Eva Voorhees
Eva Voorhees, born in Los Angeles, California, established a reputation in the late seventies and the eighties as one of the most captivating models of her time. With her soft, romantic face, deep green eyes and full lips, Eva’s Pre-Raphaelite appearance was unique in the fashion industry.
Eva started modeling out of high school in her native California, signing with Nina Blanchard, the sister agency to New York’s Ford Modeling Agency. At that time very few brunettes were successful models in Los Angeles. Three months later Eva met Eileen Ford, who was visiting California to meet Blanchard’s newest models. During their meeting, Eileen Ford stated to Eva that if she ever hoped to succeed as a model she would need to get editorial work for her portfolio. “Clients need to see tear sheets in order to consider a girl; you’ll need to move to New York.”
A week later Eva was in New York and sent on a succession of go-sees to introduce herself to the fashion industries top photographers, advertisers and magazine editors. Shortly after her arrival she met Richard Avedon, and within weeks was booked for Vogue. Thus she appeared in the U.S. edition of Vogue only three months after she first arrived in New York. This American Vogue debut attracted the attention of photographer Eric Boman, who immediately booked her for many British Vogue shoots. Though her exotic look could have limited her to European bookings, Eva never had to struggle elsewhere to get established; she was an overnight success in New York.
Eva went on to do many covers for Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Fashions of The Times, Brides, Self, Linea, L’Official and was featured in numerous photography books. She also appeared in cosmetic advertisements for Avon, L’Oreal, Orlane, Revlon and Lancome. Other clients included; Dior, Valentino, DeBeers, Donna Karan, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, Genny, Oscar De La Renta, Ralph Lauren and upscale department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman. Avedon, Irving Penn, Albert Watson, Rico Puhlmann, Francesco Scavullo, Horst, Eric Boman, Gordon Munro and Chris Von Wangenheim are among the numerous photographers with whom she has worked.
Today Eva is an archivist of the work of all the great models of the fashion industry, on display here, her Supermodel Icons website. With her substantial background and connections in the fashion industry, Eva has parlayed her knowledge into a consulting service for aspiring models. Her unique, firsthand experiences offer insight into a world few have known. She has settled in her beloved California, spending her spare time enjoying photography and championing the cause of caring for abused and neglected animals.
www.evavoorhees.com
Eva I loved ur 2nd 4th Vogue cover and the cover of Gorgeous u look natural in that………
Y haven’t u put the gorgeous cover on fb fan page
Eva, I remember seeing ALOT of these print pictures and covers. How EXOTIC and gorgeous you are!!!! Such beautiful coloring, hair and bone structure! But, the BEST part is your INNER self – you are such a kind person and loving. You have a real HEART for people and animals. If only everyone could appreciate that. I feel blessed to know you. Not to mention you are HILARIOUS. You have every best quality anyone could ask for and more! xxoo Donna
P.S. – is there ANY color you CANNOT wear??? Because as I look at your pictures, you look fabulous in the softest of colors, like the lavender and mint green, to the gorgous rich jewel tones, and the wonderful seductive earthy tones…I mean, there is just NO color that doesn’t look fab on you!!!!
Why is there no bio on Eva? For those of us who loved your work…look, style, there isn’t any info on here as there are with other models. Please post a bio.
Love Light,
Tee
You’re so kind! It’s because I don’t really like talking about myself, that’s why! It was easier doing it for the others, but I will try to get something up there. Thanks for telling me!
Really sweet message! Thank you!
I think a brief bio would be nice, why should the lovely Eva be left out? CM
Working on it. Anything for you, Chris!
Beauty thin, delicate and refined, enigmatic gaze … Eva Voorhees, are sensational, I hope that today there are models like you! with love from Mexico
Does one of these covers of Vogue (third left) does not appear in Flashdance?
How sweet-thank you! What model is on the cover you’re asking me about?
I really love to see other models in this site … How about Yasmin LeBon?, Personally adore her exotic beauty. Greetings from Mexico
I’m working on a group of 90s models next. Kate Moss, Cindy, Naomi, Linda, Christy…
Now it is about you Eva. I remember once listing a mag on EBAY and somebody wrote to me and asked why I added all the models’ names to the item description and wrote just beside your name” with beautiful Eva Voorhees”. He wanted to know why I found you beautiful and not the others. I replied and said that I find all of them beautiful but you Eva you are special and deserve a little more. Your hair, your face, you are an original and very special. You and Andie Macdowell look amazing. You must add your biography and if possible the models you worked with.
Thanks for this fab blog.
Wow. I never expected this. You are incredibly sweet and I don’t know what to say other than I’m so touched! Thank you so much! I really appreciate this, and I do have a dear friend who has written my bio finally. You’re not the first to ask, so it’s coming soon!
Thanks for the bio!
You’re welcome, Chris! Thanks for all your help. I just realized I forgot to add the girls I worked with for Jackie. Jackie, there’s probably only five on the main page I didn’t work with. I can always send you a personal email.
Fabulous bio Eva. You were the one! Gorgeous and different and exotic and most definitely paved the way to exotic beauties together with Janice Dickinson, Andie Macdowell and many to follow.
Now, that you are the all that we all know but that you love animals and fight for their cause makes you my immediate friend. I love animals and will love love people that love them. Love ya and yes, send me an email with details of all models you worked with or didn.t.
Thanks a million for the great site.
For some reason I would have thought people would know that, but thinking about it it’s not really public information. Always, all my life. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help unwanted animals. On my first trip to Rome at 19 I rescued a street dog and flew him to New York. People thought I was nuts, but I can’t imagine turning my back on any needy animal. I just wouldn’t.
Eva, wow. These photos of you are so nice. I love #22 and #37 the most. What was the setting of #37, do you recall? My family took us on a field trip to NY around 1980 and I thought I saw you in an elevator at Ford. Are you petite, as in maybe 5 feet 7? With a face like yours, you can get away with not being 5 feet 10, for certain!
My friends and I were obssessed with fashion mags in the late 70s-early 80s. Nancy Donahue grew up in Lowell, the next town over, so we were all excited when she started showing up on covers. Looking at your site made me look into someone I always wondered about, so I looked her up under
Face of the Eighties contest held by Ford–it’s Annette Stai, the first winner. Did you ever meet her? I think she quit modeling soon after winning the contest. I know there was a spread in one of the mags that showed her in a sauna. She looked really physically strong. There are some recent pics of her that come up in the language of her native country–the title is something like STAI ALIVE. Anyway, maybe someone can come up with some pics of Annette in her Ford days. The Swedish site spells her name with only one n while the Ford contest spells it with two. By the way, my boyfriend, who was a weight trainer circa 1980 thought Annette was remarkable. Hopefully, someone out there can help out and get you/us some pics. Thanks, Eva! Great to see the stunning photos of you!
Thank you Jayne! The French Vogue shot, number 37, was shot by Eric Boman in France. We were at a mansion in the country. There were quite a few great photos I got from that shoot, number 39 was another. It was always a pleasure to work with Eric. I made a link for my work with Eric and all the images are on my website: evavoorhees.com too.
No, it wasn’t me on the elevator because I am 5′10″.
Nancy Donahue is on here too by the way. Have you tried to search at the top for these models? I’m just curious. My web designer is working to update this site, I think I mentioned that there were indeed 77 models here. Annette Stai is definitely here, and I know I have that image of here too, the sauna photo, because I did all of the scanning and made the albums, so my recollection for individual images here is pretty good!
Eva, I found your site when I suddenly got the idea of googling Clotilde. I somehow misread what you wrote earlier and thought you were saying there were 77 photos of YOU, not 77 models represented on the site. In addition, I did not think to put any model names in the search box at first because I just scrolled down on whatever page I was on, I think, and found other models to read about. I do think that it is not instantly clear that you’re supposed to click on the model name in black to get all the info, but I am an online dunce. What I mean is, it was not instantly clear to me that the model name was a link. Could they be underscored or put in red or something, or would that be just too juvenile/rudimentary? I mean, I did figure it out—I knew there had to be more information–it’s just that it wasn’t readily apparent to me. I think the site is beautiful; I’m the last one who should be making suggestions on web design. I just say all this to explain what I now see has been a scattered approach to enjoying your fab site! Chalk it up to excitement!
That’s funny, and scary. I would never memorize the number of shots of me!
Up until a couple of weeks ago there were 77 models on the home page, but you can imagine why that isn’t practical or very user friendly.
Honestly, just yesterday I mentioned to my web designer that I thought the name in black should be changed to a different color so it’s more obvious that it’s a link to the model’s album! So I hear you and really do appreciate your ideas.
No, it’s not you! I completely agree and this is all good, so good I’m going to forward your email to my web designer right now. Thank you Jayne!