Originally, Cañadas wanted to pursue a career as a criminologist, but after much convincing by her mother, she tried modeling out while she was still in school.
Cañadas signed her first contract with the Take 2 Agency after winning a local competition for a teen magazine. She represented her country in a model search and was sent to South Africa. She then moved to Barcelona on her own to begin working. When she started modeling, she felt that it was nothing more than a job and something new to try, but she eventually realized that it was what she really wanted to do.
Cañadas has walked down the catwalk at many designer fashion shows, including: Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Chanel, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Moschino, and Givenchy.
Cañadas does not diet or exercise regularly, giving her a "natural beauty" image. According to her, modeling has given her the opportunity to travel around the world, although the life of a model can get lonely from frequently moving from place to place. She refers to this loneliness by explaining that "the often solitary lifestyle demands an inner strength."
Cañadas made her feature film debut with an appearance in 1999 action/romance The Thomas Crown Affair, starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo; and is also active in charity work.
Cañadas moved to New York in 1996, where it took only two days for her to get booked by twenty designers. She has since appeared in campaigns for: Atelier Versace, Gianfranco Ferre, Donna Karan, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Victoria's Secret. She is probably most known, however, for her appearances in DKNY ads. She has graced the cover of VOGUE Espana , Mademoiselle, Marie Claire Italy, Mondo Uomo, as well as Vogue Spain -- all in 1997.
Personal life
Cañadas met her ex-husband Mark Vanderloo on the set of a Donna Karan advertising shoot in 1997. They married in 1999, but divorced in November 2000. Currently, she is dating MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau. In January 2004 she adopted a daughter.
Esther Cañadas in a DKNY ad with ex-husband Mark Vanderloo
