Susan Holmes
Encyclopedia
Susan Elizabeth Holmes-McKagan (born May 5, 1972) is an American model, television personality, and designer. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue
, Elle
, Marie Claire
and Playboy
. She is also known as the public face and founder of her business venture Susan Holmes Swimwear. According to an interview by Elsa Klensch
on CNN
, Holmes earned the title "The Body" from iconic fashion photographer Steven Meisel
.
and is the daughter of Dr. John Holmes and Judith A. Holmes. Her father is thrice a Fulbright Scholar, and part of the International Advertising Association, World Conference of Education and the United Nations. Holmes’ parents divorced in 1979, and Holmes moved out west with her older brother, sister and mother to San Diego, where Judith taught as an English teacher and San Diego County Office of Education Reading Specialist, helping children with learning disabilities to read.
Holmes graduated from the University of San Diego High School, was a cheerleader and on the honor roll. She was voted by her class, in the "senior standouts" as the person most desired as "deserted island companion". Holmes was discovered at the age of 16, while dining in a restaurant in Manhattan and sitting at a table next to Jodie Foster
. Fashion photographer Marco Glaviano
approached Susan and asked if she were a model. After meeting various top agents, Holmes was accepted by two modeling agencies, Ford
and Elite
. It was at the age of 17, that Holmes was on her first cover of a magazine (San Diego magazine) and also appearing in ads on billboards.
, Valentino
, Chanel
, Versace
, John Galliano
, Christian Lacroix
, Herve Leger
, Badgley Mischka
, Nicole Miller
, Marc Jacobs
, and Prada
. Holmes also has appeared in ad campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent
, Fendi
, Escada
, Guess, Revlon
, Karl Lagerfeld
, Louis Vuitton
, and Victoria's Secret
. Holmes was in television commercials for Peugeot
(which actually won an award and was filmed by Madonna
videographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino
). She then followed with two more commercials, for Triumph
and H&M
lingerie. Susan then starred as "the runaway bride" alongside fellow models Tyra Banks
, Kate Moss
, and Helena Christensen
in the British film Inferno!.
, Venus Williams
, Heidi Klum
, Stella McCartney
, Elle MacPherson
and Daryl Hannah
, to name a few. She was the "designer with the most suits" in a recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and her bikini made entirely of guitar pics donned the calendar and DVD cover. Susan Holmes Swimwear is sold at Sak's Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and an exclusive line for Victoria's Secret
. Susan Holmes Swimwear is also sold at her online store, www.susanholmes.net. Susan gives back over 15% after net proceeds to charities, such as "Project Angel Food", "Surfrider Foundation" and the Red Cross for natural disaster victims. Holmes received an award from supermodel Niki Taylor, in New York City as "The Swimwear Designer of the Year" at the National Children Leukemia Foundation's –The Michael Awards in 2008.
She was a creative director, celebrity guest judge and mentor/designer to the aspiring models on America's Next Top Model (Cycle 11 - You’re Beautiful, Now Change) alongside Tyra Banks
. Susan has also appeared on MTV, as herself in the video for Velvet Revolver
's song Fall To Pieces, with her clothing designs on TvLand's "She's Got The Look", and recently seen on E!
Channel's Married to Rock
which debuted on November 7, 2010. Holmes was a regular correspondent on Fox News with Shepard Smith, reporting about American Idol
. Holmes was given the key to the city of both Detroit, Michigan
and Toledo, Ohio
from Mayor Jack Ford / Kwami Kilpatrick as a result of her international businesswoman accomplishments.
bassist Duff McKagan
on August 28, 1999. The couple have two daughters, Grace Elizabeth McKagan (born August 27, 1997) and Mae Marie McKagan (born July 14, 2000). The family currently lives in Seattle, Washington.
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
and 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...
. She is also known as the public face and founder of her business venture Susan Holmes Swimwear. According to an interview by Elsa Klensch
Elsa Klensch
Elsa Klensch is an Australian-American journalist and novelist, often working in the world of fashion. She was the producer and host of Style with Elsa Klensch, CNN's weekly fashion and design television program, which ran from 1980 to 2001.-Career:...
on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Holmes earned the title "The Body" from iconic fashion photographer Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel is an American photographer, who obtained popular acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex...
.
Early life
Holmes was born in Bowling Green, OhioBowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
and is the daughter of Dr. John Holmes and Judith A. Holmes. Her father is thrice a Fulbright Scholar, and part of the International Advertising Association, World Conference of Education and the United Nations. Holmes’ parents divorced in 1979, and Holmes moved out west with her older brother, sister and mother to San Diego, where Judith taught as an English teacher and San Diego County Office of Education Reading Specialist, helping children with learning disabilities to read.
Holmes graduated from the University of San Diego High School, was a cheerleader and on the honor roll. She was voted by her class, in the "senior standouts" as the person most desired as "deserted island companion". Holmes was discovered at the age of 16, while dining in a restaurant in Manhattan and sitting at a table next to Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
. Fashion photographer Marco Glaviano
Marco Glaviano
Marco Glaviano is a reputable figure in the fashion industry as a premier photographer who has been sought after by famous supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Paulina Porizkova, and Eva Herzigova. He has been the leading pioneer of digital photography and was the first to publish the first ever...
approached Susan and asked if she were a model. After meeting various top agents, Holmes was accepted by two modeling agencies, Ford
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
and Elite
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
. It was at the age of 17, that Holmes was on her first cover of a magazine (San Diego magazine) and also appearing in ads on billboards.
Career
Holmes' designer accomplishments stem from a career as an international model. Holmes worked for Dolce & GabbanaDolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
, Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
, Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Versace
Versace
Gianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
, John Galliano
John Galliano
John Charles Galliano CBE, RDI is a Gibraltan-born British fashion designer who was best known as head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and Christian Dior , and his own self titled fashion house.-Family:He was born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father, Juan Galliano, and a...
, Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix
Christian Marie Marc Lacroix is a French fashion designer. The name may also refer to the company he founded.-Early life:Lacroix was born in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône in southern France. At a young age he began sketching historical costumes and fashions. Lacroix graduated from high school in 1969...
, Herve Leger
Herve Leger
Herve Leger, sometimes written as Hervé Léger , is a French fashion house founded by the designer currently known as Hervé L. Leroux.-History:Herve Leger was founded in 1985 by the designer currently known as Hervé L. Leroux...
, Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka is an American fashion label designed by Mark Badgley and James Mischka. James Mischka began at Rice University as a biomedical engineering major and ultimately graduated with degrees in art history and managerial studies in 1985. Badgley and Mischka met at Parsons School of Design...
, Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller is an American fashion designer, businesswoman, mother and wife who was born in Texas and raised in Lenox, Massachusetts.Miller attended the Rhode Island School of Design where she earned a BFA in Apparel Design...
, Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
, and Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
. Holmes also has appeared in ad campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
, Fendi
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
, Escada
Escada
Escada is an international luxury fashion group in women's designer clothing. The company has a presence in about 60 different countries. Its main sales markets are North America, western and eastern Europe and Asia. It filed bankruptcy in August 2009, and was acquired by Megha Mittal, in November...
, Guess, Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
, Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, and Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
. Holmes was in television commercials for Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
(which actually won an award and was filmed by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
videographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
). She then followed with two more commercials, for Triumph
Triumph International
Triumph International is an international underwear manufacturer. Founded in Heubach, Württemberg, Germany 1886 by the two families Spiesshofer & Braun. The first foreign subsidiary was established in Zurzach, Switzerland which...
and H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
lingerie. Susan then starred as "the runaway bride" alongside fellow models Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
, Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
, and 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...
in the British film Inferno!.
Designer/Television
Susan Holmes Swimwear is a swimwear line that Holmes commenced in 1997 while pregnant with her first child. Susan's designs have been worn by celebrities such as Kate HudsonKate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
, Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
, Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum
Heidi Samuel , better known by her birth name Heidi Klum, is a German model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional singer. In 2008 she became an American citizen while maintaining her native German citizenship...
, Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella Nina McCartney is an English fashion designer. She is the daughter of former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney and the late photographer and animal rights activist, Linda McCartney.-Early life:...
, Elle MacPherson
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson is an Australian model, actress, and businesswoman nicknamed "The Body". She is perhaps best known for her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s...
and Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
, to name a few. She was the "designer with the most suits" in a recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and her bikini made entirely of guitar pics donned the calendar and DVD cover. Susan Holmes Swimwear is sold at Sak's Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and an exclusive line for Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
. Susan Holmes Swimwear is also sold at her online store, www.susanholmes.net. Susan gives back over 15% after net proceeds to charities, such as "Project Angel Food", "Surfrider Foundation" and the Red Cross for natural disaster victims. Holmes received an award from supermodel Niki Taylor, in New York City as "The Swimwear Designer of the Year" at the National Children Leukemia Foundation's –The Michael Awards in 2008.
She was a creative director, celebrity guest judge and mentor/designer to the aspiring models on America's Next Top Model (Cycle 11 - You’re Beautiful, Now Change) alongside Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
. Susan has also appeared on MTV, as herself in the video for Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
's song Fall To Pieces, with her clothing designs on TvLand's "She's Got The Look", and recently seen on E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
Channel's Married to Rock
Married to Rock
Married to Rock is an American reality television series broadcast on the E! cable television network. The show is produced by Bunim-Murray Productions.-Synopsis:The series focuses on the lives of the spouses of four rock musicians...
which debuted on November 7, 2010. Holmes was a regular correspondent on Fox News with Shepard Smith, reporting about American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Holmes was given the key to the city of both Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
from Mayor Jack Ford / Kwami Kilpatrick as a result of her international businesswoman accomplishments.
Personal life
Holmes married ex-Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
bassist Duff McKagan
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
on August 28, 1999. The couple have two daughters, Grace Elizabeth McKagan (born August 27, 1997) and Mae Marie McKagan (born July 14, 2000). The family currently lives in Seattle, Washington.