Rachel Hunter began modelling by age 17 and rose to prominence after posing as a Sports Illustrated model in 1989. She appeared on magazine covers, including Cosmopolitan and on the 1994 "Dream Team" cover of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue.
She was paid a reported $1.8 million to pose nude for Playboy magazine in 2004. She also became the face and body of Ultimo, a Scottish lingerie house, famously replacing Penny Lancaster, the fiancee of Rod Stewart (whom Hunter was married to). She was replaced by Helena Christensen in November 2005 .
Hunter guest starred in a 1997 episode of The Drew Carey Show as herself, the spokesmodel for fictional beer brand, Cap-beer-chino
Trying to develop acting as a career, she has taken a series of acting lessons and appeared in several independent movies, including 1999's A Walk in the Park and 2000's Two Shades of Blue. She had a brief appearance as a sexy soccer mom in Dennis Dugan's The Benchwarmers (2006) and also played a sultry, bikini-clad mother in the music video for Fountains of Wayne's 2003 song "Stacy's Mom"
Hunter appeared on a 2005 celebrity episode of Lingo, where she and her partner Trista Rehn split $30,000 for charity. Hunter is an ambassador to The Born Free Foundation, and established the Rachel Hunter Lowland Gorilla Fund. Hunter also appeared as herself in the 2004 Christmas Special of The Vicar of Dibley.
Reality TV
She has been a contestant on the United States reality television series Dancing with the Stars and The Real Gilligan's Island, and appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2005 she hosted a series of Make Me A Supermodel, a reality show for Britain's Five TV channel. The series was marked by an ongoing feud between Hunter and contestant Jasmine Lennard. In 2006 she hosted a reality program for U.S. cable TV channel WE, Style Me With Rachel Hunter. Contestants on the show participated in a series of fashion challenges to prove that they "measured up" and were capable of being Hunter's stylist. Hunter, Phillip Bloch and Milica Kastner were judges. The opportunity to style Hunter for the People's Choice Awards and a cash prize was awarded to the winner, Buick Audra.
Personal life
At the age of 21 Hunter wed British rock star Rod Stewart, who is 24 years her senior. Together they had two children, Renee and Liam. In January 1999, Hunter and Stewart separated, and divorced in 2005 - it was rumoured to have projected to cost Rod $66 million , but having signed a pre-nuptial agreement, Hunter claimed a lump sum plus full financial support of Renee and Liam, on the agreement of remaining in Los Angeles, California.
Since then she has been romantically linked with other stars such as Bruce Willis and Kevin Costner; as well as rockers including Robbie Williams, Wes Scantlin, and Tommy Lee. Rumoured to have been engaged to Sean Avery of the New York Rangers, she is currently dating Jarret Stoll of the Edmonton Oilers.
In 2004, Hunter had a scare when she found a lump in her breast. The lump was found to be a blocked duct. Hunter required surgery when it was discovered the problem was causing blood poisoning.
