American supermodel and actress Carmen Dell’Orefice is known for having the longest career of any runway model in the world. The beauty first graced the cover of “Vogue” at the age of 15. Since then, she has been an active force in the modeling industry, taking breaks but always returning. In 2025, Dell’Orefice celebrated her 94th birthday and remains a well-known and popular figure in the fashion world. Newyorka tells more about her life and career.
The Future Star’s Early Life
Carmen Dell’Orefice was born on June 3, 1931, in New York City. Her father was a violinist of Italian descent, and her mother was a ballerina from Hungary. The girl’s parents had a difficult relationship. They often fought, separated, and then got back together. During these turbulent periods, their daughter was sent to live with relatives or even in foster homes.
As a result, the future runway star’s childhood was far from easy and happy. She grew up without wealth or luxury and was very thin. Carmen dreamed of a career as a ballerina, wanting to be like her mother. She began studying the art form diligently, hoping to achieve greatness on the stage. However, life had other plans for her.
First Steps in Her Modeling Career
One day, when Carmen was 13, she was riding the bus to her ballet class. The wife of photographer Herman Landschoff noticed the beautiful girl. She introduced herself to Carmen and invited her to a photoshoot. The young girl agreed, but the first photos, taken at Jones Beach, turned out poorly. Carmen had no experience, and there was no one to guide her. She quickly forgot about the experiment and returned to her ballet lessons.
Two years later, however, her godfather introduced Carmen to the staff at “Vogue” magazine. They were captivated by her look, and the 15-year-old was signed to a contract for $7.50 an hour. In 1946, Carmen graced the cover of the magazine. She was photographed by the renowned master Erwin Blumenfeld, who considered her a favorite.
Carmen was later featured in an issue of “US Vogue,” where she posed as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella. This shoot also included Dorian Leigh, Ray Bolger, and José Ferrer.
The Hardships and Successes of Carmen Dell’Orefice
Despite a successful start to her career, the young model didn’t earn much. At the time, she lived in New York with her mother. They rented an apartment and barely had enough money to get by. Their home didn’t even have a telephone, so “Vogue” had to send messengers to inform Carmen about her next shoot.
The young model often traveled to work on roller skates to save money on bus fare. Carmen was so thin that dresses had to be pinned on her, and fabric was stuffed into the curves to give her figure more shape.
In their free time, Carmen and her mother worked as seamstresses, making custom clothing to earn extra money. Interestingly, one of their clients was the famous model Dorian Leigh. Carmen later became friends with Dorian’s younger sister, Suzy Parker, who was also a model. Both served as bridesmaids at Dorian Leigh’s wedding to Roger W. Mehle.
As for Carmen Dell’Orefice’s own modeling career, it developed rapidly:
- She graced the cover of “Vogue” in the fall of 1947 and again in 1948.
- She was frequently photographed by fashion legends Horst P. Horst and Cecil Beaton.
- Photographer Mark Shaw shot her for a “Vanity Fair” lingerie campaign.
- Carmen even became a muse for the famous artist Salvador Dalí.
Starting in 1953, Dell’Orefice worked with the Ford Modeling Agency. Within the first decade of her career, she achieved global fame and overcame her financial struggles.
A Career Break and a Return to Modeling
In 1959, the runway star announced her retirement. For nearly two decades, she did not appear on the catwalk or in front of the camera. However, financial difficulties forced her to return to the modeling business in 1978.
Carmen Dell’Orefice had lost a significant portion of her savings in the stock market. She even had to auction off her famous modeling photographs from the 1940s at Sotheby’s. At the same time, she returned to work and, despite no longer being young by industry standards, became successful once again.
In 1984, her photo graced the cover of “Quarante” magazine. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Carmen Dell’Orefice modeled for Target, Cho Cheng, and Rolex. Her photos regularly appeared in “Vogue” and “Harper’s Bazaar,” as well as on the covers of “L’Officiel” and “Marie Claire.” Since her return to the fashion industry, the star has participated in:
- Ad campaigns for Missoni, shot by Giampaolo Sgura.
- Advertisements for the Sephora brand, shot by Mikael Jansson.
- Commercials for Philipp Plein, directed by Steven Klein, and for H&M.
- Fashion shows for Anna Sui, Thierry Mugler, Stéphane Rolland, and Guo Pei.
In 2015, Carmen Dell’Orefice worked with Isabeli Fontana and David Gandy at the grand opening of the Palacio de Hierro Polanco department store.
Additionally, the famous model acted in films. She made her first attempt in this field back in 1966. Her filmography later expanded with several more pictures that were well-received by audiences and critics.
In 2011, the runway star was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts London. The university created a retrospective exhibition featuring her famous “Vogue” covers, other career highlights, and even photos from her personal archive.
In 2022, at the age of 91, Carmen Dell’Orefice posed nude, continuing to prove that age is just a number and that there are no limits to realizing one’s potential. In 2023, the model appeared on the cover of “Vogue Czechoslovakia.” She became the oldest model in America and the world before announcing her retirement.
The Famous Model’s Personal Life
Carmen Dell’Orefice’s personal life was not always happy. In the early 1950s, she married for the first time. Her husband, Bill Miles, would collect all her checks from the modeling agency, leaving his wife with only $50 for expenses. The couple had a daughter, Laura, but Dell’Orefice soon decided to divorce him.
In 1958, she met and fell in love with photographer Richard Heyman, and they married six months later. The model believed she had found happiness this time and decided to leave the runway to be a wife and mother. However, her husband left her after learning she had announced her retirement.
In the 1990s, she was in a relationship with Norman Levy. Together, they invested money in Bernie Madoff’s business. The couple was friends with Madoff and his wife, and they traveled and socialized together. When Levy passed away in 2005, Madoff was the executor of his will. At the time of his death, Levy’s assets were valued at $244 million, but Madoff’s business turned out to be a fraudulent scheme. He used these and other funds to deceive people. As a result, Carmen Dell’Orefice lost her savings once again, along with many other investors defrauded by the businessman.
It’s possible that the model continued to work due to financial hardship. At the same time, she was always dedicated to her craft and managed to change the perception of the runway as a place reserved only for young girls.