And here’s another timeless babe with a hotness level that would surpass World War 3, well, probably. I don’t know about you guys (or your type), but Elsa Benitez is the woman who would fit your type of woman. I don’t know if I’m making any sense but you know damn well what I’m talking about. Come on!
Look at how gorgeous this woman is. And yes, even if she isn’t your type (which is impossible), I’m sure you’d agree that she deserves a Timeless Tuesday spot.
Who is Elsa Benitez
Elsa Benítez is a Mexican model and TV personality best known for lighting up the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including scoring the coveted cover in 2001. She’s also dabbled in acting, with appearances in Le retour d’Arsène Lupin (1989), Enrique Iglesias’ music video Love to See You Cry (2002), and as the host of Mexico’s Next Top Model starting in 2009. In short, she’s done a little bit of everything and looked incredibly amazing doing it.
Her Early Life
Elsa Benítez was born on December 8, 1977, in Hermosillo—the sunny capital of Sonora in northwest Mexico, just about an hour from the Gulf of California. Growing up, she looked up to ’80s supermodel Linda Evangelista, dreaming of one day following in her glamorous footsteps.
By the time she was a young adult, Elsa had reached a statuesque 5’10” and was turning heads. In 1995, she won a model search competition in Costa Rica, and things took off from there. She started booking gigs across Latin America and soon signed with Elite Model Management—the legendary agency founded by John Casablancas and later run by none other than Evangelista’s husband, Gerald Marie. Talk about a full-circle moment.
Career Journey
Elsa Benítez first made waves in the European fashion scene, and her rising career got a serious boost when legendary photographer Steven Meisel took notice. In 1996, she landed not one, but three covers of Italian Vogue—a huge deal in the modeling world. That same year, she became a favorite of designers Dolce & Gabbana, walking in their spring/summer Milan shows. Designer Stefano Gabbana even told The Observer that Elsa “embodies the Mediterranean woman”—clearly, she made quite the impression.
From there, Elsa’s career kept soaring. She walked for top names like Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, and Rena Lange, and starred in ad campaigns for brands like Episode, J. Crew, and Nine West. But her biggest career moment? That came in 2001 when she landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. With the headline “Goddesses of the Mediterranean,” Elsa’s sizzling photo was captioned, “Elsa Benítez Heats Up Tunisia”, and she definitely did.
She returned for the 2002 issue as well, but things got a little messy behind the scenes. The New York Post reported that Sports Illustrated had struck a deal to republish outtakes from the shoot—some featuring nudity—in the German edition of Playboy. Models like Heidi Klum and Eva Herzigova weren’t thrilled, claiming they hadn’t been asked or signed off on it. Elsa, ever the professional, kept things classy through the controversy.
Facts and Trivia
In 1999, Elsa Benítez married former pro basketball player Rony Seikaly. The couple welcomed a daughter, Mila, in 2003, but later divorced in 2005. She went on to have a brief romance with Mexican businessman Roberto Slim and, in 2007, began dating producer Valerio Morabito. These days, Elsa calls sunny Santa Monica, California home.
Throughout her career, Elsa racked up plenty of memorable moments. She appeared in the 1999 Pirelli Calendar, styled as a ‘70s “groovy” girl as part of the calendar’s tribute to fashion through the decades. In 2002, she turned heads in Enrique Iglesias’ music video Love to See You Cry, and she’s also walked the runway for Victoria’s Secret—because of course she has.
One of Elsa’s most chilling stories came in the 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, where she shared a near-miss with tragedy. She was supposed to board TWA Flight 800 on July 17, 1996, but something didn’t feel right. “I got to the airport and I just had a bad feeling,” she recalled. “I started crying, and I couldn’t stop.” After calling her husband and trusting her gut, she changed flights, leaving just 10 minutes after Flight 800 took off. That plane later crashed. “It made me appreciate so much that just being alive is a gift,” she said.
From 2009 to 2012, Elsa returned to the spotlight in a new role—as the host of Mexico’s Next Top Model, inspiring the next generation of aspiring models with her poise, style, and hard-earned wisdom.
Elsa Benitez Photos
Follow Elsa on Instagram and be updated on the latest about her.
And do check out our Elsa Benitez page for more of her hot pictures.
