Shalom Harlow

Shalom Harlow (born December 5, 1973) is a Canadian model and actress.

She began her career in the early 1990s and by the end of the decade was at supermodel status.

She became the first winner of Vogue/VH1's Model of the Year award in 1995.

In 1996 she co-hosted MTV's House of Style with fellow supermodel Amber Valletta.

She has also appeared in films such as In & Out (1997) and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and hosted MTV's House of Style alongside fellow model Amber Valletta.

Harlow was born in Oshawa, Ontario, the daughter of Sandi Herbert and David Harlow.

Her mother named her Shalom (שלום), meaning "peace", used as a standard greeting in Hebrew.

Her father held several jobs as a social worker, real estate agent, and financial investor, while her mother, Sandi Herbert, worked with developmentally disabled adults.

She grew up in a "hippie community just outside Toronto", and the family often spent time at their family cottage, built by her great-great grandfather.

She has two younger brothers, Chris and Nathan.

She was featured in finale of Alexander McQueen's No.13 (Spring/Summer 1999) collection held in September 1998 at a warehouse in London.

During the show she was spray painted in black and yellow by two robotic arms.

This has been called one of fashion's most memorable and iconic shows.

The moment has also been citied as an influence for Bella Hadid's spray paint dress at Coperni Spring 2023.

In 2007, Forbes listed her as thirteenth in the list of the World's Top-Earning Supermodels.

In July 2007, she earned an estimated total of $2 million over the previous 12 months, with Forbes naming her thirteenth in the list of the World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.

Early on, Harlow took up ballet, which she later decided was not for her, as she claimed in a 2008 New York Times article, "My rebellious nature always comes out."

She instead became interested in tap dancing, as she enjoyed the noise it created.

Harlow was discovered at age 17 while at a Cure concert in Toronto.

Since being discovered she has appeared on numerous magazine covers, editorials, in top runway shows and in movies.

Shalom has been the long-time favourite model for many designers who found that her look worked well in both commercial and couture campaigns.

Harlow contracted Lyme disease and black mould poisoning whilst living at a home in Big Sur in 2013, and experienced C-PTSD as a result of the illnesses.

In September 2018, after a six year hiatus of runway modelling she returned at Milan Fashion Week for the Versace show.

She was featured on the cover of Vogue Italia in December 2018 her first magazine cover since June 2012.

In May 2023 she was featured on the cover of Vogue dedicated to Karl Lagerfeld shot at the Grand Palais alongside Adut Akech, Amber Valletta, Anok Yai, Devon Aoki, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Naomi Campbell and Natalia Vodianova.

Since the beginning of her career she has appeared on the cover of magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, W, L'Officiel and Cosmopolitan.

Harlow has also walked runways for Chanel, Dior, Prada, John Galliano, Fendi, Givenchy, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors and many more.

She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Ralph Lauren, Chloé, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Lancôme, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gap and others.

After the runway show she was part of Versace's ad campaign for Spring/Summer 2019 shot by Steven Meisel.