The world is full of beautiful people. But being sexy dwarfs beauty — it is more than just a pretty face or nice physique. When you look at the Sexiest Girls we have chosen, you see a common factor: they all own their sexuality. There will always be critics, but being sexy is about having the cheers of admiration drown the whispers of jealousy.
So each week, let FIB give you a glimpse into our upcoming book, TOP MODELS Volume 63 — Sexiest Girls. Be warned, though: some of these women can make Kate Moss jealous.
It is not every day that a 17-year-old is ‘discovered’ holidaying on a beach, but that is exactly what happened to Erin Bubley, now better known as Erin Heatherton. With her beachy blonde hair and unique, freckly complexion, the six time Victoria’s Secret Angel’s whirlwind entrance into the modelling world is a real-life fairy tale.
Heatherton can credit a large part of her career to her vivaciousness and humility:
“The most important thing I’ve learned is that we’re all just people… I just give respect to the people who’ve put me here and try never to take anything for granted.”
With 624 thousand followers on Instagram and 310 thousand on Twitter, clearly her fans agree. Born in Skokie, Illinois, in March 1989, Heatherton always pictured herself becoming a doctor. She was a self-attested ‘dork’, a tomboy with a passion for basketball. Heatherton was constantly singled out at school for her noticeably unique height of 5’11”. Little did she know it would be one of her most defining features as a model.
Heatherton was vacationing on South Beach, Miami in 2006 when she was discovered by a scout. After spending two days in New York consulting with various modelling agencies, she signed with Marilyn Agency and moved permanently to New York. This meant sacrificing her senior year of high school and her final year of basketball, for education by correspondence. Living out of home and starting a new career were overwhelming at the age of 17, but Heatherton’s mother knew she could handle the task and let Heatherton sign to the agency.
Heatherton found a home in New York, loving its energy and atmosphere. In a challenging industry, she felt supported by the millions of strangers around her, all doing the same as her: trying to make their dreams come true. Having so much independence at an early age is what Heatherton credits her maturity to, as she was forced to grow up quickly and make a name for herself.
Heatherton’s first month alone put her on the world stage, walking Diane Von Furstenberg’s Spring Show, featuring in a MICHAEL by Michael Kors add campaign and appearing on the cover of Italian Flair.
Her climb did not stop there. 2007 saw her walking for Lacoste, Michael Kors, and Christian Lacroix in Paris and New York, and featuring in editorials for Interview and Elle. In July 2008, Heatherton walked for Valentino in Paris. At the end of the year, Heatherton returned to the runway, walking for Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Zac Osen, Dolce & Gabbana and Moschino, before modelling for a Vogue Italia editorial.
International fashion labels now knew her name and were clamouring for the chance to feature her in their campaigns. WWD labelled her as an up-and-comer, and and Elle.com described her as “one of the best new girls of the season”. Heatherton has been photographed by some of the most prominent photographers in fashion, including Greg Kadel for Vogue Italia, and Russel James for Victoria’s Secret.
Heatherton was catapulted to supermodel status in 2008, when she became a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She was again selected for the honour in 2009 and was officially contracted as an Angel in 2010 until 2013, giving her the opportunity to walk next to her model best friend Lily Aldridge.
Supermodels are more than pretty faces and amazing bodies: they are icons of a fashion era. This is why they must have the personality and inner beauty to fulfill the role. Off the runway, Heatherton shows her inner beauty by incorporating her career with charity work, aiming to give something back after feeling unsatisfied with modelling. Her work with the Cotton On Foundation allows her to be very hands-on when volunteering, visiting Uganda to work with children supported by the foundation.
2015 has seen Heatherton continue modelling mostly for magazines and runways. She was featured in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and appeared in several magazines’ editorials including Cosmopolitan Magazine, GQ Spain, Russh Magazine, and Vogue Spain.
It is the unique mark of a model to embody the concept of beauty, inside and out. Erin Heatherton’s chameleonic ability to move from high fashion, to swimwear, and from the Victoria’s Secret runway to volunteering in Uganda, allows her inside out beauty to shine, placing her in our list of Sexiest Girls.
Keep an eye out for FIB’s upcoming book, TOP MODELS Volume 63 – Sexiest Girls.
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