Elsa Benitez, the cover model for the 2001 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and ex-wife of former NBA player Rony Seikaly, celebrates her 32nd birthday today.
Benitez was born in Sonora, Mexico and got her modeling start after winning a model search in Costa Rica in 1995.
Modeling gigs poured in for soon after, first in Mexico, where she started out her career, and then in the United States and Europe. In 1996, Benitez appeared on the cover of Vogue Italy three times.
Signed by Elite Model Management, Benitez then managed to grace the covers of plenty of top fashion magazines, including Elle, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire.
The Mexican beauty has also done dozens of advertising campaigns for fashion designers including Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and Victoria’s Secret.
In 1999, she married former NBA player Rony Seikaly, who was 12 years her senior. She filed for divorce in 2005.
In July 2009, Benitez was officially announced to be the host of Mexico’s Next Top Model.
Benitez is one smoldering Latina and the photo gallery below proves my point. Enjoy the photos and here’s hoping Elsa Benitez has a very happy birthday.
[...] Elsa Benitez is attractive <Moondogsports> [...]