Victoria’s Secret model Elaine Irwin, 56, who was wed to John Mellencamp makes rare appearance

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I remember when Elaine Irwin burst onto the scene in the 80s! She was absolutely stunning and quickly became one of the biggest names in modeling. Seeing her on the cover of Vogue alongside icons like Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington felt like a real moment – she was a true star back then, and I was a huge fan!

The model from Pennsylvania was featured in glamorous advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren for many years.

She gained international fame in 1992 when she married singer John Cougar Mellencamp, who was 74 at the time, while she was just 23 years old.

The couple had two children and later moved to a rural area of Indiana to settle down. However, they divorced in 2011, and Elaine largely disappeared from public view. John Mellencamp subsequently dated actresses Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley. Their daughter, Teddi Mellencamp, became known as a cast member on the reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Erwin then was married to publisher Jay Penske from 2012 until 2024. 

The Daily Mail recently published a photo of her with actress Jordana Brewster at a glamorous event. New photos have also emerged of her modeling for The Park Fashion brand. She looks amazing!

According to sources at Daily Mail, Elaine is doing well after her divorce from Jay, thanks to the support of her close friends. She’s also reportedly enjoying her continued work as a model and is proud of it.

Her climb to the top of the modeling world came at a young age.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen so many incredible stories, and this one always catches my attention! She’s a real standout – almost six feet tall and absolutely gorgeous. Originally from Pennsylvania, she was a pretty young sixteen when she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a model. It takes a lot of courage to chase your passions like that, and she clearly had the drive to make it happen!

After her photo appeared in Seventeen magazine in 1985, she became an ‘it’ girl.

In 1989, she was featured in the music video for New Order’s song “Round And Round,” which was part of their album, Technique.

She then appeared on the covers of several magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Self, and Elite. A particularly notable achievement was her US Beauty Vogue cover, photographed by the renowned Richard Avedon.

Elaine presented a sexier image for Victoria’s Secret, Thierry Mugler, Versace and Prada.

Irwin became the first woman to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 in May 2001.

She was also an at-large delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

In 2004, Almay Cosmetics, a Revlon company, chose Elaine as the face of their brand and signed her to a seven-year contract.

Elaine was 23 years old when she met Mellencamp.

She posed for his Whenever We Wanted album cover then was the star of his Get A Leg Up music video.

They wed 10 weeks later on September 5, 1992. They have two sons.

She was stepmother to John’s daughter Teddi Mellencamp whose mother is Victoria Granucci. 

Teddi, age 43, gained fame as a cast member on the reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, alongside stars like Kyle Richards and Garcelle Beauvais.

After 18 years together, Elaine and John separated in December 2010. They both remained in Indiana to continue raising their children.

John filed for divorce on January 14, 2011, and asked the court to restore Elaine’s original last name, Irwin. The divorce was officially completed on August 12, 2011.

In October 2012, Irwin became engaged to racecar team owner and media businessman Jay Penske. 

They had a daughter in May 2013. She has resided in California since 2013.

John went on to romance stars like Meg Ryan and Christie Brinkley in NYC. 

Elaine seemed thrilled with her GG experience which was co-produced by Jay’s Penske Media.

She posted several photos from the Golden Globes on Instagram, praising her Ralph Lauren dress and suggesting it deserved its own award! She celebrated the start of the New Year with friends at the 2025 Golden Globes and congratulated Penske Media.

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2025-10-22 18:56