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Susan Holmes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Susan Holmes McKagan
Born
Susan Elizabeth Holmes

(1972-05-05) May 5, 1972 (age 54)
Bowling Green, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2
Modeling information
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorBrown
Websitewww.susanholmes.net

Susan Elizabeth Holmes McKagan (born May 5, 1972) is an American model, media personality, and fashion designer, and author who rose to prominence during the supermodel era of the early 1990s.[1] She is the public face and founder of Susan Holmes Swimwear. According to an interview by Elsa Klensch on CNN, Holmes was called "The Body" by fashion photographer Steven Meisel.[2]

Early life

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Susan Holmes was born in Bowling Green, Ohio, where her father was a professor and her mother was an English teacher.[3][4][5] She moved to San Diego when she was 9, and began modeling locally in high school. She was discovered at 16 by photographer Marco Glaviano while she was visiting New York City. He approached her at a restaurant and arranged a meeting with Ford Models.[6][4]

Career

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Modeling

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Holmes began modeling professionally in the early 1990s, becoming one of the highest-paid supermodels within a few years, at times earning 6 figures within 5 days.[7][8] She has walked runways for designers including Versace, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, Prada, Chanel, and Victoria's Secret, and has featured in campaigns for brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, and Guess.[9][1][3][10] She has appeared on covers and featured in international magazines including Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Maxim, shot by photographers including Sante D'Orazio, Arthur Elgort, and Steven Meisel.[11][12][10][6]

In September 2025, Holmes returned to the runway for Christian Siriano SS26 as part of New York Fashion Week, which was praised for "rewriting what longevity looks like in an industry obsessed with the next new face."[11][1]

Swimwear

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Holmes is the founder and designer of Susan Holmes Swimwear, a brand of swim and resort wear that prioritizes sustainable production.[1][7][13] When she couldn't model during her first pregnancy, Holmes began designing swimsuits and launched her brand in 1997.[4] Holmes has said that becoming a swimsuit designer gave her "a deep respect for the business side of fashion."[1] The brand has been featured in several Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues, including on the cover, and in Bar Refaeli's shoot from the 2007 issue, which was recreated on Emily Ratajkowski in the 2014 issue.[14][4][15] Her clothing designs have appeared on TvLand's "She's Got The Look".

Media

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Holmes’ early acting credits include the 1992 movie Inferno alongside Kate Moss among other models, and the music video for Velvet Revolver's "Fall To Pieces".[16][17] In 2008, Holmes was a creative director for a shoot alongside Russell James, celebrity guest judge and mentor/designer to the aspiring models wearing her swimwear on America's Next Top Model (Cycle 11 - You’re Beautiful, Now Change) alongside Tyra Banks.[18][19] Holmes was featured on E!'s reality docuseries series Married to Rock which debuted on November 7, 2010, and followed Holmes alongside other rock musician spouses Etty Farrell and Josie Stevens.[20][21] In January 2020 Holmes was a guest on the Rachael Ray Show where she prepared her vegan dog treats recipe and promoted her book The Velvet Rose.[22] Holmes appeared as herself in the 2013 documentary Isolated and the 2024 mockumentary Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties.[23][24]

Susan and her husband Duff McKagan co-host the weekly radio show "Three Chords and The Truth" on the SiriusXM station Ozzy's Boneyard.[11][25]

Writing

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In 2019, Holmes released her debut novel The Velvet Rose.[1] Published by Rare Bird Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster, the book is a fictionalized retelling of her early career drawing on her experiences in fashion and rock music.[26][27][28] In writing the novel, Holmes looked to capture the "extraordinary 90’s era where fashion and music collided in such a historical and vibrant way" from the perspective of a female protagonist in the "male-dominated rock world".[1][11] The novel sold out on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on its first day of release.[1] Holmes has expressed interest in writing a second novel, and took remote writing classes at Harvard during COVID.[27][5] Holmes has also written articles for HuffPost, including interviews with Cindy Crawford, Snoop Dogg, Moby, and Billy Bob Thornton.[29]

Activism

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Susan has spoken out against fur, appearing in the PETA ad campaign "Ink, Not Mink" alongside Duff McKagan.[30]

In 2012, Holmes co-hosted the Surfrider Foundation's International Surfing Day web-a-thon.[31]

In 2017, Holmes walked the catwalk for designer Francesco Scognamiglio at Life Ball in Vienna, organized by the nonprofit organization AIDS LIFE.[32]

In 2018, Holmes was an ambassador for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games held in Seattle.[33]

Holmes donates a portion of proceeds from the sales of her book The Velvet Rose to the MusiCares Foundation.[5]

Personal life

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Susan Holmes married Guns N' Roses bassist and Velvet Revolver founding member Duff McKagan in 1999.[11] The pair met in 1996 on a date set up by a mutual friend after McKagan saw photographs of Susan in Allure magazine.[34][4] Together they have two daughters Grace and Mae.[28] Both women model, and Mae has appeared on the catwalk alongside her mother.[5][35]

Susan primarily resides in Seattle, but has homes in Los Angeles, San Diego and Maui.[9][36][3]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Giacomazzo, Bernadette (September 13, 2025). "Legendary Supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan Gives Exclusive Insight from Christian Siriano NYFW Runway". Complex. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ Seymour, Corey (June 6, 2019). "McKagan Family Values: Daughter Mae McKagan Just Launched a Punky Fashion Line; Dad Duff—He's in Guns N' Roses—Dropped a Heartfelt Solo Record". Vogue. Condé Nast.
  3. 1 2 3 Clash, Jim (February 7, 2025). "Susan Holmes McKagan Is More Than Wife Of Guns N' Roses Duff McKagan". Forbes. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Lauren, Jillian (April 1, 2011). "Rock Wife". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Allaire, Christian (May 19, 2021). "Grace McKagan on Her New Music and 1960s Rock Style". Vogue. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Letonja, Jana. "In Conversation with Susan Homes McKagan". Numéro Netherlands. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Nguyễn, Natalie (July 1, 2020). "Nữ hoàng sàn diễn thập niên 90 Susan Holmes McKagan" [1990s runway queen Susan Holmes McKagan]. Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ Castelino, Zoha (May 3, 2025). "Susan Holmes McKagan Is Still Serving". Elle. India. Retrieved June 7, 2026. She was working constantly, living out of suitcases, and making six figures in five days.
  9. 1 2 Lauren, Amanda (September 23, 2025). "Supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan Shows Off Her Glam Room And Closet In LA Home Tour". Forbes. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Levine, Gerard (March 9, 2021). "Една рок лейди: Сюзън Холмс МакКейгън" [A Rock Lady: Susan Holmes McKagan]. Glamour Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). Retrieved May 25, 2026 – via Behance.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Cote, Jacqueline Burt (November 14, 2025). "Supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan Reveals What Life on the Road With Guns N' Roses Is Really Like". Parade. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  12. ↑ Daly, Rosie (July 22, 2020). "90's supermodel Susan Holmes McKagan reflects on her career highlights". Models.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ @glamourbulgaria; (November 10, 2020). "She developed and designs her own high-end brand of resort wear called Susan Holmes Swimwear". Retrieved May 25, 2026 – via Instagram.
  14. ↑ "SI.com 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photo Gallery - Marisa Miller". Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. February 16, 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ O'Bleness, Cara (September 24, 2024). "The Story Behind Emily Ratajkowski's SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Bodypaint". Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Inferno". Letterboxd. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ "VELVET REVOLVER – Inside The 'Fall To Pieces' Video". Braveworlds. September 15, 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ Bierly, Mandi (September 18, 2008). "'America's Next Top Model' recap: Make me over". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  19. ↑ Dennis, Charmaine (September 17, 2008). "TV Recap: America's Next Top Model – You're Beautiful, Now Change". Cinemablend. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Married to Rock". E! Online. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011.
  21. ↑ Hibberd, James (October 12, 2010). "E! orders series following rock-star spouses". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ Susan Holmes McKagan (January 6, 2020). How To Make Peanut Butter Dog Treats With Pumpkin By Susan Holmes McKagan. Rachael Ray Show – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ Patta, Gig (November 23, 2024). "Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story Red Carpet Interviews at Premiere". LRM Online. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Isolated (2013)". Letterboxd. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  25. ↑ Mezydlo, Jeff (May 4, 2023). "Ranking the 25 best artists' SiriusXM channels". Yardbarker. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  26. ↑ "The Velvet Rose". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  27. 1 2 Mokshaa, Shivlani (June 11, 2025). "Rock wife, supermodel, designer, bestselling author—there's nothing Susan Holmes McKagan can't do". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  28. 1 2 Poliziani, Karli. "From Angel to Author, How Susan Holmes McKagan Built an Empire". Grazia. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Contributor - Susan Holmes-McKagan". Huffpost. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Susan and Duff McKagan: Married to Rock, Not Fur". Today. December 12, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Surfrider hosts web-a-thon on Surf Day". The Orange County Register. June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  32. ↑ Douglas, Nicole (June 28, 2017). "Vienna Life Ball 2017: Supermodel and wife of Guns N' Roses bassist Duff Susan Holmes-McKagan exclusively speaks out on walking the catwalk at the 'magical' charity gala to raise money and awareness for AIDS and HIV: 'A gorgeous rainbow of love'". OK!. Rach plc. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  33. ↑ "2018 USA Games Ambassador Bios" (PDF). Special Olympics. October 6, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  34. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (October 16, 2023). "Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan recalls meeting his 'lighthouse' Susan Holmes McKagan 27 years ago: 'I didn't know if I could date a woman again'". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ Borrelli-Persson, Laird (May 10, 2024). "Ahead of Mother's Day, Our Favorite Model Moms and Daughters (and Sons)". Vogue. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Exclusive Interview "Susan Holmes McKagan"". March 25, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
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