Cheryl Rae Tiegs (born September 25, 1947) is an American model and fashion designer. Frequently described as America's first supermodel,[1][2][3] Tiegs made multiple appearances on the covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Time magazine.[4][5][6]

Cheryl Tiegs
Tiegs on May 20, 1983
Born
Cheryl Rae Tiegs

(1947-09-25) September 25, 1947 (age 77)
Occupation(s)Model, fashion designer
Years active1964–2019
Spouses
  • (m. 1970; div. 1979)
  • (m. 1981; div. 1983)
  • Anthony Peck
    (m. 1990; div. 1995)
  • (m. 1998; div. 2001)
Children3

Her 1978 "Pink Bikini" poster became an iconic image of 1970s pop culture.[7][8]

Early life

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Tiegs was born in Breckenridge, Minnesota, to Phyllis and Theodore Tiegs, an auto-assembly lineman turned funeral director. She and her family moved to Alhambra, California, in 1952. She is of German descent.[9] Tiegs was encouraged to start modeling by a friend. Regarding the start of her career, Tiegs stated,[10]

I started very slowly. I worked part-time in high school and college. I would do anything and everything. I would do fashion shows in the back parking lot of a department store for free. I would work for $5 an hour, which was great money for me at the time. I was thrilled. I just worked hard, and I did anything and everything I could.

As a senior at Alhambra High School, Tiegs posed for a swimsuit ad for bathing suit manufacturer Cole of California; the ad, which appeared in Seventeen, launched her career as a model. Although she enrolled as an English major at California State University, Los Angeles, she left college before her junior year in order to pursue her career.[11][12]

Career

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Tiegs's break as a model came when she was 17, after the editorial staff at Glamour saw the Cole bathing suit ad. Bypassing the traditional in-person meeting, Tiegs was booked on a shoot in Saint Thomas with Ali MacGraw, which resulted in her first Glamour cover.[11] Later that same year, Tiegs made the covers of Seventeen and Elle. She subsequently appeared on the covers of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, among others.[13]

Tiegs was the first model to appear twice on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,[14] but she significantly raised her profile in 1978, when she posed in a fishnet swimsuit.[15] Tiegs additionally made the cover of People four times,[16] and did three covers for Time, most notably for the "All-American Model" cover story in 1978.[4] A year later, she was signed to a reported $1.5 million two-year contract with Cover Girl cosmetics, then the biggest contract ever.[17] In 2004, Tiegs was inducted into the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue's 40th anniversary "Hall of Fame",[18] and was included on People's 2008 50 Most Beautiful People list,[19] and Men's Health magazine's 2012 "100 Hottest Women of All Time" feature.[20] Tiegs posed in 2001 in a bikini for the cover of More, and earned considerable praise for breaking age barriers related to fitness, fashion, and beauty.[21]

Tiegs met photographer Peter Beard in New York in 1978. In 1979, she traveled to Kenya with him on a photographic expedition to investigate the management and widespread destruction of African wildlife; their journey was documented in an Emmy-winning episode of ABC's The American Sportsman titled "Africa: End of the Game". Tiegs and Beard were married in 1981; between 1978 and 1982 she traveled back and forth between the US and Hog Ranch in Kenya.[22] In 1979, Look magazine ran a cover story titled "Cheryl Tiegs: The New African Queen".[23] She was also featured on the cover of Outside in 1980.

 
Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, President Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan and Brooke Shields posing together at a tribute to Bob Hope's 80th birthday.

In 1980, Tiegs launched a signature line of clothing and accessories for Sears. The first retail venture by a supermodel, the Cheryl Tiegs collection neared $1 billion in sales by 1989. Tiegs was credited with helping the retail chain's 1980s turnaround, and once again appeared on the cover of Time, this time for a cover story titled "Sassy Sears".[24][25] A doll in her likeness was created in 1990 as part of the "Real Model Collection", which additionally featured Christie Brinkley and Beverly Johnson. In 1995, Tiegs established Cheryl Tiegs Sportwear, which sold exclusively on QVC. She also developed a line of wigs and hair accessories for Revlon.[1]

In 2012, Tiegs was a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, with proceeds from her participation benefiting the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.[26] She has also appeared on NBC's Just Shoot Me, Oxygen's Girls Behaving Badly and, in a recurring role, portraying herself in Family Guy. Tiegs hosted a 13-part travel adventure series, Pathfinders: Exotic Journeys for the Travel Channel, appeared as a judge on the ABC reality show True Beauty, and was a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Additionally, Tiegs has frequently appeared on The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Extra, and The Dr. Oz Show. Her film credits include Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story with John C. Reilly.[27] Tiegs created and was featured in Sports Illustrated's exercise video Aerobic Interval Training.[28]

Tiegs is the spokeswoman for Renewal: A Time for You, a program created by Deepak Chopra which offers practical advice on healthy lifestyle changes for women in transition.[26] Additionally, she is the spokesperson for Cambria, a producer of natural quartz surfaces.[29]

Philanthropy and activism

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Tiegs is active in the philanthropic community, and serves on the Board of Directors of C.O.A.C.H. for Kids and the Earth Conservation Corps.[30] She is a spokeswoman for City of Hope[31] and an Ambassador for the International Planned Parenthood Foundation.[32] Tiegs also supports the Macula Vision Research Foundation,[33] I Am Waters,[34] and the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.[35] As an activist, Tiegs explored the effects of global warming via an expedition to the Arctic.[36] She also participated in a General Motors environmental program, driving a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle for three months to raise awareness for zero emissions.[37] In 2010, she appeared on Living with Ed, to promote environmentally conscious living, and was named "Green Star of the Week" by Access Hollywood.[38][39]

Personal life

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Tiegs has been married four times: to film director Stan Dragoti (from 1970 to 1979); to photographer Peter Beard (from 1981 to 1983); to Anthony Peck (from 1990 to 1995), son of actor Gregory Peck; and to yoga instructor Rod Stryker (from 1998 to 2001). She has three sons: Zachary (born in 1991), with Anthony Peck, and twins Theo and Jaden (born in 2000), who were delivered via surrogacy during her marriage to Stryker.[12]

Tiegs lived in Bel Air, California,[1] but placed her home on the market in May 2015 for $15 million.[40]

List of appearances

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Brown Bunny Lilly
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Herself Cameo appearance

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Superstars Herself Documentary
1979 Playboy's Roller Disco & Pajama Party Herself Television special
1979–81 The American Sportsman Narrator 3 episodes
1980 Making Xanadu: The Musical Fantasy Movie Wrap-up party guest
1981 Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Look at the Fall Season: It's Still Free and Worth It! Herself Television special
1983 Andy Warhol's TV Herself Episode: "Pilot"
1985 Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album Herself Television special
1986 Moonlighting Herself Episode: "It's a Wonderful Job"
1995 The John Larroquette Show Lola Valenti Episode: "Time Out"
2000 The Infinite Power Workout Herself Episode: "300"
2000–02 Just Shoot Me! Herself 2 episodes
2002 Hollywood Squares Herself 6 episodes
2009 True Beauty Herself 12 episodes
2011 Rupaul's Drag Race Herself 1 episode
2012 The Apprentice Contestant 14 episodes
2011–13 Family Guy Herself 2 episodes
2015 Childrens Hospital Herself Episode: "Just Like Cyrano de Bergerac"
2016 Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens Raye Television film

Video games

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Year Game Role Notes
2015 Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff Herself Voiced herself

Books

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  • Tiegs, Cheryl; Lindner, Vicki (October 29, 1980). The Way to Natural Beauty. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0671248944. 284 pp.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Cheryl Tiegs Biography". A&E Biography. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Gray, Andy (May 16, 2013). "Throwback Thursday: Cheryl Tiegs SwimDaily pays homage to one of the true swimsuit icons, Cheryl Tiegs". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Brenoff, Ann (March 12, 2013). "Cheryl Tiegs Lists L.A. Mansion For Sale". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Cheryl Tiegs Archive". Time. March 6, 1978. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  5. ^ Persad, Michelle (September 25, 2012). "Cheryl Tiegs Style Evolution: From Cleavage To Covered Up". Huffington Post.
  6. ^ "Meet the 2012 'Celebrity Apprentice' Contestants". Rolling Stone. September 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  7. ^ "70s Fashion Icons". Glamour. April 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Collins, Amy Fine (July 18, 2012). "About Face". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  9. ^ Allen, Henry (November 1, 1980). "Cheryl Tiegs". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2020. I'm German, my family is all German, from Minnesota.
  10. ^ Brunati, Bryan (November 22, 2019). "Cheryl Tiegs: Supermodel Glows While Out and About in LA". Closer Weekly. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Quintanilla, Michael (December 1, 2000). "Woman of a Certain Agelessness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Lindsay, Ela. "Cheryl Tiegs Biography". Starpulse. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  13. ^ "Cheryl Tiegs". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "Cheryl Tiegs Covers". SI Vault. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  15. ^ Curtis, Bryan (February 16, 2005). "The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: An intellectual history". Slate. Washington Post. Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  16. ^ Gray, Andy (September 24, 2013). "Happy Birthday Cheryl Tiegs". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  17. ^ Gross, Michael (April 3, 1995). "Cheryl". Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  18. ^ "Swimsuit Collection (40th Anniversary Hall of Fame)". 2004. Sports Illustrated Vault. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  19. ^ Quan, Karen J. (April 28, 2008). "Most Beautiful 2008 Beautiful at Every Age". People. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Hottest Women Of All Time According To 'Men's Health'". June, 2013. CBS Local. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  21. ^ Panitz, Ilyssa (June 2012). "Cheryl Tiegs's Secrets to Looking Fabulous at 64". More. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  22. ^ "Nature Lovers Peter Beard and Cheryl Tiegs Leave Wildlife Behind for the Newlywed Game". People. June 8, 1981. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  23. ^ "Look Magazine March 19, 1979 Cheryl Tiegs Cover". Amazon. January 1, 1979. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  24. ^ Loeb, Walter (August 19, 2013). "Sears' New Internet Strategy: Late to the Party....Again". Forbes. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  25. ^ Buck, Genivieve (March 10, 1985). "In Her Image Cover-girl Cheryl Tiegs Lends Imagination And Flair To A Line Of Fashions". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  26. ^ a b "The Celebrity Apprentice: Contestants". 2012. NBC. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  27. ^ Cheryl Tiegs at IMDb
  28. ^ Sports Illustrated – Super Shape-Up Program. ASIN 6301930053. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  29. ^ "At Home With Cheryl". Cambria Style. June 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  30. ^ Neely, Cynthia (September 25, 2010). "Texas twists and Cheryl Tiegs highlight Gulf Coast Film Fest". Houston Culture. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  31. ^ McClure, Robert (October 27, 1997). "A Cause For Hope". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  32. ^ "Celebrity Ambassadors Mobilize to Support Reproductive Health in the Americas" (Press release). Planned Parenthood. February 3, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  33. ^ "Celebrity Ambassadors" (PDF). Summer 2012. Macula Vision Research Foundation. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  34. ^ "About Cheryl: American Supermodel". 2013. I Am Waters Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  35. ^ "Happenings and Press Events". The Farrah Fawcett Foundation. 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  36. ^ Bowermaster, Jon (May 15, 2007). "Global Warming Changing Inuit Lands, Lives, Arctic Expedition Shows". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  37. ^ "Celebrity Drive: Model And Actress Cheryl Tiegs". Truck Trend. April 1, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  38. ^ "A Model's Model Home". Living With Ed Program Guide. 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  39. ^ Neeley, Cynthia (September 25, 2010). "Texas twists and Cheryl Tiegs highlight Gulf Coast Film Fest". Houston Culture. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  40. ^ "Cheryl Tiegs' cover-worthy home in Bel-Air lists at $15 million". Los Angeles Times. May 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
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