self-titled psychedelic film about her life in 1971.
- The band Suede used of a picture of her for the cover of one of their singles.
- When the editor of Vogue told her to cut her hair in the early 70s, she quit the fashion business.
- An art star in the late '90s, she made several short films. There's one in which she's covered in ash.
- She lives in New York with her lover, Mischa Waschke, who is also her assistant.
- Did I mention, she's a Countess?
