Rachel Hunter
Encyclopedia
Rachel Hunter is a New Zealand
born American
model, actress and reality TV show host who now resides in the U.S. She is best known for her appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
s and her longtime marriage to singer Rod Stewart
, which ended in 2006. She also appeared in the music video
for the Fountains of Wayne
song "Stacy's Mom
".
, a suburb of Auckland
, New Zealand, Hunter began modelling by age 17 and rose to prominence after posing as a Sports Illustrated
model in 1989. She appeared on magazine covers, including Cosmopolitan
and on the 1994 "Dream Team" cover of Sports Illustrated
's annual swimsuit issue.
She posed naked
for a cover-featured Playboy
pictorial published in 2004. She also replaced Penny Lancaster
, the wife of Hunter's ex-husband Rod Stewart
, as the face and body of Ultimo, a Scottish lingerie
house. In 2006, Hunter was replaced by Helena Christensen
.
Hunter guest starred in a 1997 episode of The Drew Carey Show
as herself. Trying to develop a career in acting, she has taken a series of acting lessons and appeared in several independent film, including 1999's A Walk in the Park and 2000's Two Shades of Blue, an erotic thriller
with Marlee Matlin
. She stars as a lesbian cook doling out relationship advice in the award winning indie film La Cucina (film)
. She had a brief appearance as a sexy soccer mom
in Dennis Dugan
's The Benchwarmers
(2006) and also played a sultry, bikini-clad mother in the music video for Fountains of Wayne
's 2003 song "Stacy's Mom
."
Hunter appeared on a 2005 celebrity episode of Lingo
, where she and her partner Trista Rehn
split $US30,000 for charity. Hunter is an ambassador to The Born Free Foundation
, and established the Rachel Hunter Lowland Gorilla Fund. Hunter also appeared as herself in the 2004 Christmas Special of The Vicar of Dibley
.
Hunter is signed to Select Model Management in London, and Chadwick Models in Sydney, Australia.
and The Real Gilligan's Island
, and appeared on the BBC
's Strictly Come Dancing
and NBC
's Celebrity Circus
.
She was a judge on the ABC reality competition Are You Hot?
with Lorenzo Lamas
. It was cancelled after one season. She appeared on the VH1
's sci-fi celebrity reality show Celebrity Paranormal Project
. She appeared as a celebrity guest on the first week of the NBC reality competition Phenomenon
. She featured in a documentary about bra history & design for Discovery Channel "Bra Wars" http://www.iddistribution.tv/Producers/Airborne%20TV/Bra%20Wars%20Boom%20or%20Bust%20160.aspx?type=completed%20programmes
In 2005 she hosted a series of Make Me A Supermodel
, a reality show for Britain's Five TV channel. The series was marked by an on going feud between Hunter and contestant Jasmine Lennard
. In 2006, she hosted a reality program for U.S. cable TV channel WE
, Style Me With Rachel Hunter. Contestants on the show participated in a series of fashion challenges to prove that they "measured up" and were capable of being Hunter's stylist. Hunter, Phillip Bloch and Milica Kastner were judges. The opportunity to style Hunter for the People's Choice Awards
and a cash prize was awarded to the winner, Buick Audra.
She was a contestant on NBC's new celebrity circus act Celebrity Circus
which premiered 11 June 2008. She stars in the movie A Fonder Heart
.
.
At the age of 21, Hunter met rock star Rod Stewart
, 24 years her senior, and they were married on 15 December 1990. Together they had two children, Renee and Liam, but separated in January 1999 and their divorce was finalised on 2 November 2006.
Hunter was engaged to ice-hockey player Jarret Stoll
and they planned to marry in August 2009, but the wedding was called off.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model, actress and reality TV show host who now resides in the U.S. She is best known for her appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is published annually by Sports Illustrated. It features fashion models wearing swimwear in exotic locales. According to some, the magazine is the arbiter of supermodel succession. In addition, the issue is a media nexus that in 2005 carried in advertising....
s and her longtime marriage to singer Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, which ended in 2006. She also appeared in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
song "Stacy's Mom
Stacy's Mom
"Stacy's Mom" is a hit single by American band Fountains of Wayne, released in 2003 and taken from their album Welcome Interstate Managers....
".
Biography
Born in GlenfieldGlenfield, New Zealand
Glenfield is a suburb of North Shore, one of several cities in the Auckland metropolitan area in northern New Zealand. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, nine kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
, a suburb of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, Hunter began modelling by age 17 and rose to prominence after posing as a Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
model in 1989. She appeared on magazine covers, including Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
and on the 1994 "Dream Team" cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
's annual swimsuit issue.
She posed naked
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
for a cover-featured Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
pictorial published in 2004. She also replaced Penny Lancaster
Penny Lancaster
Penny Lancaster-Stewart is an English model and photographer. She is probably best known for her modeling work for designer lingerie brand Ultimo. She is married to rock singer Rod Stewart.-Early life & career:...
, the wife of Hunter's ex-husband Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, as the face and body of Ultimo, a Scottish lingerie
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
house. In 2006, Hunter was replaced by Helena Christensen
Helena Christensen
Helena Christensen is a Danish fashion model, Victoria's Secret Angel, beauty queen, and photographer. She has also served as creative director for Nylon magazine, designed clothing, and supported funding for breast cancer organizations and other charities.-Early life:Christensen was born in...
.
Hunter guest starred in a 1997 episode of The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
as herself. Trying to develop a career in acting, she has taken a series of acting lessons and appeared in several independent film, including 1999's A Walk in the Park and 2000's Two Shades of Blue, an erotic thriller
Erotic thriller
The erotic thriller is a film and literary sub-genre which consists of a mixture between erotica and thriller. The genre increased in North American popularity from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, before declining in marketability.-1980s:...
with Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
. She stars as a lesbian cook doling out relationship advice in the award winning indie film La Cucina (film)
La Cucina (film)
La Cucina is a 2007 romantic drama written by A. W. Gryphon. The film stars Christina Hendricks, Joaquim de Almeida, Leisha Hailey, & Rachel Hunter. It was directed by first time directors Allison Hebble & Zed B. Starkovich. The film was scored by Ian Ball from the band Gomez...
. She had a brief appearance as a sexy soccer mom
Soccer mom
The phrase soccer mom broadly refers to a middle-class suburban woman who spends a significant amount of her time transporting her school-age children to their sporting events or other activities. Indices of American magazines and newspapers show relatively little usage of the term until a 1995...
in Dennis Dugan
Dennis Dugan
Dennis Dugan is an American director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedic actor Adam Sandler, with whom he directed the films Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups, Just Go With It, and Jack and...
's The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob Schneider, Jon Heder, and David Spade. It is produced by Revolution Studios and Happy Madison Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures.-Plot:...
(2006) and also played a sultry, bikini-clad mother in the music video for Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
's 2003 song "Stacy's Mom
Stacy's Mom
"Stacy's Mom" is a hit single by American band Fountains of Wayne, released in 2003 and taken from their album Welcome Interstate Managers....
."
Hunter appeared on a 2005 celebrity episode of Lingo
Lingo (American game show)
Lingo is an American television game show with multiple international adaptations. The first American version aired from 1987–1988 in syndication, a second version of the show ran as an original series on GSN for six seasons from 2002–2007, and a third version began airing on GSN on June 6,...
, where she and her partner Trista Rehn
Trista Rehn
Trista Nicole Sutter was the runner-up on season 1 of the ABC reality television show The Bachelor, before becoming the star of the first season of its companion show The Bachelorette....
split $US30,000 for charity. Hunter is an ambassador to The Born Free Foundation
Born Free Foundation
The Born Free Foundation is a conservation and animal rescue organization in the United Kingdom. It originated in 1984 as the "Zoo Check Campaign" by actors Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers along with their son Will Travers and four associates....
, and established the Rachel Hunter Lowland Gorilla Fund. Hunter also appeared as herself in the 2004 Christmas Special of The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley is a British sitcom created by Richard Curtis and written for its lead actress, Dawn French, by Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, with contributions from Kit Hesketh-Harvey. It aired from 1994 to 2007...
.
Hunter is signed to Select Model Management in London, and Chadwick Models in Sydney, Australia.
Reality TV
She has been a contestant on the United States reality television series Dancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars (US TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a reality show airing on ABC in the United States, and CTV in Canada in 2011. The show is the American version of the British BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing...
and The Real Gilligan's Island
The Real Gilligan's Island
The Real Gilligan's Island was a reality television series that aired two seasons on TBS in 2004 and 2005. Contestants on the show were required to participate in challenges based on plots from the 1960s television show. Both editions of the show were recorded in the Mexican Caribbean on a...
, and appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Celebrity Circus
Celebrity Circus (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Circus is an American version of the Celebrity Circus reality television show based on the Australian television series of the same name originally aired in 2005...
.
She was a judge on the ABC reality competition Are You Hot?
Are You Hot?
Are You Hot?: The Search for America's Sexiest People is an American reality television series that premiered February 13, 2003 on ABC. A panel of judges including Lorenzo Lamas, Rachel Hunter, and Randolph Duke evaluated contestants on the sole criterion of their physical attractiveness...
with Lorenzo Lamas
Lorenzo Lamas
Lorenzo Lamas y de Santos is an American actor. Lamas is known for playing Lance Cumson on the popular 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest, Reno Raines on the 1990s crime drama Renegade, and Hector Ramirez on the daytime soap opera The Bold and The Beautiful...
. It was cancelled after one season. She appeared on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's sci-fi celebrity reality show Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project is a paranormal reality television series that originally aired from October 22, 2006 to November 1, 2007 on VH1. The show is currently on hiatus, so it is unknown if VH1 will re-air the show and begin with a second season...
. She appeared as a celebrity guest on the first week of the NBC reality competition Phenomenon
Phenomenon
A phenomenon , plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence. Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'...
. She featured in a documentary about bra history & design for Discovery Channel "Bra Wars" http://www.iddistribution.tv/Producers/Airborne%20TV/Bra%20Wars%20Boom%20or%20Bust%20160.aspx?type=completed%20programmes
In 2005 she hosted a series of Make Me A Supermodel
Make Me a Supermodel (UK TV series)
Make Me a Supermodel is a British reality television modeling competition hosted and judged by New Zealander model Rachel Hunter, airing on the television channel Five. A U.S...
, a reality show for Britain's Five TV channel. The series was marked by an on going feud between Hunter and contestant Jasmine Lennard
Jasmine Lennard
Jasmine Lennard is an English fashion model.- Biography :Lennard first shot to fame in 2005 as a finalist in the reality TV talent search Make Me a Supermodel...
. In 2006, she hosted a reality program for U.S. cable TV channel WE
WE: Women's Entertainment
WE tv is an American cable television channel that is marketed towards women. It features some original programming, such as non-fiction talk shows, as well as made-for-TV movies, older feature films, and reruns of TV shows, it also shows art and fashion documentaries and reality series....
, Style Me With Rachel Hunter. Contestants on the show participated in a series of fashion challenges to prove that they "measured up" and were capable of being Hunter's stylist. Hunter, Phillip Bloch and Milica Kastner were judges. The opportunity to style Hunter for the People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
and a cash prize was awarded to the winner, Buick Audra.
She was a contestant on NBC's new celebrity circus act Celebrity Circus
Celebrity Circus (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Circus is an American version of the Celebrity Circus reality television show based on the Australian television series of the same name originally aired in 2005...
which premiered 11 June 2008. She stars in the movie A Fonder Heart
A Fonder Heart
A Fonder Heart is an upcoming film directed by Jim Fitzpatrick which loosely follows the plot of Joey Boone, a 15 year-old boy, who shares his hospitalisation time with self-made multimillionaire Craig Thomas.-Background:...
.
Personal life
In the late 1980s Hunter lived with rock musician Kip WingerKip Winger
Charles Frederick Kip Winger is an American rock musician, both a member of the hard rock band, Winger, and a solo artist.-Early days:Winger was born in Denver, Colorado to parents who were both jazz musicians....
.
At the age of 21, Hunter met rock star Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, 24 years her senior, and they were married on 15 December 1990. Together they had two children, Renee and Liam, but separated in January 1999 and their divorce was finalised on 2 November 2006.
Hunter was engaged to ice-hockey player Jarret Stoll
Jarret Stoll
Jarret Stoll is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League...
and they planned to marry in August 2009, but the wedding was called off.