On February 20, 2026, Cindy Crawford—one of the most recognizable faces in fashion history—turned 60, marking a milestone not just in her own life, but in the ever-evolving narrative of the modeling world. Far from shying away from the spotlight or the realities of aging, Crawford has embraced her seventh decade with the same poise and self-assurance that made her a household name in the 1980s and 90s. "When I turned 50, I wrote a book about how ageing can be scary and daunting for a woman, especially if you happen to be in the public eye. I learned to embrace it then and I embrace it now," she told OK! UK earlier this month, referencing her 2015 book, Becoming Cindy Crawford.
Her reflections on aging are anything but somber. In fact, Crawford seems invigorated by the possibilities ahead. On Instagram, just a day before her birthday, she shared, "I don’t have any big worry or, ‘Oh wow! Now I’m 60.’ I think that once I kind of got over the hump of being 50, I just realised that there’s still so much to do and learn and grow in front of me. Yes, I love the past—I have had an incredible life. But also, [I’m going] to get up every day and still be curious, still want to learn, grow and feel good in my own skin."
Crawford’s journey from a small-town girl in DeKalb, Illinois, to international superstardom is the stuff of legend. Discovered at just 16 by a local photographer, she originally planned to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University—her academic prowess even earned her a scholarship. But the allure of fashion proved irresistible, and soon she was navigating the runways of Chicago, where she faced early skepticism. "It’s that uniqueness that makes you stand out from the rest, which is why you have to embrace your individuality, even though it’s easier said than done," she said in a 2020 interview, recalling how her now-iconic mole nearly cost her a contract before becoming her signature feature.
Her ascent to the upper echelons of modeling was swift. By the mid-1980s, after her agency was acquired by Elite, Crawford’s career took off. The January 1990 cover of British Vogue, shot by Peter Lindbergh and featuring Crawford alongside Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Tatjana Patitz, is widely regarded as the birth of the supermodel era. Not long after, the same group starred in George Michael’s music video for "Freedom! ’90," a cultural touchstone that cemented their status as global icons.
What set Crawford apart was her ability to bridge the worlds of high fashion and commercial modeling—something almost unheard of at the time. She strutted down runways for designers like Valentino and Versace, while also landing lucrative contracts with mainstream brands. Her 1992 Pepsi Super Bowl commercial remains an enduring pop culture moment, and she’s revisited the spot multiple times, most recently in 2021 to raise funds for the hospital that treated her younger brother for leukemia. "Every January I revisit my original Pepsi spot that I just love because the music was perfect and the little boys were perfect and it was just one of those commercials that everyone loved and it made people happy," she told People magazine in 2023.
Crawford’s influence extended well beyond the runway. As the host and executive producer of MTV’s House of Style from 1989 until 1995, she helped demystify the world of high fashion for mainstream audiences, interviewing designers and fellow models and making the industry more accessible. Her personal life also drew headlines, particularly her high-profile marriage to actor Richard Gere from 1991 to 1995. Reflecting on that period in the Apple TV+ docuseries Supermodels, Crawford said, "In the beginning of a relationship, when you’re a young woman, you’re like, ‘You like baseball? I like baseball. Oh, you’re really into Tibetan Buddhism? I might be into that. I’ll try that. You’re willing to kind of mold yourself around whoever you are in love with.’"
After her marriage to Gere ended, Crawford found lasting partnership with businessman and former model Rande Gerber. The couple, married since 1998, have two children: Presley (born 1998) and Kaia (born 2001), both of whom have successfully followed their parents into modeling. Presley has worked with brands such as Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, and Burberry, and even recreated his mother’s iconic Pepsi ad during the 2018 Super Bowl. Kaia, meanwhile, has become a fashion force in her own right, debuting at New York Fashion Week for Calvin Klein in 2017 and walking the runway with her mother for Versace. She has also made her mark in Hollywood, with roles in films like Babylon (2022), Bottoms (2023), and Shell (2024), as well as a recurring part in the Apple TV series Palm Royale.
Despite the relentless pace and scrutiny of the modeling industry, Crawford has managed to maintain her relevance. She’s a fixture at fashion weeks and continues to appear in campaigns for luxury brands like Omega, with whom she’s had a decades-long association. In 2004, she co-founded Meaningful Beauty, a skincare line focused on "age maintenance"—an endeavor that, according to Forbes, now generates nine figures in annual revenue. "Achieving healthy, glowing skin is a reflection of taking good care of yourself and accepting who you are," Crawford says of the brand’s mission. Her financial success is equally impressive: Forbes estimated her net worth at $225 million in 2021, and together with Gerber, their combined fortune now stands at around $400 million.
Even as the industry has changed—sometimes dramatically—Crawford has adapted. She’s spoken candidly about the pressures young models face in the age of social media. "It’s like having two full-time jobs. When you’re young, which most models are, it’s sort of precarious because you’re still figuring yourself out. If you’re working out who you are on a public platform, that can be a lot of pressure," she reflected in a 2024 interview with W Magazine. She’s also acknowledged the rise of casting directors and other behind-the-scenes shifts that have transformed the business since her early days.
Of course, Crawford’s career hasn’t been without its challenges. She’s recalled uncomfortable moments from the 1990s, a time when objectification of women in fashion was rampant. In the Supermodels documentary, she recounted a 1996 interview with Oprah Winfrey where she was asked to stand up and show off her body, describing the experience as making her feel like "a chattel" or a child "to be seen and not heard." Looking back, she said, "When you look at it through today’s eyes...that was so not OK, really especially from Oprah."
As she turns 60, Crawford is relishing a new phase of life—one where she and Gerber can slow down, travel, and enjoy time with their now-adult children. "Right now, I’m just loving life with my husband and enjoying having adult children," she told OK! UK. "I love the fact that I still get to be in front of the camera sometimes and get to travel. But it’s different now. I have my time. My husband has more time. Years ago, we were both so busy. Now we’re really enjoying time for each other and being spontaneous."
In a world that can be quick to sideline women as they age, Cindy Crawford’s continued presence and candor are a testament to her enduring appeal—and to the power of embracing life’s changes with curiosity and confidence.