Esther Cañadas

Esther Cañadas (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈteɾ kaˈɲaðas]; born 1 March 1977, in Albacete) is a Spanish model and actress. In 2024, the website Models.com added her to its list of Industry Icons,^[2] a term it applies to models "who have built stellar careers", ranking her higher than its Industry Legends category but lower than its Supermodels.^[2]

Esther Cañadas
Esther Cañadas at The Brandery show (2010)
Born	(1977-03-01) 1 March 1977 (age 48) Albacete, Spain
Spouses	Mark Vanderloo ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2000)​ Sete Gibernau ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2008)​
Children	1
Modeling information
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Hair color	Dark blond
Eye color	Blue
Agency	d'management group (Milan)[1]

Career

Originally, Cañadas wanted to pursue a career as a criminologist, but her mother persuaded her to give modeling a try.^[3] In her teens she started working as a model and moved first to Barcelona, then to Milan and New York.

Cañadas has walked the catwalk for many designers, including Chloé, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Chanel, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Moschino, Custo Barcelona and Givenchy.

She has appeared in campaigns for the most renowned fashion brands like Versace, Gianfranco Ferré, Armani, Oscar de la Renta, Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Dior. She is probably best known for being the muse of Donna Karan^{[citation needed]} and especially for the DKNY campaigns.^{[citation needed]}

She has been featured on the cover of the most prestigious international fashion magazines like Vogue, Harpe's Bazaar, Marie Claire to name a few. She has worked with the "who's who" of top photographers in the fashion industry, including: Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Richard Avedon, Ellen Von Unwerth, Herb Ritts.

In 1997, she walked the Victoria's Secret fashion show.^[3]

In 1999, she made her first of four film appearances – all minor roles – in the action/romance film The Thomas Crown Affair.

In 2020 she made her come back on the catwalks ^{[clarification needed]} for the Gran Finale of the Balmain's show during Paris Fashion Week.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Cañadas met her first husband, model Mark Vanderloo, on the set of a DKNY photoshoot in 1997. They married in 1999 and were divorced in 2000.^[4] In 2007, she married MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau.^{[citation needed]} They ended their relationship the following year.

In December 2014, Cañadas gave birth to a daughter, Galia.^[5]

Filmography

• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
• Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (2000, TV movie)
• Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella (2001)
• Trileros (2003)