Vogue supermodel Esther Canadas, who rose to fame in the late 1990s, has recently captivated fans with her astonishingly youthful appearance. The Spanish beauty, often compared to Angelina Jolie due to her almond-shaped eyes and full lips, shared a series of photos on Instagram posing in a string bikini on a beach. At 49, she looks as vibrant as she did during her heyday.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1977 in the small town of Albacete, Spain, Canadas began her modeling career as a teenager after her mother encouraged her. She started in Barcelona before moving to Milan and New York City. Her resemblance to Jolie, combined with her slender 5ft10in frame, made her an instant hit. She graced runways for top fashion houses like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Valentino, and Givenchy.
Her iconic photo shoots with legends such as Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Richard Avedon, and Ellen Von Unwerth, along with her Vogue covers, became legendary. In 1997, she walked the Victoria's Secret fashion show at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, alongside Heidi Klum, Claudia Schiffer, and Tyra Banks.
Romance with Mark Vanderloo
Her life changed when she modeled for DKNY, cast as a chic New Yorker epitomizing the '90s power woman. She famously represented the brand's perfumes with hyper-sexual ads. On a steamy DKNY shoot in 1997, she met Dutch male model Mark Vanderloo, then the highest-paid male model in the world and often called the model version of Brad Pitt. They became New York's 'it' couple, attending red carpet events and working together on photo shoots.
The couple married in 1999, with their nuptials making magazine covers. However, their marriage lasted only a year, ending in divorce in 2000. Vanderloo later became the face of Hugo Boss and voiced Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect trilogy. Canadas moved on to other relationships, including an engagement to hotelier Vikram Chatwal in 2013.
Film and Later Career
At the peak of her career, Canadas was cast as a mysterious blonde in the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair alongside Pierce Brosnan. She appeared convincing as a woman with a secret past, but she stepped back from Hollywood, with only a 2000 TV movie, Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble, following.
She continued modeling for Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire, working with photographers like Steven Meisel. In December 2014, she gave birth to a daughter, Galia, whose father remains unknown; she raised her as a single mother.
Recent Activity
Last week, Canadas shared stunning bikini photos on Instagram, showcasing her ageless beauty and excellent physique. The caption read: "3 Sundays for Summer ☀️ Are you ready?" The post featured images of a pristine coastline, a plate of pasta, and herself in a leopard-print bikini.
She still models frequently and in 2025 worked again for Donna Karan, stating, "My career started in New York, with Donna Karan, and working with them now feels like coming full circle." Her latest campaign was for the spring 2026 Carolina Herrera collection. She remains close friends with Ricky Martin and Alessandra Ambrosio.
