Elsa Benitez was born in Sonora, Mexico in 1977. She got her modeling start after winning a model search in Costa Rica in 1995. With Linda Evangelista as one of her childhood idols, Elsa would also have a chance to follow her dreams.

Modeling gigs poured in for Elsa soon after, first in Mexico, where she started out her career, and then in the United States and Europe. In 1996, Elsa appeared on the cover of Vogue Italy three times -- in April, August and September.

Signed with Elite Model Management, Elsa then managed to grace the covers of plenty of top fashion magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Claire.

The Mexican beauty has also done advertising campaign work for Dolce & Gabbana, Macy's, Episode, I-N-C, J.Crew, Oscar de la Renta, Rena Lange, Nine West, Valentino, and Jones New York. Joining models such as Tyra Banks and Laetitia Casta, Elsa has also donned the lingerie and clothes of everyone's favorite company, Victoria's Secret.

Elsa appeared in the 1999 Pirelli Calendar that featured "Women Through the Decades". She was photographed as representative of the groovy '70s in the exclusive issue.

Elsa may not be as recognized as fellow models Cindy Crawford and Elle MacPherson as of yet, but she is bound to become the next Latin supermodel of the millennium, especially after being selected to grace the cover of the 2001 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

Although Elsa's star is definitely on the rise, she plans to enter the world of film. With acting lessons under her belt and beauty that is sure to melt the screen, Elsa hopes to work in both Spanish and English films.

Elsa is currently married to former NBA player Rony Seikaly, so we'll all just have to admire her from afar -- or at least from her pictures.