Growing up the youngest of three children in Sheffield, England, Michelle Behennah dreamed of going to medical school and becoming a plastic surgeon. Her mother had another profession in mind.
Instead of buying her a stethoscope, Behennah’s mum entered her daughter in a contest sponsored by a British shampoo company, and she won. At 16, Behennah went on to compete in the Ford modeling agency’s Supermodel of the World competition, where she became a finalist.
The sexy stunner then moved to Paris for seven years, where she graced the pages of American Elle, Italian Glamour, Italian and Spanish Vogue, Mademoiselle and Cosmopolitan.
Currently, Behennah, a Victoria’s Secret model and two-time Sports Illustrated swimsuit-edition beauty, is the face of Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry of London and L’Oreal. She can also be seen in the fall Ellen Tracy and spring Gloria Vanderbilt and Dana Buchman campaigns.
The 23-year-old bombshell will be one of four covergirls featured in Maxim’s November issue, which focuses on the hot models of 2000 and hits newsstands Tuesday.
Q. What do you do to relax?
A. I read a lot on holiday. I can get through five books in two weeks, more if the weather’s bad. Funny enough, exercising relaxes me. I like to run, and when I do, I let go of a lot of stress from the day. When I’m shooting, I’m dead at the end of the day and I just want to curl up and watch TV. I love “Sex and the City.”
Q. What can’t you live without?
A. My boyfriend, Yariv, my books, chocolate-covered Gummy Bears (milk chocolate and white chocolate), my Pumas (I have 30 pairs) and candles. I would definitely be lost without my mum and my contact lenses.
Q. How do you stay in shape?
A. I run about four times a week for about half an hour when I have time. I also do Pilates with my trainer.
Q. What are some of your favorite things?
A. Sunrise, sunset, my two-way e-mailer/pager thingy and my bed (big, white and fluffy!).
Q. Favorite clothes?
A. I love jeans. I have tons of them. Vintage, Levi’s, Diesel, Daryl K and Earl – I have like three pairs of each and I wear them all.
Q. Favorite stores?
A. I love Scoop, Otto Tootsi Plohound and H&M. I love the stores in London, especially the High Street ones, because you can buy really cheap things that are super cool and even though they don’t last forever, it doesn’t matter – because clothes go out of fashion in two seconds anyway. I love designer stuff like Prada, but I don’t buy too much because after one season it’s “over,” and then you feel guilty for spending so much money on it – well, I do, anyway!
Q. Describe your personal style.
A. I don’t have a very defined style. I like to wear a silk blouse (unbuttoned quite low) with a pair of straight-legged jeans (always low-waisted). And right now I’m really into those skinny, sparkly belts. Then I pair that with some high-heeled boots.
Q. What do you wear when relaxing?
A. Sweatpants, a T-shirt and thick, soft socks. I put my hair in a ponytail and take off any makeup that I might have been wearing.
Q. Whose style do you most admire?
A. Nicole Kidman always looks amazing.
Q. What was your most embarrassing fashion moment?
A. My teen years were a little scary. I was into punk and bad eye makeup. I would wear those long purple skirts with tassels and Dr. Martens – horrible, horrible, horrible.
Q. You’re a big traveler? What’s your favorite place?
A. One of the most amazing places is Thailand. I’ve been there six times – always on holiday. The beaches are absolutely out of this world.