With the trademark mole above her left lip, celebrated fashion model Cynthia Ann Crawford (1966-) was born on this day in De Kalb, Illinois. As her high school's class valedictorian, she received a chemical engineering full-scholarship to Northwestern.

"I wasn’t the most popular girl in school by any means. Nobody in my family ever thought that I’d a be a model," said Crawford who left the University after one semester to work with Chicago's legendary photographer Victor Skrebneski who said of Crawford, "I knew the moment I saw her, I knew she had it."

She won Elite Modeling Agency's "Look of the Year" contest in 1982 and within months appeared on the cover of Vogue. "I'm very professional," the level-headed beauty said. "That's part of my success."

In 1989 she signed a multi-million dollar deal with Revlon cosmetics and began the first of six years as host of MTV's House of Style, a talk show about fashion that allowed Crawford to interview guests and connect with a younger audience.

"I like to paint. I love to cook," she said. "I make a good risotto and great grilled vegetables. And I want to take pottery lessons."

Following a high profile marriage to actor Richard Gere, Crawford has settled down with second husband businessman Rande Gerber. The couple have two children. "Beauty has given me the opportunity not to be bitter, so I can be the better person," she said. "Watching your husband become a father is really sexy and wonderful."

Be open and share your goodness.