Who Doesn't Like a Dane?

Background:

“It's worth going to Denmark because you walk down the street and notice that everyone is gorgeous.” May Andersen.

Danish supermodel May Andersen received vast exposure after being featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues for 2003 and 2004. The 5'9" tall Scandinavian beauty, who sports 32-24-34 measurements, has modeled on the catwalk and in print campaigns for BCBG, J.Crew, Chanel, Burberry, Matrix Biolage and Victoria's Secret, to name a few. She has also graced the covers of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour Italia, among others. American TV viewers could catch her on “Good Morning America” and “The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn.”

In April 2006, the model made headlines when she was arrested for hitting a flight attendant on a flight from Amsterdam to Miami. But this has not changed her status of officially being used for publicizing the Danish tourism program: "Who doesn't like a Dane?"


Lykke May

Childhood and Family:

On June 16, 1982, Lykke May Andersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before working as a model, May had a childhood dream to become a singer and had started taking vocal classes. May has a dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel which she brings along whenever she can.


Scandinavian Beauty

Career:

Initially dreaming of becoming a singer, May Andersen dramatically changed her career goal when a photographer spotted her on a Copenhagen street at age 13. Despite her young age, her parents were convinced by the photographer that May would have a good chance of having a successful career as a fashion model.

After working in her native land, the Scandinavian beauty with her striking looks and upbeat personality soon worked in Europe's elite fashion capitals. She subsequently modeled extensively with Italian designers, including GFF-Gianfranco Ferre, Valentino and Miu Miu, who selected her for its Spring/Summer 1999 campaigns, and BCBG, Capucine Puerari, Prada, and Alberta Ferretti's Philosophy for the Fall/Winter collections of '99-2000.

Meanwhile, she often appeared in Italian fashion publications like La Repubblica delle Donne, and the Italian editions of Elle and Vogue. She also graced the cover of the April '99 issue of Glamour Italia and Marie Claire Italia's May '99 edition.

Following her sign with the prominent Elite model agency, May had representation in Milan, Paris and New York. By this time, outside of Italy, she's strolled the runways for ready-to-wear collections by such top designers as Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, John Galliano, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. She also has graced the catwalk for Chanel, Christian Dior and Ocimar Versolato.

In 2000, at age 18, May relocated to New York City. That same year, she got a car accident and had to be hospitalized for a fractured pelvis and lesions to one of her legs. The car she was riding was hit by a garbage truck on Sixth Avenue. May, who fortunately made a complete recovery, later received a reported $15 million compensation from the City of New York.

Another incident took place during Paris' Fashion Week 2003. May, who chooses to pose in fur fashions and has frequently been a target of animal rights activists, was attacked by a man who sprayed tear gas in the face, while she was out sightseeing with fellow model Devon Aoki.

2003 saw May graced the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, which consequently helped to catapult her name. She made her second consecutive appearance in the swimsuit edition in 2004, which also marked the 40th anniversary of the annual tradition. Subsequently, she was invited to guest spot such talk shows as “Good Morning America,” CNBC's “The Big Idea” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.”

May also flew back to Denmark for Scandinavia's Fashion Week. She also participated in various charitable projects in her homeland.

More recently, in April 2006, May was arrested for hitting a flight attendant on a flight from Amsterdam to Miami. As police said she continued her loud and unruly behavior with officers, May was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital to check for signs of alcohol or drug abuse, and then booked into Miami-Dade County Jail.

"We have just three or four hours of darkness in the summer. You can stay outside all day and night because it's always light. Sleep? You don't." May Andersen

Awards:
---