Born 1939 as Vera Gottliebe Anna Gräfin von Lehndorff-Steinort in Königsberg, East Prussia, German model, actress, and artist Veruschka studied art in Hamburg and then moved to Florence, where she was discovered at age 20 by the photographer Ugo Mulas and became a full-time model.
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| Veruschka in the 1960s |
In 1961, Veruschka moved to New York City, but soon returned to Munich. For some time, she was with the Stewart Modeling Agency at 405 Park Avenue in New York where she reigned as the girl with the most covers on the wall when you walked in. She had also garnered attention when she made a brief five-minute appearance in the 1966 cult film Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni.
Veruschka was popular during the 1960s. She appeared on the cover of Life magazine’s August 1967 issue and various times on all four major Vogue magazines’ (American, Italian, French and British) covers throughout the 1960s. At her peak, she earned as much as $10,000 a day.
In 1975, however, she departed from the fashion industry due to disagreements with Grace Mirabella, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Vogue. In a 1999 interview, Veruschka said about their disagreements, “She wanted me to be bourgeois, and I didn't want to be that. I didn't model for a long time after that.”
In 2010, at the age of 71, Veruschka modeled for Giles Deacon’s showing for the fall run of London Fashion Week. She appeared in the Resort 2018 lookbook for Acne Studios in 2017.
These stunning photos captured portraits of Veruschka as a model during the 1960s.
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| Veruschka, McCall's, 1962 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Johnny Moncada, 1963 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Johnny Moncada, 1963 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Johnny Moncada, Sardinia, 1963 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Johnny Moncada, Sardinia, 1963 |
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| Veruschka in an ivory chiffon and jersey draped dress and turban poses before the Goddess Chamunda in the Hall of Heroes, India, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, 1964 |
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| Veruschka in strapless jersey pyjamas by Shannon Rodgers for Jerry Silverman, photo by Henry Clarke at Itimad-ud-Daula, India, Vogue, 1964 |
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| Veruschka in white silk two-piece evening dress by Givenchy, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, 1964 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Tony Vaccaro, 1964 |
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| Veruschka in a ribboned chemise from Van Raalte, photo by Horst P. Horst for Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in a swirl of tropical yellow and green twill and chiffon pyjamas by Ken Scott, photo by Henry Clarke for Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in colorful chiffon dress with matching shawl by Pauline Trigere, photo by Gordon Parks, American Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in one-shoulder leopard print chiffon dress from I.Magnin, photo by Henry Clarke in Brazil, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in palazzo pajamas by Galitzine, bracelets by Cartier, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in Pauline Trigère's rainbow-colored ensemble, photo by Gordon Parks, American Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in sun-colored caftan of cotton and red and yellow scarf by Ken Scott, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka is wearing a silk sarong style pajama by Jean Louis, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue US, 1965 |
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| Veruschka is wearing diamnté vest and bracelets by Brania, make-up from Revlon's new “Moon Drops” lipstick, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Franco Rubartelli, 1965 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Gordon Parks, American Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Veruschka in “Sea Dream”, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Vogue, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in a cool pink and white knit shift by Kimberly, jewelry by Antonio for Napier, photo by Richard Avedon, Vogue US, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in evening dress by Sarmi, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in long slim black dress tied with pink satin bow just under the bustline and worn with long white sleeveless coat by unidentified designer, photo by Bert Stern, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in made-to-order striped silk palazzo pajama jumpsuit by Scaasi, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in Pucci-pattern body paint, photo by Franco Rubartelli for Vogue, 1966 |
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| Veruschka is wearing at-home evening wear of striped silk by Arnold Scaasi, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue US, 1966 |
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| Veruschka is wearing striped wool full-length coat over striped chiffon dress by Valentino, photo by Henry Clarke, 1966 |
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| Veruschka sporting makeup shades for 1966 by Helena Rubenstein, and jewelled choker by Jack Gilbert, photo by Franco Rubartelli, 1966 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Bert Stern, Look magazine, 1966 |
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| Veruschka in a colorful lamè dress by Grès, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue US, 1967 |
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| Veruschka in design by Balenciaga, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, 1967 |
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| Veruschka is wearing a towel by Martex, photo by Franco Rubartelli for Vogue, 1967 |
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| Sun-lit Veruschka by Franco Rubartelli for Vogue, 1968 |
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| Veruschka and butterflies, make-up by Shiseido, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Brazil, 1968 |
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| Veruschka in a pinafore dress and white organdy blouse by Geoffrey Beene, photo by Franco Rubartelli in Arizona, Vogue, 1968 |
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| Veruschka photographed in the gardens of Mandor, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Henry Clarke, Vogue US, 1968 |
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| Veruschka wearing a pink nightdress by Arthur Williams, photo by Franco Rubartelli, 1968 |
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| Veruschka wearing a short Russian-style shirtdress by Gayle Kirkpatrick, and gold foot chain by Sant 'Angelo, photo by Franco Rubartelli in the Arizona desert, 1968 |
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| Veruschka with ringlet hair pieces, circa 1968 |
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| Veruschka, photo by Franco Rubartelli, 1968 |
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| Veruschka, wearing a white ruffled shirt, forest green vest and matching skirt by Charles Cooper, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Arizona, 1968 |
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| Veruschka in a broad-brimmed hat by Venturi for Antonelli, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Rome, Italy, 1969 |
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| Veruschka in pink floral gypsy dress and a little beaded bolero by Ken Scott, hair by Alba e Francesca, photo by Franco Rubartelli in the Park of Monsters of Bomarzo, Italy, 1969 |
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| Veruschka in Pucci ski-wear, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Switzerland, 1969 |
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| Veruschka on the beach in Columbia, photo by Franco Rubartelli, Vogue Paris, 1969 |
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| Veruschka wearing rings by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Irving Penn for Vogue, 1969 |
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| Veruschka, dressed in lurex mini by Dorothée Bis, makes friends with a boa, photo by Franco Rubartelli in Columbia, Vogue Paris, 1969 |
