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'''Elle Macpherson''' (born Eleanor Nancy Gow; March 29, 1964) is an Australian model, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate best known for her work as a supermodel throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She earned the nickname "The Body" — a moniker first applied by ''Time'' magazine in 1989 — after appearing on five covers of the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue between 1986 and 1994, a record at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/swimsuit/models/elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson|publisher=Sports Illustrated Swimsuit|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Since transitioning away from full-time modeling, she has built a significant career as a businesswoman, founding the wellness company WelleCo in 2014. She has maintained a residential and philanthropic presence in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributing to local real estate, cultural institutions, and community initiatives, though her Australian origins and global business interests have kept her work there largely out of the international spotlight.
'''Elle Macpherson''' (born Eleanor Nancy Gow; March 29, 1964) is an Australian model, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate best known for her supermodel career throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She earned the nickname "The Body" after appearing on five covers of the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue between 1986 and 1994, a record at the time. ''Time'' magazine first applied the moniker in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/swimsuit/models/elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson|publisher=Sports Illustrated Swimsuit|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Since leaving full-time modeling, she's built a substantial business career, founding the wellness company WelleCo in 2014. She's maintained a residential and philanthropic presence in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributing to local real estate, cultural institutions, and community work, though her Australian roots and global business interests have kept her West Palm Beach work largely outside the international spotlight.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
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=== Early Life and Career ===
=== Early Life and Career ===


Macpherson was born in Killara, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, and grew up in nearby Cronulla. She studied law briefly before being discovered by a modeling agency in the early 1980s. Her career accelerated rapidly after she relocated to New York, where she signed with Elite Model Management and began appearing in major advertising campaigns for brands including Gillette and Chanel.
Macpherson was born in Killara, a Sydney suburb, and grew up nearby in Cronulla. She studied law briefly before a modeling agency discovered her in the early 1980s. After moving to New York, she signed with Elite Model Management and quickly landed major advertising campaigns for Gillette and Chanel.


Her first ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue cover came in 1986, and she returned to that cover in 1987, 1988, 1993, and 1994 — a feat that cemented her status as one of the most recognizable models of her generation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/swimsuit/models/elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson Cover History|publisher=''Sports Illustrated''|accessdate=2024}}</ref> During this period she also developed a successful lingerie business, Elle Macpherson Intimates, launched in 1990 in partnership with the Bendon Group in Australia and New Zealand. The line expanded internationally and was credited with helping normalize the commercial market for women's lingerie in Australia at the time.
Her first ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue cover came in 1986. She returned to that cover in 1987, 1988, 1993, and 1994, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable models of her generation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/swimsuit/models/elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson Cover History|publisher=''Sports Illustrated''|accessdate=2024}}</ref> During this period, she also built a successful lingerie business. Elle Macpherson Intimates launched in 1990 through a partnership with the Bendon Group in Australia and New Zealand. The line expanded internationally and is credited with helping normalize the commercial women's lingerie market in Australia at that time.


Her acting work included a role in the 1994 film ''Sirens'' alongside Hugh Grant and Sam Neill, and recurring appearances on the American television series ''Friends'' in 1998, where she played Janine Lacroix, Joey's roommate. She later appeared as a judge on ''Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model'' from 2010 to 2013.
Acting work followed. She appeared in the 1994 film ''Sirens'' alongside Hugh Grant and Sam Neill, and had recurring roles on the American television series ''Friends'' in 1998, where she played Janine Lacroix, Joey's roommate. From 2010 to 2013, she served as a judge on ''Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model''.


=== WelleCo ===
=== WelleCo ===


In 2014, Macpherson co-founded WelleCo, a wellness and nutrition company based in Australia, with business partner Andrea Horwood Bux. The brand's flagship product, The Super Elixir, is a greens supplement marketed as a daily nutritional powder. WelleCo has since expanded its product range to include collagen supplements, sleep formulations, and plant-based protein powders, distributing internationally through its own website and selected retail partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://welleco.com/pages/our-story|title=Our Story|publisher=WelleCo|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
In 2014, Macpherson co-founded WelleCo with business partner Andrea Horwood Bux. The wellness and nutrition company is based in Australia. Its flagship product, The Super Elixir, is a greens supplement marketed as a daily nutritional powder. The brand has since expanded to include collagen supplements, sleep formulations, and plant-based protein powders, distributing through its own website and select retail partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://welleco.com/pages/our-story|title=Our Story|publisher=WelleCo|accessdate=2024}}</ref>


Macpherson has spoken publicly about the brand's origins in her own experience with autoimmune health challenges, though she has also attracted scrutiny for promoting some wellness claims not substantiated by peer-reviewed evidence. WelleCo remains one of the more commercially visible wellness brands founded by a public figure, with reported sales in multiple international markets.
Macpherson has spoken publicly about WelleCo's origins in her own experience with autoimmune health challenges. She's also faced scrutiny for promoting wellness claims not backed by peer-reviewed evidence. The brand remains one of the more commercially visible wellness companies founded by a public figure, with reported sales across multiple international markets.


=== 2024 and 2025 Bonds Campaign ===
=== 2024 and 2025 Bonds Campaign ===


In early 2025, Macpherson, at age 62, appeared in an unairbrushed lingerie campaign for the Australian brand Bonds, posing in the company's Bases Flex underwear line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/elle-macpherson-strips-62-underwear-campaign-proving-shes-called-body|title=Elle Macpherson strips down at 62 for underwear campaign|publisher=Fox News|date=2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com.au/fashion/fashion-news/elle-macpherson-bonds/|title=Elle Macpherson Redefines What It Means To Feel Good|publisher=''ELLE Australia''|date=2025}}</ref> The campaign was widely covered in international media, with outlets including the ''Daily Mail'' and Yahoo Entertainment noting that the images were not digitally retouched.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15697485/Elle-Macpherson-62-shows-age-defying-physique-poses-unairbrushed-lingerie-shots-revealing-secret-youthful-good-looks.html|title=Elle Macpherson, 62, shows off her age-defying physique|publisher=''Daily Mail''|date=2025}}</ref> Macpherson linked her physical condition publicly to her WelleCo regimen and lifestyle practices. In 2025, she celebrated her 63rd birthday by sharing photographs from a beach setting, which were reported by ''Parade'' magazine among other outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/news/90s-legend-is-ageless-at-63-celebrates-with-bikini-photos-elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson Is Ageless at 63, Celebrates With Bikini Pics|publisher=''Parade''|date=2025}}</ref>
At age 62, Macpherson appeared in early 2025 in an unairbrushed lingerie campaign for the Australian brand Bonds, posing in the company's Bases Flex underwear line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/elle-macpherson-strips-62-underwear-campaign-proving-shes-called-body|title=Elle Macpherson strips down at 62 for underwear campaign|publisher=Fox News|date=2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com.au/fashion/fashion-news/elle-macpherson-bonds/|title=Elle Macpherson Redefines What It Means To Feel Good|publisher=''ELLE Australia''|date=2025}}</ref> International media outlets, including the ''Daily Mail'' and Yahoo Entertainment, covered the campaign widely, noting the images weren't digitally retouched.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15697485/Elle-Macpherson-62-shows-age-defying-physique-poses-unairbrushed-lingerie-shots-revealing-secret-youthful-good-looks.html|title=Elle Macpherson, 62, shows off her age-defying physique|publisher=''Daily Mail''|date=2025}}</ref> Macpherson publicly linked her physical condition to her WelleCo regimen and lifestyle practices. In 2025, she celebrated her 63rd birthday by sharing photographs from a beach setting, reported by ''Parade'' magazine and other outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/news/90s-legend-is-ageless-at-63-celebrates-with-bikini-photos-elle-macpherson|title=Elle Macpherson Is Ageless at 63, Celebrates With Bikini Pics|publisher=''Parade''|date=2025}}</ref>


=== Personal Life ===
=== Personal Life ===


Macpherson was married to French businessman Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989. She later had two sons, Flynn (born 1998) and Cy (born 2003), with her partner Arpad Busson, a financier. The couple were engaged twice but did not marry. Macpherson has lived in various locations including New York, London, and Miami, and has maintained a property presence in the West Palm Beach area of Florida, though her primary residence has shifted over the years and was not publicly confirmed as of early 2025.
Macpherson was married to French businessman Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989. She later had two sons, Flynn (born 1998) and Cy (born 2003), with financier Arpad Busson. The couple were engaged twice but didn't marry. She's lived in various locations including New York, London, and Miami, and has maintained property in the West Palm Beach area of Florida, though her primary residence has shifted over the years and wasn't publicly confirmed as of early 2025.


== West Palm Beach ==
== West Palm Beach ==
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=== History ===
=== History ===


West Palm Beach was founded in 1894 as a planned residential community for workers supporting the resort town of Palm Beach across Lake Worth. Henry Flagler, the Standard Oil co-founder who extended the Florida East Coast Railway down the state's Atlantic coast, was instrumental in the city's early development; his railroad brought both construction workers and wealthy winter visitors to the region.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bramson|first=Seth|title=Speedway to Sunshine: The Story of the Florida East Coast Railway|year=2003|publisher=Boston Mills Press|isbn=978-1550463743}}</ref> By the mid-20th century, West Palm Beach had grown from a service town into a substantial urban center in its own right, with a distinct commercial and cultural identity separate from the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach was founded in 1894 as a planned residential community for workers supporting the resort town of Palm Beach across Lake Worth. Henry Flagler, a Standard Oil co-founder who extended the Florida East Coast Railway down the state's Atlantic coast, was instrumental in the city's early development. His railroad brought construction workers and wealthy winter visitors to the region.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bramson|first=Seth|title=Speedway to Sunshine: The Story of the Florida East Coast Railway|year=2003|publisher=Boston Mills Press|isbn=978-1550463743}}</ref> By mid-twentieth century, West Palm Beach had grown from a service town into a substantial urban center with its own distinct commercial and cultural identity, separate from the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach.


Macpherson's connection to West Palm Beach dates to the early 2000s, when she began acquiring property in the area. Her investments were concentrated in the city's higher-end residential districts, where demand for waterfront and estate properties was already strong. Palm Beach County Property Appraiser records are publicly searchable and document ownership histories for properties in the area, though specific transaction details associated with Macpherson have not been independently verified in widely published reporting and should be confirmed through those records before citation.
Macpherson's connection to West Palm Beach dates to the early 2000s, when she began acquiring property in the area. Her investments concentrated on the city's higher-end residential districts, where waterfront and estate properties were already in strong demand. Palm Beach County Property Appraiser records are publicly searchable and document ownership histories for area properties, though specific transaction details associated with Macpherson haven't been independently verified in widely published reporting and should be confirmed through those records before citation.


=== Culture ===
=== Culture ===


West Palm Beach supports a range of cultural institutions that reflect both its history and its contemporary population. The Norton Museum of Art, founded in 1941 by industrialist Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, holds a permanent collection of more than 8,000 works and is one of the largest art museums in the southeastern United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norton.org/about|title=About the Norton|publisher=Norton Museum of Art|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 1992, serves as the primary venue for touring Broadway productions, symphony performances, and visiting dance companies in Palm Beach County.
West Palm Beach supports a range of cultural institutions reflecting both its history and contemporary population. The Norton Museum of Art, founded in 1941 by industrialist Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, holds a permanent collection exceeding 8,000 works. It's one of the largest art museums in the southeastern United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norton.org/about|title=About the Norton|publisher=Norton Museum of Art|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1992 and serves as the primary venue for touring Broadway productions, symphony performances, and visiting dance companies in Palm Beach County.


Macpherson has been associated with charitable giving in the arts sector during her time in the West Palm Beach area, though documented specifics — named grants, dollar amounts, or named institutional partners — have not appeared in verifiable published reporting as of 2024. Any specific claims about her named contributions to local cultural organizations would require confirmation through the relevant institutions' public records or annual reports before inclusion here.
Macpherson has been associated with charitable giving in the arts sector during her time in the West Palm Beach area. Documented specifics—named grants, dollar amounts, or institutional partners—haven't appeared in verifiable published reporting as of 2024. Any specific claims about her named contributions to local cultural organizations would require confirmation through the relevant institutions' public records or annual reports.


=== Economy ===
=== Economy ===


The economy of West Palm Beach is anchored by real estate, finance, tourism, and a growing technology sector. The city's proximity to Miami — roughly 70 miles to the south via Interstate 95 — combined with lower commercial rents and a less congested environment, has drawn financial firms and family offices northward over the past decade. The real estate market has seen sustained price appreciation across both the residential and commercial sectors, a trend accelerated by the population migration into Florida during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Real estate, finance, tourism, and a growing technology sector anchor West Palm Beach's economy. The city's proximity to Miami, roughly 70 miles south via Interstate 95, combined with lower commercial rents and a less congested environment, has drawn financial firms and family offices northward over the past decade. Both residential and commercial real estate has seen sustained price appreciation, a trend accelerated by population migration into Florida during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


Macpherson's real estate holdings, to the extent they are in the West Palm Beach area, would place her among a broader cohort of high-net-worth individuals who have either relocated to or invested in the Palm Beach County market in recent years. The county's Property Appraiser maintains publicly accessible records for those seeking to document specific ownership claims.
Macpherson's real estate holdings in the West Palm Beach area, to the extent they exist, would place her among a broader cohort of high-net-worth individuals who've either relocated to or invested in the Palm Beach County market in recent years. The county's Property Appraiser maintains publicly accessible records for those seeking to document specific ownership claims.


=== Attractions ===
=== Attractions ===


West Palm Beach offers a range of attractions that draw both residents and visitors. Worth Avenue in Palm Beach — accessible from West Palm Beach via the Royal Park Bridge — is one of the most recognized luxury shopping streets in the United States, lined with high-end retailers, galleries, and restaurants. The Breakers Palm Beach, a historic oceanfront hotel that first opened in 1896 and was rebuilt to its current Italian Renaissance design in 1926, remains one of the flagship resort properties in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebreakers.com/about/history|title=History of The Breakers|publisher=The Breakers Palm Beach|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, located in Dreher Park in West Palm Beach, is home to more than 550 animals representing over 190 species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachzoo.org/about|title=About the Zoo|publisher=Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, accessible from West Palm Beach via the Royal Park Bridge, is one of the most recognized luxury shopping streets in the United States, lined with high-end retailers, galleries, and restaurants. The Breakers Palm Beach is a historic oceanfront hotel that first opened in 1896 and was rebuilt in 1926 to its current Italian Renaissance design. It remains one of Florida's flagship resort properties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebreakers.com/about/history|title=History of The Breakers|publisher=The Breakers Palm Beach|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located in Dreher Park in West Palm Beach and is home to more than 550 animals representing over 190 species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachzoo.org/about|title=About the Zoo|publisher=Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society|accessdate=2024}}</ref>


The city's downtown core, centered on Clematis Street, supports a concentration of restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The annual SunFest music festival, held each spring along the downtown waterfront, is one of Florida's larger ticketed outdoor music events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees over a multi-day run.
Downtown's Clematis Street concentrates restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The annual SunFest music festival runs each spring along the downtown waterfront and is one of Florida's larger ticketed outdoor music events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees over its multi-day run.


=== Getting There ===
=== Getting There ===


West Palm Beach is served by Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), which offers nonstop service to roughly 30 domestic destinations and select international routes. The airport is located approximately three miles west of downtown and is operated by Palm Beach County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbia.org|title=Palm Beach International Airport|publisher=Palm Beach County|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Interstate 95 runs along the western edge of the city and connects it to Fort Lauderdale (approximately 45 miles south) and Miami (approximately 70 miles south). Florida's Turnpike provides an alternative north-south corridor.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) serves West Palm Beach with nonstop service to roughly 30 domestic destinations and select international routes. Located approximately three miles west of downtown, it's operated by Palm Beach County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbia.org|title=Palm Beach International Airport|publisher=Palm Beach County|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Interstate 95 runs along the city's western edge, connecting it to Fort Lauderdale (approximately 45 miles south) and Miami (approximately 70 miles south). Florida's Turnpike provides an alternative north-south corridor.


Brightline, the privately operated intercity rail service, stops at West Palm Beach on its route connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Orlando. The West Palm Beach station is located in the downtown core near Okeechobee Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gobrightline.com/stations/west-palm-beach|title=West Palm Beach Station|publisher=Brightline|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Local transit within the city is provided by Palm Tran, the Palm Beach County bus system, which operates more than 30 fixed routes across the county.
Brightline, the privately operated intercity rail service, stops in West Palm Beach on its route connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Orlando. The West Palm Beach station sits in the downtown core near Okeechobee Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gobrightline.com/stations/west-palm-beach|title=West Palm Beach Station|publisher=Brightline|accessdate=2024}}</ref> Local transit within the city is provided by Palm Tran, the Palm Beach County bus system, which operates more than 30 fixed routes across the county.


=== Neighborhoods ===
=== Neighborhoods ===


West Palm Beach proper is divided into a series of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Northwood, one of the city's older residential districts, has undergone significant reinvestment over the past two decades and now hosts a concentration of art studios, independent galleries, and small restaurants along Northwood Road. The Flamingo Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains one of the largest concentrations of Mission Revival and Mediterranean Revival residential architecture in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP|title=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2024}}</ref>
West Palm Beach proper divides into distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Northwood, one of the city's older residential districts, has undergone significant reinvestment over the past two decades and now hosts a concentration of art studios, independent galleries, and small restaurants along Northwood Road. The Flamingo Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains one of the largest concentrations of Mission Revival and Mediterranean Revival residential architecture in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP|title=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2024}}</ref>


The broader metro area extends into incorporated municipalities including Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Lantana. Palm Beach Gardens is home to PGA National Resort, which hosts PGA Tour events and draws professional golfers and their support networks as part-time or permanent residents. Macpherson's reported property interests, where they exist in the county, place her within a community that includes a substantial number of athletes, entertainers, and finance professionals who maintain Florida residences partly for the state's tax climate.
The broader metro area extends into incorporated municipalities including Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Lantana. Palm Beach Gardens is home to PGA National Resort, which hosts PGA Tour events and draws professional golfers and support networks as part-time or permanent residents. Macpherson's reported property interests in the county place her within a community including substantial numbers of athletes, entertainers, and finance professionals who maintain Florida residences partly for the state's tax climate.


=== Education ===
=== Education ===


Palm Beach County Public Schools is the fifth-largest school district in Florida and the 11th-largest in the United States, serving more than 180,000 students across roughly 180 schools as of the 2023–24 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachschools.org/about|title=About the District|publisher=Palm Beach County School District|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The district operates magnet programs in areas including the arts, engineering, and international baccalaureate studies at multiple campuses across West Palm Beach and surrounding communities.
Palm Beach County Public Schools is the fifth-largest school district in Florida and the 11th-largest in the United States, serving more than 180,000 students across roughly 180 schools as of the 2023-24 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachschools.org/about|title=About the District|publisher=Palm Beach County School District|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The district runs magnet programs in areas including the arts, engineering, and international baccalaureate studies at multiple campuses across West Palm Beach and surrounding communities.


Florida Atlantic University, with its main campus in Boca Raton approximately 20 miles south of West Palm Beach, maintains a presence in the county through satellite programming and community partnerships. Palm Beach State College, headquartered in Lake Worth Beach, offers associate degrees, bachelor's programs, and workforce training across several campuses in the county. Macpherson has been associated with philanthropic interest in educational access in the area, though specific documented contributions have not been confirmed in published reports as of 2024.
Florida Atlantic University maintains its main campus in Boca Raton approximately 20 miles south of West Palm Beach, with satellite programming and community partnerships throughout the county. Palm Beach State College, headquartered in Lake Worth Beach, offers associate degrees, bachelor's programs, and workforce training across several campuses in the county. Macpherson has been associated with philanthropic interest in educational access in the area, though specific documented contributions haven't been confirmed in published reports as of 2024.


=== Demographics ===
=== Demographics ===


According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 decennial census, the city of West Palm Beach had a population of approximately 117,415 residents, with the broader Palm Beach County population exceeding 1.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/westpalmbeachcityflorida|title=West Palm Beach city, Florida|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The city's population is diverse: approximately 34 percent of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, 26 percent as non-Hispanic Black or African American, and 30 percent as non-Hispanic white in 2020 census figures. The city's median household income was approximately $52,000 as of the most recent census estimates, a figure that sits below the national median and reflects the broad economic range within the city's boundaries, even as Palm Beach County as a whole skews toward higher income levels due to the presence of Palm Beach and other affluent communities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 decennial census, West Palm Beach had a population of approximately 117,415 residents, with the broader Palm Beach County exceeding 1.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/westpalmbeachcityflorida|title=West Palm Beach city, Florida|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2024}}</ref> The city's population is diverse. Approximately 34 percent of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, 26 percent as non-Hispanic Black or African American, and 30 percent as non-Hispanic white in 2020 census figures. The city's median household income was approximately $52,000 as of the most recent census estimates, a figure sitting below the national median and reflecting the broad economic range within the city's boundaries, even as Palm Beach County as a whole skews toward higher income levels due to Palm Beach and other affluent communities.


Macpherson's presence in the West Palm Beach area connects her to a city that is considerably more economically and ethnically varied than the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach across the lake. Her documented philanthropic and civic interests, where they touch on West Palm Beach rather than the broader region, exist within that varied urban context rather than solely within the luxury-residential sphere with which her name is most often associated.
Macpherson's presence in West Palm Beach connects her to a city considerably more economically and ethnically varied than the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach across the lake. Her documented philanthropic and civic interests, where they touch on West Palm Beach rather than the broader region, exist within that varied urban context rather than solely within the luxury-residential sphere with which her name is most often associated.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
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[[Category:West Palm Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:West Palm Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Women entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Women entrepreneurs]]
```
 
== References ==
<references />

Latest revision as of 14:10, 12 May 2026

Template:Infobox person

Elle Macpherson (born Eleanor Nancy Gow; March 29, 1964) is an Australian model, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate best known for her supermodel career throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She earned the nickname "The Body" after appearing on five covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue between 1986 and 1994, a record at the time. Time magazine first applied the moniker in 1989.[1] Since leaving full-time modeling, she's built a substantial business career, founding the wellness company WelleCo in 2014. She's maintained a residential and philanthropic presence in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributing to local real estate, cultural institutions, and community work, though her Australian roots and global business interests have kept her West Palm Beach work largely outside the international spotlight.

Biography

Early Life and Career

Macpherson was born in Killara, a Sydney suburb, and grew up nearby in Cronulla. She studied law briefly before a modeling agency discovered her in the early 1980s. After moving to New York, she signed with Elite Model Management and quickly landed major advertising campaigns for Gillette and Chanel.

Her first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover came in 1986. She returned to that cover in 1987, 1988, 1993, and 1994, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable models of her generation.[2] During this period, she also built a successful lingerie business. Elle Macpherson Intimates launched in 1990 through a partnership with the Bendon Group in Australia and New Zealand. The line expanded internationally and is credited with helping normalize the commercial women's lingerie market in Australia at that time.

Acting work followed. She appeared in the 1994 film Sirens alongside Hugh Grant and Sam Neill, and had recurring roles on the American television series Friends in 1998, where she played Janine Lacroix, Joey's roommate. From 2010 to 2013, she served as a judge on Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model.

WelleCo

In 2014, Macpherson co-founded WelleCo with business partner Andrea Horwood Bux. The wellness and nutrition company is based in Australia. Its flagship product, The Super Elixir, is a greens supplement marketed as a daily nutritional powder. The brand has since expanded to include collagen supplements, sleep formulations, and plant-based protein powders, distributing through its own website and select retail partners.[3]

Macpherson has spoken publicly about WelleCo's origins in her own experience with autoimmune health challenges. She's also faced scrutiny for promoting wellness claims not backed by peer-reviewed evidence. The brand remains one of the more commercially visible wellness companies founded by a public figure, with reported sales across multiple international markets.

2024 and 2025 Bonds Campaign

At age 62, Macpherson appeared in early 2025 in an unairbrushed lingerie campaign for the Australian brand Bonds, posing in the company's Bases Flex underwear line.[4][5] International media outlets, including the Daily Mail and Yahoo Entertainment, covered the campaign widely, noting the images weren't digitally retouched.[6] Macpherson publicly linked her physical condition to her WelleCo regimen and lifestyle practices. In 2025, she celebrated her 63rd birthday by sharing photographs from a beach setting, reported by Parade magazine and other outlets.[7]

Personal Life

Macpherson was married to French businessman Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989. She later had two sons, Flynn (born 1998) and Cy (born 2003), with financier Arpad Busson. The couple were engaged twice but didn't marry. She's lived in various locations including New York, London, and Miami, and has maintained property in the West Palm Beach area of Florida, though her primary residence has shifted over the years and wasn't publicly confirmed as of early 2025.

West Palm Beach

History

West Palm Beach was founded in 1894 as a planned residential community for workers supporting the resort town of Palm Beach across Lake Worth. Henry Flagler, a Standard Oil co-founder who extended the Florida East Coast Railway down the state's Atlantic coast, was instrumental in the city's early development. His railroad brought construction workers and wealthy winter visitors to the region.[8] By mid-twentieth century, West Palm Beach had grown from a service town into a substantial urban center with its own distinct commercial and cultural identity, separate from the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach.

Macpherson's connection to West Palm Beach dates to the early 2000s, when she began acquiring property in the area. Her investments concentrated on the city's higher-end residential districts, where waterfront and estate properties were already in strong demand. Palm Beach County Property Appraiser records are publicly searchable and document ownership histories for area properties, though specific transaction details associated with Macpherson haven't been independently verified in widely published reporting and should be confirmed through those records before citation.

Culture

West Palm Beach supports a range of cultural institutions reflecting both its history and contemporary population. The Norton Museum of Art, founded in 1941 by industrialist Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, holds a permanent collection exceeding 8,000 works. It's one of the largest art museums in the southeastern United States.[9] The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1992 and serves as the primary venue for touring Broadway productions, symphony performances, and visiting dance companies in Palm Beach County.

Macpherson has been associated with charitable giving in the arts sector during her time in the West Palm Beach area. Documented specifics—named grants, dollar amounts, or institutional partners—haven't appeared in verifiable published reporting as of 2024. Any specific claims about her named contributions to local cultural organizations would require confirmation through the relevant institutions' public records or annual reports.

Economy

Real estate, finance, tourism, and a growing technology sector anchor West Palm Beach's economy. The city's proximity to Miami, roughly 70 miles south via Interstate 95, combined with lower commercial rents and a less congested environment, has drawn financial firms and family offices northward over the past decade. Both residential and commercial real estate has seen sustained price appreciation, a trend accelerated by population migration into Florida during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Macpherson's real estate holdings in the West Palm Beach area, to the extent they exist, would place her among a broader cohort of high-net-worth individuals who've either relocated to or invested in the Palm Beach County market in recent years. The county's Property Appraiser maintains publicly accessible records for those seeking to document specific ownership claims.

Attractions

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, accessible from West Palm Beach via the Royal Park Bridge, is one of the most recognized luxury shopping streets in the United States, lined with high-end retailers, galleries, and restaurants. The Breakers Palm Beach is a historic oceanfront hotel that first opened in 1896 and was rebuilt in 1926 to its current Italian Renaissance design. It remains one of Florida's flagship resort properties.[10] The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located in Dreher Park in West Palm Beach and is home to more than 550 animals representing over 190 species.[11]

Downtown's Clematis Street concentrates restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The annual SunFest music festival runs each spring along the downtown waterfront and is one of Florida's larger ticketed outdoor music events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees over its multi-day run.

Getting There

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) serves West Palm Beach with nonstop service to roughly 30 domestic destinations and select international routes. Located approximately three miles west of downtown, it's operated by Palm Beach County.[12] Interstate 95 runs along the city's western edge, connecting it to Fort Lauderdale (approximately 45 miles south) and Miami (approximately 70 miles south). Florida's Turnpike provides an alternative north-south corridor.

Brightline, the privately operated intercity rail service, stops in West Palm Beach on its route connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Orlando. The West Palm Beach station sits in the downtown core near Okeechobee Boulevard.[13] Local transit within the city is provided by Palm Tran, the Palm Beach County bus system, which operates more than 30 fixed routes across the county.

Neighborhoods

West Palm Beach proper divides into distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Northwood, one of the city's older residential districts, has undergone significant reinvestment over the past two decades and now hosts a concentration of art studios, independent galleries, and small restaurants along Northwood Road. The Flamingo Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains one of the largest concentrations of Mission Revival and Mediterranean Revival residential architecture in Florida.[14]

The broader metro area extends into incorporated municipalities including Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Lantana. Palm Beach Gardens is home to PGA National Resort, which hosts PGA Tour events and draws professional golfers and support networks as part-time or permanent residents. Macpherson's reported property interests in the county place her within a community including substantial numbers of athletes, entertainers, and finance professionals who maintain Florida residences partly for the state's tax climate.

Education

Palm Beach County Public Schools is the fifth-largest school district in Florida and the 11th-largest in the United States, serving more than 180,000 students across roughly 180 schools as of the 2023-24 school year.[15] The district runs magnet programs in areas including the arts, engineering, and international baccalaureate studies at multiple campuses across West Palm Beach and surrounding communities.

Florida Atlantic University maintains its main campus in Boca Raton approximately 20 miles south of West Palm Beach, with satellite programming and community partnerships throughout the county. Palm Beach State College, headquartered in Lake Worth Beach, offers associate degrees, bachelor's programs, and workforce training across several campuses in the county. Macpherson has been associated with philanthropic interest in educational access in the area, though specific documented contributions haven't been confirmed in published reports as of 2024.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 decennial census, West Palm Beach had a population of approximately 117,415 residents, with the broader Palm Beach County exceeding 1.4 million.[16] The city's population is diverse. Approximately 34 percent of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, 26 percent as non-Hispanic Black or African American, and 30 percent as non-Hispanic white in 2020 census figures. The city's median household income was approximately $52,000 as of the most recent census estimates, a figure sitting below the national median and reflecting the broad economic range within the city's boundaries, even as Palm Beach County as a whole skews toward higher income levels due to Palm Beach and other affluent communities.

Macpherson's presence in West Palm Beach connects her to a city considerably more economically and ethnically varied than the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach across the lake. Her documented philanthropic and civic interests, where they touch on West Palm Beach rather than the broader region, exist within that varied urban context rather than solely within the luxury-residential sphere with which her name is most often associated.

See Also

  • Palm Beach, Florida
  • Norton Museum of Art
  • WelleCo
  • Palm Beach International Airport
  • Brightline

References

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References

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