This week, Festival Organizers can’t be blamed for joyously repeating the proverb: “All things come to those who wait.” In this instance, an amazing effort has produced an amazing result, and an extremely happy Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® President, Barry Carper, is able to announce that internationally renowned superstar, Elle Macpherson, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Festival, through the generous support of Rubbermaid Commercial Products.
Elle Macpherson is a prominent figure in business, fashion, film and television, having carved out a diverse and purposeful career over the past 30 years. Elle has endeavored to connect with people and projects that resonate with her values.
Her career began in 1982 with a TV commercial for TAB cola that rocketed her into the modeling world as the favorite ‘Australian girl next door’. In 1986, Time Magazine pronounced her as ‘The Big Elle’ and ran a cover story on her career. Elle Then appeared on a record five covers of the Sports Illustrated Annual Swimsuit Edition.
Capitalizing on her success, Elle decided to executive produce her own worldwide bestselling calendars and ‘making of’ television programmes in 1992, 1993, 1994 and her next entrepreneurial venture – ‘Your Personal Best – The Body’ workout video that was voted the Year’s Best by Billboard magazine in 1995.
Elle has also enjoyed creative expression through acting in films such as Woody Allen’s Alice, Siren’s opposite Hugh Grant, Batman alongside George Clooney, The Edge with Anthony Hopkins and The Mirror Has Two Faces with Barbra Streisand. She also guest starred in seven episodes of the NBC hit sitcom “Friends” and the CBS/Paramount television series, “The Beautiful Life”.
In March 2008 Elle signed a three-year global deal with Revlon as an ambassador and spokeswoman.
Elle’s early modeling afforded her global recognition and the nickname ‘The Body’. In true entrepreneurial spirit Elle wanted to leverage the street recognition she had built by modeling, through innovative licensing businesses that embodied her own personal brand.
In 1989, Elle was approached by a New Zealand based company to promote their lingerie. Elle saw an opportunity to reverse conventional strategy and suggested a licensing arrangement bearing her name with designs co-created by her. Elle Macpherson Intimates was born in 1990 and launched in Australia and New Zealand with immediate success. While commonplace today, this idea was unorthodox at the time. Elle expanded her brand in 2005 with the creation of Elle Macpherson The Body® products partnering with Boots Alliance. The bath and body line was distributed through Boots in the U. K. generating £10 million in retail in its first year.
In 2010 Elle took on a new TV role as both host and Executive Producer of the sixth, seventh and eighth series of “Britain’s and Ireland’s Next Top Model”. Elle and the team raised the profile and extended the appeal of the show, resulting in increased distribution into over 30 different countries and millions of viewers. Taking the host and Executive Producer format forward, Elle launched NBC’s “Fashion Star” in 2012. The innovative reality-fashion-competition series met with great success, and sold to 75 countries at MIPTV in 2012.
Widely recognised as a global icon that women look to as a healthy example, Elle launched her wellness business WelleCo on her 50th Birthday. WelleCo aims to redefine the definition of health by really focusing on the nutrients put into the body that have been depleted from conventional farming. Since its launch in 2014, WelleCo and its premier product THE SUPER ELIXIR, have received praise from health care professionals, the media, celebrities and a growing loyal customer base around the world. A revolutionary alkalising greens supplement developed by leading nutritionists, THE SUPER ELIXIR continues to be a beauty best seller in the world’s leading retailers Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, Space.NK, David Jones and importantly, through it’s own site welleco.com.
Throughout her business career, Elle has won many awards, including the Fig Leaves Entrepreneur of the Year Award (UK) 2005; Glamour Magazine Style Icon Award (UK) 2006; Elle Magazine International Style Icon Award (Spain) 2006; Marie Claire Prix de la Mode 20 Years Business (UK) 2007; Everywoman Outstanding Designer Award (UK) 2007; Femmys Lingerie Designer of the Year Award (USA) 2008 and the World Career Award, (Vienna) 2009. In 2009, Elle was the keynote speaker at the International Trademark Association (INTA) annual conference. Livia Firth WelleCo Award 2018, and Rising Star Awards Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur finalist.
As a mother, Elle has always chosen to support causes with which she identifies. She was a global ambassador for (RED), Breast Cancer Care, Unicef, Smile Foundation and NACOA. Her strong belief that women and children have the fundamental right to healthcare services has led her to campaign and promote causes that work towards achieving this. Similarly her belief in the importance of a safe clean environment for children to grow has led to her support of ecological charity Sierra Club. Also, Elle aided in the children’s foundation Piggy Bank Kids, a charity set up by Prime Minister Gordon Brown & wife Sarah after the premature death of the couple’s daughter Jennifer.
In her local community, Miami, Elle works closely with The Miami Women’s Fund in their endeavors. In 2014, she joined the group, hosting their annual fundraiser, Power of the Purse, drawing attention to women’s influence through channeling their spending into products or businesses that give back to women’s issues and practice ethically sustainable businesses. After 17 years living in the UK, Elle moved to Miami in 2014 with her children to focus on her family and business ventures.
Elle is scheduled to make an appearance at the 2019 Sports Breakfast; but, the “must see” will be her sensational ride through the Grand Feature Parade! The Festival sincerely thanks our generous community partner, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, for sponsoring the appearance of the Festival’s Grand Marshal!!