Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin was an 1980s pinup who landed Vogue magazine covers making her a top star alongside Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington.
The siren from Pennsylvania posed for splashy campaigns for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren for many years.Â
And the star became an international celebrity when she married Pink Houses hitmaker John Cougar Mellencamp, now 74, in 1992 when she was only 23-years-old.
Together they had two children and moved to the countryside in Indiana where they could nest. But in 2011 the power couple divorced and Elaine was not seen much after that. Mellencamp went on to romance Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley. His daughter Teddi Mellencamp has been on Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.Â
Erwin then was married to publisher Jay Penske from 2012 until 2024.Â
Now Daily Mail has dug up a photo of the looker with Hollywood actress Jordana Brewster at a splashy event. And new images have surfaced of Erwin modeling for the brand The Park Fashion. See how incredible she looks now.
Sources tell Daily Mail that Elaine is ‘thriving after her divorce from Jay as she has a strong circle of friends supporting her.’ It was added that she is ‘very proud that she is still modeling and she’s having fun with it.’
Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin was an 1980s pinup. This week she made a rare sighting
Seen in a behind-the-scenes look at an older photo shoot
Her climb to the top of the modeling world came at a young age.
The nearly 6ft tall head-turner was born in Pennsylvania but left for the big city at 16 for 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 off their 1989 album Technique.
Then came covers for Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Self and Elite. Her US 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.
She was one of the top models for Victoria’s Secret and even appeared on the cover of their Christmas catalog
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 at that time, had no idea I would later look back with such pride and gratitude for having been a part of it’
In Calvin Klein underwear when she was in her 20s
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 only 23-years-old. Seen in 2010 in NYC
With Jay Penske at the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala at Pacific Design Center in LA in 2022; they wed in 2012 and divorced in 2024
Also in 2004, it was announced that Almay Cosmetics, owned by Revlon, selected Elaine as their spokesmodel and signed her to a seven year contract.
Elaine was 23 years old when she met Mellencamp.
She posed for his Whenever We Wanted album cover then was the star of his Get A Leg Up music video.
They wed 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.Â
Teddi, 43, is best known for starring on the reality TV series The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills with Kyle Richards and Garcelle Beauvais.
Now Daily Mail has dug up a photo of the looker with Hollywood actress Jordana Brewster at a splashy event; seen center
And then she modeled black clothing for The Park Fashion in images that were shared on Tuesday on social media
The siren has kept a slender figure thanks to daily workouts in a gym
In December 2010, Elaine and John separated after 18 years of marriage. They stayed in Indiana to look after the kids.
On January 14, 2011, John filed for divorce and requested that Elaine be returned to her maiden name ‘Irwin’. On August 12, 2011, their divorce was finalized.
In October 2012, Irwin became engaged to racecar team owner and media businessman Jay Penske.Â
They had a daughter in May 2013. She has resided in California since 2013.
John went on to romance stars like Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley in NYC.Â
Elaine seemed thrilled with her GG experience which was co-produced by Jay’s Penske Media.
She shared several photos to Instagram from the Globes.She said in her caption, ‘Thank you @ralphlauren ✨ for the most amazing dress – it should have had its own category for the awards! What a more perfect way to kick off the New Year than celebrating with friends at the 2025 @goldenglobes. Congratulations @penskemedia.’
