Mark Vanderloo: America's Most Famous Male Model

Got milk? Mark Vanderloo did, when he landed, by happenstance, a national commercial for Holland's dairy board 20 years ago. Now, he's got a lot more than that as Hugo Boss' main man for the past three years.

Born: April 24, 1968 in Waddenvenn Holland
Height: 6'2"
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Resides: Has homes in New York, Paris and Amsterdam
Trivia: Speaks five languages;

In 1992, Vanderloo was tending bar for $200 a night and modeling part-time near his village in Holland, when he was signed by Willemina and hit the international modeling scene. He says he opted to leave his native home to see the world. Four months later, he had become a runway sensation in Paris, Milan and Manhattan.

Hungry for a male supermodel, the industry pounced on the broad-shouldered boy. In 1994, he moved to Manhattan, bought a pair of rollerblades and became Calvin Klein's Obsession model. (Yes, that one--the guy in the white briefs, rolling around in the sand.)

By the following season, he had become a print sensation. His live appearances in the Calvin Klein, Versace, Hermés, Valentino and Boss shows brought in screaming girls (and men) and much needed attention to men's fashion.

       

In 1995, he landed the role as face--and body--of Boss' couture and ready-to-wear lines. Three other male models, including Vanderloo's best friend, Alex Ludquist, joined him to become the Fashion Fab Four. The troupe now rules the runways. In 1996, they became the first men to appear on the cover of Marie Claire.

Donna Karan hired Vanderloo that year for a hush-hush spring ad campaign, launching her new men's collection. While print remains Vanderloo's bread and butter, the model continues to balance a schedule of up to 50 shows per year. Perhaps that's why VH1's Fashion and Music Awards named him Male Model of the Year.

  He married to Spanish model Esther Cañadas on June 12, 1999 and they divorced in November 2000. After divorce he started dating Dutch actress and former model Robine van der Meer and the couple have two children, Emma Paula and Mark together. The couple married on June 3, 2011.