As a child, Mark Vanderloo hated to have his picture taken. Whenever a camera appeared he ran and hid. Now, he makes his living being photographed as the highest-paid male model in the world.

Mark was born on April 24, 1968 in Waddinzveen, Holland. At thirteen, he was the hardest working paperboy in town, running three routes. Later, he worked in the local bars and cafes, spending everything he earned. When he was 22, he entered the University of Amsterdam to study history. One day he accompanied his girlfriend, a model, on one of her photo shoots. The photographer liked the way the couple looked together and asked if they would pose for a milk advertisement for Holland's Dairy Board. Mark hated the way he looked in the photographs, but a local modeling agency offered him a contract. After six penniless months at college, he found the offer impossible to resist.

In the beginning, he found work in commercials, on the runways and regular appearances on a daily television program. Disillusioned by the quality of the work he was receiving, he made the decision to return to school after one last trip to Milan.

In Milan, Mark tended bar for $200 a night and modeled part-time during the day until he was signed by Wilhelmina Models. They booked him for major runway shows and editorial work in Emporio Armani Magazine, L'Uomo Vogue, and Marie Claire. Four months after signing with Wilhelmina, he was a worldwide sensation. GUESS?, Donna Karan, Armani and Trussardi featured him in their campaigns. He was voted "Male Model of The Year" at the 1995 VH1 First Annual Fashion & Music Awards. And, in 1996, Mark and his best friend and fellow model, Alex Lundqvist, became the first male models to appear on the cover of Marie Claire.

Speaking five languages, Mark keeps apartments in New York and Paris but spends most of his time at his home in Holland. He was recently married to model Esther Canadas whom he met on a DKNY shoot. He says they have ironed out one important detail in their model marriage, "…we have the same amount of closet space." The couple wants to have children and Mark plans to attend school and study acting.