Rachel Hunter was born to a middle-class family in Auckland. Her parents endured a rocky relationship, and they eventually divorced when she was still a child.

In 1982 she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Following her recovery, she became more extroverted, which may have given her the fuel she needed to pursue a career in the Hollywood spotlight.

While she had always dreamed of becoming a ballerina, she wound up posing for the camera. A model by age 17, Hunter soon graced the covers of fashion magazines, including Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

At the age of 21 she wed British rock star Rod Stewart, who is 24 years her senior. Together they had two children: Renee and Liam.

In January 1999, Hunter and Stewart separated. Since then she has been romantically linked with other stars such as Robbie Williams and Bruce Willis.