Look Back at Young Shalom Harlow's Modeling Career

On the supermodel's birthday, L'OFFICIEL revisits her youth spent on the fashion runways and fronting magazines.

Though she may be considered an anti-supermodel because of her unconventional beauty, Shalom Harlow was one of the most successful models of the ‘90s. While her peers embodied the glamour of the fashion industry, Harlow made a name for herself as a hardworking, but laidback beauty. Discovered at age 15 at a concert for The Cure in Toronto, a young Harlow enjoyed a self-described “hippie” childhood in Canada before taking the fashion world by storm. Harlow graced the covers of Vogue, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, W, and V, walked for countless designers, and fronted campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Dior, and Saint Laurent. On the model's birthday, take a look back at Harlow's early career highlights.

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In 1988, at just 15 years old, Harlow began her modelling career.

Before she was a model, she was a dancer. Harlow’s background in dance helped her remain poised on the runway.

Harlow has worked with some of fashion’s best-known photographers, from Steven Meisel to Richard Avedon.

Shalom Harlow in bikini and a towel around her head black background

At the peak of her career, Harlow walked the runways for all the major Maisons such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Valentino, Versace, and more.

The model shared this backstage photo from the Martine Sitbon Spring/Summer 1996 show, saying "Always the quickest change in the biz…I could do a full outfit change and be ready to walk again within 11-12 passage exits."

Here, Harlow goes topless on the runway for Dior's Fall/Winter 1997 Haute Couture collection.

To this day, Harlow is remembered as one of the key figures in the Supermodel Era, alongside friends like Amber Valletta, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and more.

Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 1999 show featured Harlow standing in a full skirted dress as mechanical robots sprayed her with paint.

Here, the model is pictured backstage with the late designer just before the iconic fashion moment.

Harlow was also an actress in her youth. She appeared alongside Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in the 2003 rom-com hit “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”