Helena Christensen (born 25 December 1968) is a Danish supermodel and photographer. She is a former Victoria's Secret Angel, clothing designer and beauty queen. Christensen was also the co-founder and original creative director for Nylon magazine, and she is a supporter of funding for breast cancer organizations and other philanthropic charities.
Christensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the elder of two daughters of a Danish father, Fleming and a Peruvian mother, Elsa. She has one sister, Anita, She is fluent in Danish, Spanish, and English, as well as French and German. Winning the Miss Universe Denmark crown in 1986 at the age of 17, she subsequently represented Denmark in the Miss Universe 1986 pageant. The following year, she participated in the Look of the Year 1987 competition, where she was a finalist. Christensen left home soon after to pursue modeling in Paris.
Christensen rose to prominence in the 1990s, becoming one of the most popular models of her time. In 1990, she starred in the music video for Chris Isaak's song "Wicked Game". The video was later featured on MTV's "Sexiest Video of All-Time", voted #4 on VH1's "50 Sexiest Video Moments", and voted #13 on VH1's "100 Greatest Videos". She became a spokesmodel for Revlon cosmetics in 1992. She appeared on magazine covers including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and W, and in fashion campaigns including Revlon, Chanel, Versace, Lanvin, Prada, Sonia Rykiel, Hermes, Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld. One noted campaign featured her in a 20 by 40 feet (6 by 12 m) billboard in Times Square, naked, "except for a strategically placed banana leaf." She was in the Victoria's Secret catalog and in their television commercials as one of the original "Angels", along with Tyra Banks, Karen Mulder, Daniela Pestova, and Stephanie Seymour.