ISABELLA COWAN

‘The face that launched a decade’- Vogue Australia, 1989.

At the tender age of 16yrs old, Isabella Cowan shot her first Vogue editorial. She was to become the model’s model and one of the most recognisable faces that Australia would know throughout the 1980’s.

The Ford Agency in New York saw the immense potential after she represented Australia in Ford’s worldwide search for a Supermodel back in 1980. Isabella, found her niche, however, in Europe with the famed Riccardo Gay agency guided by ex-pat Aussie David Brown.

In her career she graced the cover of Vogue 6 times and appeared in editorials constantly for Vogue. She was the muse of photographer and Art Director Patrick Russell.

Aussie Brands such as Sportsgirl, Portmans, Sussan’s, Espirit, Sportscraft & Myer – all believed that Isabella brought the right components to their advertising campaigns on a regular basis.

Having conquered the Australian market, the lure of markets in Hamburg and Milan took up Isabella’s time working between the two cities where she worked for Salvatore Ferragamo, La Perla and Filene’s to name only a few. She was a constant of course, for all the Italian magazines – Italian Vogue, Grazia and Linea Italiana.

1984 Isabella met tennis ace Peter McNamara and now the glamour of travelling the world following tennis tournaments throughout the US and Europe became part of her life. At age 24yrs, Isabella gave birth to their first child Rochelle and maintained a part-time career in modelling. Four years later, second child Julian came along and she

In 1995 Isabella and Peter followed lucrative tennis opportunities and settled in the countryside in England where they enjoyed the idyllic English village life. Here Rochelle and Julian, flourished. Many lifelong friends and associations were made and maintained in the eight years Isabella was there.

In 2003 saw Isabella and Peter back in Australia to be closer to family in Melbourne.

Isabella has re-emerged into the market, now that both Rochelle and Julian are independent. They all keep a keen eye Peter’s ongoing career in Germany.