Christensen was born in Copenhagen , Denmark , as the eldest of two daughters of a Danish father and a Peruvian mother . She is fluent in Danish , Spanish , and English , as well as French and German . Winning the Miss Universe Denmark crown in 1986 at the age of 17 , she subsequently represented Denmark in the Miss Universe 1986 pageant . The following year , she participated in the Look of the Year 1987 competition , where she was a finalist . Christensen left home soon after to pursue modeling in Paris
Miss Universe 1986
Miss Universe 1986
Helena Christensen