Daria Werbowy is a Ukrainian-Canadian model who achieved global recognition, becoming one of the faces of Lancôme. She has collaborated with the most famous fashion houses, including Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Versace, and Louis Vuitton. Her style and beauty have cemented her status as one of the world’s most in-demand models. Read more on vancouveranka.
Daria was born on November 19, 1983, in Krakow to Daniel and Anna Werbowy. Just a few months after her birth, the family relocated to Ontario, but she ultimately grew up in Vancouver.
Daria’s Journey into Modelling Begins
At the age of fourteen, standing 180 cm tall with a slender figure, Daria Werbowy naturally drew the attention of the modelling world. Her classmate’s mother, who managed the Susan J. Modeling and Talent Agency in Toronto, introduced her to the industry, and soon after, Daria won a national modelling contest. Up until that point, she hadn’t seriously considered a modelling career.
Daria then signed with Elite Modeling Agency in Canada, where she took part in numerous local projects. However, international recognition was slow to arrive, leading her to try London and Greece, but work remained scarce. After a cancelled photoshoot due to the September 11 attacks, she travelled to Europe. Failing to get the desired results, she returned to Canada and decided to give modelling one last try to fund her art school tuition. Shortly thereafter, she landed a contract with Prada. When Elmer Olsen, Elite’s top scout, decided to found his own company, Daria followed him, and she was later represented by International Management Group. This move significantly boosted her international profile, and it was then that she became one of the most successful models in the world. In 2003, thanks to her work with photographer Steven Meisel, she appeared three times on the cover of Vogue Italia and became the face of Prada’s Fall/Winter campaign. Furthermore, she was featured on the covers of publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, V, W, and Numero.
Daria Werbowy’s Continuing Career
In 2004, Daria Werbowy was named one of the most successful models by American Vogue, and W magazine even dubbed her a “New Style Icon.” She also appeared in editorial spreads for French Vogue, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and in Vogue, with photos by Patrick Demarchelier. Shortly after, Daria became the face of campaigns for Chanel and Missoni and signed a contract with David Yurman, with the shoot conducted by Peter Lindbergh. In 2005, she worked with Yves Saint Laurent, with the photography led by Juergen Teller’s team.
In 2006, the talented model opened the Fall shows for Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta in New York, as well as Fendi in Milan. During the same period, she closed shows for Alexander McQueen and Marni in Milan and Paris and appeared on the cover of Italian GQ. In 2007, Daria made Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid models, taking ninth place. She soon became the face of renowned campaigns such as Rag and Bone, Hermes, and Valentino. In 2008, Daria reached new heights. She finally received her own star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, becoming only the second model after Linda Evangelista to receive such an honour. She also launched a makeup line for Sephora by Lancôme, with proceeds going to charity for hospitals in Brazil aiding children from impoverished families. That same year, Daria was recognized as one of the best models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris. She participated in photoshoots for publications like Vogue, British Vogue, and W, and appeared on the cover of the French magazine Photo topless, where her photo was taken by Mert Alas and Marcus Pigott. Some time later, Daria became the face of several more brand campaigns, including Celine, Balmain, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Lancôme. In 2012, she participated in the spring collection advertising campaign for H&M and appeared on the covers of Australian and Japanese Vogue. Additionally, she served as an ambassador for Celine and Isabel Marant. Today, the model continues to impress with her beauty and skill.
Personal Life
Daria Werbowy is one of the few models who remains relatively detached from her success. She keeps her personal life intensely private, so stunning headline articles rarely feature her name. She approaches every project with immense responsibility, and this exclusivity only enhances her popularity in the modelling industry.
It is known that Daria has a dog named Strawballs, whom she rescued off the street. Regarding her personal life, the model only shares the name of her partner. His name is Tom, and he is a carpenter. They live together in West Cork. When Daria was younger, she learned to sail on Lake Ontario. In 2008, she even completed a 24-day sailing trip with her father, brother, sister, and three friends.
At one point, feeling burned out by the modelling industry, Daria began to focus more on her personal life—building relationships, reading extensively, and engaging in meditation and yoga. She travelled to Peru with her boyfriend, where they participated in building a school for locals. Later, the couple visited a remote village in northern India and spent time there, immersing themselves in the local culture. Daria Werbowy is sceptical of social media, believing it disconnects people from real life and prevents them from fully enjoying the moment. However, conceding to her family’s requests, she eventually joined Instagram.