Veruschka von Lehndorff, model and actress from the mid-20th century, was so famous in the 1960s she appeared in the 1966 Michelangelo Antonini film Blow Up with only one line, “Here I Am”.
Veruschuka was born in East Prussia in 1939 to famous member of the German Court and leader of the WWII German Resistance, Herinrich Graf von Lehndorff-Steinort. After studying art and moving to Florence at the age of 20, Veruschka was discovered by photographer Ugo Mulas. From there she became muse to some of the biggest names in the fashion/art industry including Salvador Dali and Peter Beard. At one point, Veruschka was so sought-after she made 10,000 dollars a day.
Veruschka was in drast contrast to another 60s fashion icon, Twiggy, who ruled the runways with her super looks. Therefore Veruschka’s beauty warranted exotic trips on location in places like Kenya, where the unique appeal of pseudo-exotic German Barbie became engrained in fashion’s “look book” for ever.
While Veruschka left fashion in 1975 after a falling out with then Vogue Editor-in-Chief Grace Mirabella, her allure was never forgotten. Even today designers, including Tom Ford and Michael Kors turn to the exotic Veruschka for inspiration.
A Stairway To Fashion 