Youth

Sturm was born on 19 November 1981 in Almere, Flevoland. She was discovered in 1997 in Almere, Netherlands by an Elite Model Management scout. Shortly thereafter, she entered the Dutch Elite Model Look Contest. Winning this contest was followed by winning the 1997 International Elite Model Look Contest in Nice, France. Her career as a model was born; Sturm was 15 years old at the time. After her win, she signed exclusive contracts with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. She has had continual success since then.

Career

Traveling all over the world has enabled her to work with renowned photographers such as: Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, Peter Lindbergh, Paolo Riversi, Bruce Weber, Irving Penn, Mikael Jansen, Greg Kadel, Russel James, Mickeal Thompson, Walter Chin, Joshua Jordan, Rufen Afanador, Max Vadukul, Kelly Klein, Nathaniel Goldberg, Robert Erdmann, Richard Burbridge, Arthur Elgort, Wayne Maser, Reagan Cameron and Francois Nars.

Sturm has appeared on the covers and inside pages of the world's best known magazines, including: Vogue (American, French, German, Spanish, Greek), Elle (American, French, UK, German, Italian, Spanish); Marie Claire (American, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, UK); Cosmopolitan (American, S. America and Dutch); Glamour (American, Italian, French, Spanish and German); Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Vanitifair, W, Surface, D-Magazine, Esquire, Amica and Arena.

She has been featured in many ad campaigns, including: Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein Cosmetics, DKNY, Armani, La Perla, GAP, Krizia, H&M, Carolina Herrera, J-Lo, Biotherm, Bali Underwear, Escada, Banana Republic and XOXO. She was shot for Pantene, Laboratories de Garnier (L’Oreal), Douglas, Wempe, Gant, Tumi and Yves Rocher.

Sturm also interviewed fellow top models at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for CBS. She has been featured in the show on more than one occasion. She has appeared on numerous runways around the world including: Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Versace, Chanel, Valentino, Armani, D&G, BCBG, Bill Blass, Chloe, Diane von Furstenberg, Fendi, Jil Sander, Halston, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Verses, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Sturm is represented by Munich Models, Option Model Agency, ANC-Hamburg, Germany, Next Model Management of New York and Paris, Next Model Management ofMilan, Italy, SS&M, Spain and Touche Model Management in Amsterdam.

TV host

In 2006, Sturm became the host of Holland's Next Top Model, the Dutch version of America's Next Top Model. HNTM is shown on prime time TV and is wildly popular in Holland. This was Sturm's first experience on TV and as a host. After the second season of HNTM, Sturm decided to focus on her career as a model, as it was difficult to combine the TV work with her successful modeling career. In 2011 Sturm gave a guest appearance in Holland's Next Top Model.

Charity

Sturm is an ambassador of the Dutch Red Cross Foundation and started "Yfke 4 Kids" in collaboration with the Red Cross. This organization helps children around the world who have been diagnosed with or lost parents to AIDS. She helps to raise money in a number of ways, including: auctioning her photographs and charity dinners. On 29 May 2009 Sturm received the Talent Award at the Dutch Model Awards for her career and her commitment for the Dutch Red Cross Foundation.

Yfke's Model Secrets

Sturm is the co-author of the 2009 book Yfke's Model Secrets. It offers tips about what to do in the gym, what to eat to stay fit and healthy and stories about the modeling industry.

Private life

From 2002 to 2012 she lived in New York, travelling around the world for most of the year for her international work. Sturm currently lives in London. She was married for three years to Imad Izemrane but they divorced in 2010. In 2015, she delivered a son named Alexander, with British property tycoon Giles Mackay.

Sturm suffered life-threatening injuries after falling off a jetski and being sailed over by a boat off the coast of the Italian island Ischia in September 2015. She was airlifted to the nearest hospital with a fractured skull and some spine fractures, where she lay in a comatose state. She has since woken from her comatose state and is said to be 'in good spirits'.

Bibliography

• (2009) Yfke's Model Secrets with Martijn van Stuyvenberg

[ Source: Wikipedia ]