Cameron Russell (born June 14, 1987) is an American fashion supermodel and activist. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she graduated from Columbia University with majors in economics and political science. Russell began modeling in 2003. Russell was initially signed up by the Ford Models, but she later switched to DNA Model Management in 2006, and eventually the Elite Model Management in 2011. Since her debut as a model, she has walked at fashion shows for designers and fashion houses including Chanel, Versace, Prada, Vivienne Westwood, Victoria's Secret, Diane von Fürstenberg and Louis Vuitton among others. Russell has appeared in photoshoots for American and European fashion magazines like Vogue, Numéro, and W. She is an active endorser and is associated with brands including Calvin Klein, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Benetton. Russell delivered a TED talk in October 2012, entitled "Looks aren't Everything. Believe me, I'm a Model", which went on to become one of the most popular speeches ever given at a TED conference. Early life and education Cameron Russell was born and raised in Cambridge. Her mother is Robin Chase, founder of Zipcar. Her father is an engineer and was the CEO of the now defunct GoLoco, a car-pooling and social networking company. Russell displayed an interest in politics at an early age. Friends of hers who had worked on the Clinton Presidential election campaign arranged a meeting on June 5, 1998 (when she was 10) with Bill Clinton after he delivered a speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She graduated from the Commonwealth School in 2005. She briefly attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, her mother's alma mater, before transferring to Columbia University after her freshman year. She majored in economics and political science. Russell graduated from Columbia University with honors in 2013. Modeling career Russell's mother had a friend who worked at Ford Models agency, and Russell decided to sign with that agency in 2003. She later moved on to DNA Model Management in 2006, switched to Women Management in 2008, and then moved to Elite Model Management in 2011. In 2017, she joined the boutique agency The Lions. Since beginning her modeling career part-time at the age of 16, Russell has worked with numerous successful photographers including Steven Meisel, Craig McDean, and Nick Knight among others, in such magazines as American, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese Vogue, W, Self Service and Numéro. She has featured in