Renee Toft Simonsen, a renowned Danish model, actress, and author, was born in 1965 in Aarhus, Denmark. Her mother, a nurse, and father, a student, divorced when she was 13 years old. This pivotal moment in her life marked the beginning of her journey towards self-discovery and independence.
In 1981, Renee's life took a dramatic turn when she caught the attention of fashion editor Birte Strandgaard, which led to the start of her modeling career. The following year she, was chosen to represent Denmark at the Supermodel of the World contest, where she emerged victorious in August 1982.
Renee's success in the fashion world was meteoric, and she quickly became one of the most popular models in the world. She dabbled in acting, dated John Taylor of Duran Duran, and lived a life of glamour and luxury. However, by 1988, she had grown tired of the fast-paced and superficial world of fashion, feeling that she was losing herself in the process.
In a bold move, Renee took a break from fashion, turned down the opportunity to audition for a Bond girl role, and broke up with Taylor. She then embarked on a journey of self-discovery, spending three months at a kibbutz in Israel with her sister.
In 1989, at the age of 24, Renee effectively ended her career as a top model and returned to Denmark. She finished her high school education and went on to study psychology at university. During this period, she also lived with businessman Kristian Sandvad and had two children, daughter Ulrikke born in 1993 and son Jens-Kristian born in 1995.
The couple eventually split up in 1995, and Renee went on to meet the love of her life, the popular Danish musician Thomas Helmig. The couple moved in together in 1997 and got married in 2000. They had a son, Hugo, born in 1998, and Renee also became the stepmother to Helmig's daughter from a previous marriage, Ida Marie.
In 2002, Renee finished her degree in psychology and published her first children's book the following year. Since then, she has published several more children's books and a novel in 2007. Her literary accomplishments have earned her numerous awards, including the BMF Children's Book Award in 2004 and Clarin's Most Dynamic Woman Award in 2006.
Today, at the age of 44, Renee remains an incredibly beautiful and accomplished individual, still doing occasional model work, but only if it does not take her away from her family for too long. Her remarkable life journey serves as a testament to her strength, resilience, and dedication to her passions.
