Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin, 55, was an ’80s pinup who wed John Mellencamp, see her now
Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin was an ’80s pin-up who landed on the covers of Vogue magazines, making her a top star alongside Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington.
The young figure also posed for years for spectacular campaigns for Calvin Klein, Almay and Ralph Lauren.
And the Pennsylvania star became an international celebrity when she married Pink Houses hitmaker John Cougar Mellencamp, now 73, in 1992, aged just 23.
Together they had two children and moved to rural Indiana where they could nest. But in 2011, the power couple divorced and Elaine wasn’t seen much after that.
On Sunday, the ageless icon came out of hiding as she attended the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills.
The red carpet star looked youthful in a gold halter dress as she mingled with Molly Sims and sisters Sara and Erin Foster.
Look how incredible she looks now.
Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin was an ’80s pin-up who landed magazine covers, making her a top star alongside Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington
The young eye-catcher also posed for years for spectacular campaigns for Calvin Klein, Almay and Ralph Lauren. On the right, she stood on the Versace runway in 1992
Her rise to the top of the modeling world came at a young age.
The almost 1.80 meter tall eye-catcher was born in Pennsylvania, but left for the big city at the age of 16 to pursue her modeling career.
After her photo appeared in Seventeen magazine in 1985, she became an “it” girl.
In 1989, she appeared in the music video for New Order’s Round And Round from their 1989 album Technique.
Then came covers for Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Self and Elite. Her American Beauty Vogue cover was shot by Richard Avedon.
Elaine presented a sexier image for Victoria’s Secret, Thierry Mugler, Versace and Prada.
Irwin became the first woman to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 in May 2001.
She was also an at-large delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Her Cosmopolitan magazine covers; left is 1989 and right is 1991
Elaine appeared on many covers of Vogue magazine
She was on the cover of Vogue with Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington. She said of the cover: “I remember this day so well, although I had no idea at the time that I would later look back on it with so much pride and gratitude for having been a part of it.”
In Calvin Klein underwear in her twenties
Here, the Pennsylvania native is seen in an ad for Ralph Lauren
She became an international celebrity when she married Pink Houses hitmaker John Cougar Mellencamp in 1992, when she was just 23 years old. Seen in 2010 in New York
With Jay Penske at the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala at the Pacific Design Center in LA in 2022; they married in 2012
Also in 2004, it was announced that Revlon-owned Almay Cosmetics had chosen Elaine as their spokesperson and signed her to a seven-year contract.
Elaine was 23 years old when she met Mellencamp.
She posed for his album cover When We Wanted and was then the star of his Get A Leg Up music video.
They married 10 weeks later, on September 5, 1992. They have two sons.
She was stepmother to John’s daughter Teddi Mellencamp, whose mother is Victoria Granucci.
Teddi, 43, is best known for starring in the reality TV series The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills with Kyle Richards and Garcelle Beauvais.
In December 2010, Elaine and John separated after 18 years of marriage. They stayed in Indiana to care for the children.
She came out of hiding on Sunday as she attended the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills
The red carpet star looked youthful in a gold dress with her hair updo
Molly Sims, Elaine, Erin Foster, Sara Foster with Fran Drescher in the background
On January 14, 2011, John filed for divorce and requested that her maiden name “Irwin” be returned to Elaine. Their divorce was finalized on August 12, 2011.
In October 2012, Irwin became engaged to race car team owner and media businessman Jay Penske.
They had a daughter in May 2013. She has lived in California since 2013.
John went on to romance stars like Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley in NYC.
Elaine seemed excited about her GG experience, which was co-produced by Jay’s Penske Media.
She shared several photos from the Globes on Instagram.
She said in her caption: ‘Thank you @ralphlauren for the most amazing dress – this should have had its own category for the awards! What’s a more perfect way to start the new year than celebrating with friends at the @goldenglobes 2025. Congratulations @penskemedia.’