Elsa Benítez Resembling a young Sofia Loren, Mexican supermodel, Elsa Benítez was born on December 8, 1977, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Benitez got her start in the modeling industry in her late teens, when she entered and won an international model search competition in Costa Rica in 1995. Modeling opportunities soon began to open up for the young beauty who had aspired to become a model since her youth, and idolized supermodel Linda Evangelista growing up. In 1996, Benitez graced the cover of Vogue Italy an astounding three times – for their April, August, and September issues. Now signed with Elite Management, Benitez also appeared on the covers of ELLE, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Claire. Unlike other models, Benitez opted for a warm smile when posing for magazine covers; setting her apart from many of her pouting contemporaries.
Benitez’ lean, Latin looks have led to several lucrative ad campaigns, including such brands as Dolce & Gabbana, Macy's, Episode, J.Crew, Óscar de la Renta, Rena Lange, Nine West, Valentino, Jones New York, Victoria's Secret, and even Wal-Mart. In addition to modeling, Benitez has also appeared in a music video, for Enrique Iglesias' single “Love to See You Cry.” Benitez’s modeling career received a boost from the rise of the Internet in the late 90s, when she gained exposure from websites such as supermodels-online.com and Metrofashion.com, which first featured her in 1996. She was also ranked #6 on Askmen.com’s Top 50 Beautiful Women for 2000. In 1999, Benitez married former NBA player, Rony Seikaly, twelve years her senior. The couple filed for divorce in August of 2005, and have one daughter together, Mila. In 2001, Benitez made her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, following in the ranks of such models as Heidi Klum, Rachel Hunter, Elle MacPherson, Tyra Banks, and Kathy Ireland, who have all seen their careers soar to new heights after appearing in the high-profile magazine. Benitez has since gone on to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue five times, and in the 2004 issue of the magazine, she revealed her story of almost boarding the TWA Flight 800; a Boeing 747 which exploded over the Atlantic after takeoff. Benitez recounted crying on the phone to her husband after she had experienced an ominous feeling about the flight. Ignoring her husband’s advice to not worry about it, Benitez changed her ticket shortly before boarding, and averted disaster in the process.
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