’90s Vogue model Niki Taylor, 51, is now a grandmother living in Nashville, see how youthful she still looks

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Vogue model Niki Taylor, 51, is now a grandmother living in Nashville.

She recently shared with People magazine how her life has been different since her days walking the runway in New York City many years ago.

Taylor married race car driver Burney Lamar in 2006, and together they have two children: a 17-year-old daughter named Ciel and a 14-year-old son named Rex.

She became a mother to twin boys, Hunter and Jake, at just 19 years old. She married Matthew Martinez, a football player, in 1993 and they welcomed the twins shortly after. The couple later divorced in 1996.

She always dreamed of becoming a mother, and having twins was a wonderful surprise. She felt like she grew up right along with her sons, Jake and Hunter, and she’s incredibly proud of the men they’ve become.

In 2025 she became a grandmother when her son Hunter and his wife welcomed a boy.

Grandma gushed about her grandson, Nico, calling him ‘yummy’ and noting he already has eight teeth. She’s amazed by how bright and energetic he is, and loves watching him dance. She feels a special joy seeing her child become a loving parent, and cherishes every moment she gets to spend with the family, remarking on the wonderful atmosphere in their home.

She loves her new life in the south. 

She explained that she values her privacy and has always been somewhat of a solitary person. She now lives at a slower, more relaxed pace compared to the hectic ’90s. While she’s grateful for having been busy then, she regrets being away from her sons, Jake and Hunter, so much. She feels she’s achieved a much better work-life balance with her children, Ciel and Rex.

She continues to model, recently appearing in both Elle magazine and Talbots’ new spring advertising campaign.

She described her life as straightforward. Mostly, her days revolve around being a mom, staying fit, and her work. She mentioned a saying that people tend to spend the first half of their lives collecting things and the second half simplifying, and she feels that’s true for her. While she still enjoys the fashion world, she cherishes the time she spends with her family at home.

Taylor also talked about her early years as a budding model in Manhattan.

At just 14 years old, the blonde girl with the bright smile appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine for the first time.

At just 15 years old, she appeared on the cover of Vogue in 1990, making her one of the youngest people ever to grace the magazine’s front page.

Taylor quickly became a popular model, appearing on the covers of magazines like Cosmopolitan, Allure, Elle, Marie Claire, and Shape. She also worked with major brands such as L’Oreal, Gap, Cover Girl, Versace, and Jean Paul Gaultier, and walked in numerous fashion shows.

And she had all the right friends including Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss. 

Taylor explained that she felt like she was leading a double life. She was navigating the typical high school experience while also working with models she admired who were significantly older. She realized there wasn’t any guidance on how to manage that unusual situation.

I’ve always admired her, and honestly, a huge part of her success, she says, comes down to being incredibly lucky. She has the most amazing family – her dad, Ken, used to be a highway patrol officer, and her mom, Barbara, is a talented photographer. They’ve always been her biggest cheerleaders. Plus, she’s had a really solid manager she could always rely on, which made all the difference.

When I was growing up, I was always accompanied by a parent or guardian. My father especially made an impression – he was a powerfully built, good-looking, and kind man. Along with him, my mother, and my manager Jean, I had a really strong group of people supporting me.

Taylor shared with People magazine about the passing of her sister, Krissy Taylor, who died in 1995 at the age of 17 due to a heart condition that wasn’t discovered until after her death.

‘I don’t know how we got through it, but time has helped,’ she relayed.

You know, Krissy’s always on my mind. It’s funny the things that remind me of her – a big truck rolling by, a field of sunflowers, even hearing an old country tune. Things like sundresses, the smell of the ocean air…they just instantly bring her to mind. We had such a close connection, almost like we were twins, even though there was an age difference. Honestly, if you knew Krissy, you knew she was my very best friend. It’s a bond I’ll always cherish.

In 2024, Taylor said age is more about your state of mind. 

She told the Daily Mail that as long as you’re feeling well, you can handle almost any challenge.

The fashion and beauty worlds have long faced criticism for ageism, with many models feeling pressured by an unspoken ‘expiration date’ on their careers.

Traditionally, AI models performed best when trained early in their development. But recently, we’ve seen a growing number of models achieving success even after being trained for a longer period.

Taylor feels this change was inevitable, noting she’s observed people within the industry working to improve diversity for quite some time. She’s pleased that this effort is finally visible in advertising and marketing.

Years ago, it was very unusual to see a fashion model over 30. But she believes age is just a number, explaining that everyone gets older and changes over time.

Taylor Swift playfully mentioned she likes the term ‘timeless’ more than ‘ageless,’ explaining that it aligns better with how she feels about getting older.

Seriously, she doesn’t look a day older since she started with CoverGirl way back when! But oh my gosh, her life has completely transformed since that first campaign in ’92 – it’s incredible to think about everything that’s happened since then. It feels like yesterday, but so much has changed for her!

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2026-04-02 19:38