Wilhelmina Cooper is a fashion and style icon known far beyond the United States. Thanks to her striking beauty, intelligence, talent, and knack for self-presentation, she achieved unprecedented success in the fashion industry, reports chicagoka.com.
First Steps in Her Modeling Career
Wilhelmina Behmenburg was born on May 1, 1939, in Culemborg, Netherlands. She spent her childhood in Oldenburg, Germany. In 1954, she and her family moved to Chicago. Her father was a butcher and continued his business in the new city. From an early age, Wilhelmina showed an interest in fashion and beautiful things, so when it came time to choose a profession, she didn’t hesitate and decided to become a model. In 1956, she borrowed money from her father to attend modeling school. Although he was against his daughter’s choice, he didn’t refuse her. In 1959, an agent from the Ford Agency approached Behmenburg, recommending she lose weight and adopt a different name. The future model soon took his advice and began her career, signing with the Ford Agency. Almost immediately, Behmenburg became one of the most popular models of the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout her career, she appeared on the covers of 255 magazines. For a long time, the beauty held the record for the most covers of American Vogue, appearing on its front page about 27 times. She became one of the most recognizable models of her time and was considered the last star of the high-fashion era in modeling. At 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a slender figure, doe eyes, high cheekbones, and dark hair styled high, she embodied the classic, aristocratic look that became the standard of style in the 1950s and 1960s.
Founding a Modeling Agency
In 1965, Wilhelmina married Bruce Cooper, a former producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 1967, the Coopers founded Wilhelmina Models Inc. in New York City, which soon became a leading modeling agency. A few years later, a branch called Wilhelmina West opened in Hollywood. The agency played a crucial role in launching the careers of many models, including Naomi Sims, often called the first African American supermodel. She began her modeling career in the early 1960s but, despite her popularity, struggled to find significant work. In desperation, Sims approached Cooper and offered her services, promising to share her commissions. Wilhelmina accepted the model into her agency—a decision she wouldn’t regret. Within a year, Sims was earning about $1,000 a week.
Interesting Facts
- At the beginning of her career, Wilhelmina was constantly on a diet. After losing 40 pounds, she broke into the fashion industry and appeared on the cover of her first magazine.
- Wilhelmina repeatedly suffered physical abuse from her alcoholic husband. However, despite this, she remained with him until her death.
- In 1977, Cooper earned about $5 million from her modeling business, and in 1978, another $11 million.
- At the time of her death, Wilhelmina’s net worth was $830,000. Her husband managed to seize almost the entire inheritance, leaving the children with practically nothing.
- One month before her death, Cooper changed her will, transferring two-thirds of the shares of Wilhelmina Models Inc. to her children, Jason and Melissa, thereby preventing her husband from taking control of the company.
On March 1, 1980, at the age of 40, Wilhelmina Cooper died of lung cancer, leaving behind a significant legacy and setting fashion trends worldwide. The agency the model created is still actively working today, promoting new talent.