Biography

Helvin was born in 1952, in Tokyo, where her American GI father of Danish and French descent, had married a local interpreter of Japanese descent, and was brought up in Hawaii from the age of four.

She was approached by a model scout on a visit to Japan with her mother and signed up as the face of Kanebo cosmetics at 15. She moved to London, where she worked for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and Valentino, and married photographer David Bailey when she was 23, having met him when he chose her for a photographic session for Vogue. Together Bailey and Helvin produced a memorable book of nudes titled Trouble and Strife in 1980. The marriage lasted ten years.

In the 1980s, Helvin left mainstream modelling to broaden her career, working for television and radio, covering subjects from books to travel, which in turn led to major television, radio and advertising campaigns, such as for Yves Saint Laurent and Olympus cameras, built around her personality and lifestyle. She launched her own collection of body/swimwear range in 1990 and went on to produce seasonal collections which sold worldwide. She published two books, made a health and fitness video, appeared on television and presented several programmes including GMTV's series Helvin on Hawaii, which featured her philosophies on health and beauty.

She remains in the forefront of the fashion industry, appearing as a judge in Britain's Next Top Model, and with appearances in British Vogue and the US W magazine, features in Sunday Times, and a retrospective in Harper's Bazaar. She appeared on her 7th British Vogue cover in 2007. Her autobiography was released in late 2007 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and published in paperback in September 2008 by Phoenix. The Sunday Times called the book "funny, naughty, sexy, revelatory".

Marie Reunited with muses Jerry Hall and David Bailey February 03, 2014 and posed for photos at the National Portrait Galley in London for photo expo on Bailey Work. (Credit Daily Mail United Kingdom)

Helvin returned to Japan to present a look at fashion and innovation in modern Japan in 'Marie Helvin's Tokyo', part of the Luxury Life series on CNBC. In February 2009, she launched Marks & Spencer PORTFOLIO fashion range for women in their fifties. In late 2009 she featured as the face of a new demi couture range of luxury lingerie from Agent Provocateur, "Soiree". In December 2009, Helvin auctioned her personal collection of vintage clothing from the 1970s-1990s through Kerry Taylor Auctions. 2010-11 saw Helvin continue with writing-she travelled the world extensively for various publications.

Bibliography

• Helvin, M. (2008). Marie Helvin: The Autobiography. London: Orion. ISBN 978-0-7538-2415-3.
• Helvin, M. (1985). Catwalk: the art of model style. London: Pavilion. ISBN 978-0-907516-64-4.
• Helvin, M.; Atkinson L. (1995). Bodypure: your complete detox programme for health and beauty. London: Headline. ISBN 978-0-7472-5076-0.
• Helvin, Marie (2007). The Autobiography. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0-297-85311-4.

Further reading

• Vogue cover (December 1975); retrieved October 4, 2007.
• Dickson, Jane (September 26, 1998). "Model behaviour: Marie Helvin". The Independent (London). Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2007.
• Helvin, Marie (January 14, 2002). "Whenever I think of him, he is giggling". Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved September 23, 2007.
• Higgins, Ria (August 21, 2005). "Marie Helvin". The Sunday Times (London). Retrieved September 23, 2007.
• Randall, Lee (September 21, 2007). "About Helvin". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). Retrieved September 23, 2007.
• Iley, Chrissy (September 23, 2007). "I would make a great courtesan". The Sunday Times (London). Retrieved September 23, 2007.
• Jardine, Cassandra (October 3, 2007). "Marie Helvin: 'I know I'm too thin. It's the adrenaline...'". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved October 3, 2007.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]