UPDATE, Feb. 2, 1:04 p.m.: Crawford published a statement on Instagram explaining that her comment about retiring is a "running joke in [her] family" and that much of what she said has been taken out of context. "Every year, I tell my kids I'm retiring ... And yet every year, opportunities pop up that really excite me," Crawford wrote. "I have loved being part of the fashion industry for the past 30 years — and if that time has taught me anything, it's this: never say never."
Cindy Crawford is celebrating her 50th birthday later this month, and she's gifting herself a major change: retirement from the modeling industry.
A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Feb 1, 2016 at 11:28am PST
Crawford, who has been modeling for more than 30 years, declared it was time to "move on" in a recent interview with United Airlines' Rhapsody Magazine.
New @United @RhapsodyMagazine interview out now! Photo by @yutsai88, beauty @rachel_goodwin and @giannandrea1. A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Jan 31, 2016 at 11:58am PST
"I'm sure I'll have my picture taken for 10 more years, but not as a model anymore," Crawford told Rhapsody. "And that's okay. I've done it. I've worked with all these incredible photographers." [seealso URL="http://sale-online.click/2015/02/18/cindy-crawford-leaked-photo/#b_HsnxZMumqI"] Crawford got into modeling at age 16, posing for a photo in her hometown newspaper. She then entered a contest with Elite Model Management and finished in the top 12. Before too long, Crawford had abandoned a chemical engineering scholarship and moved to New York to further pursue the industry.
#TBT Babies! With @mstatjanapatitz, photo by @herbritts. A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Jan 21, 2016 at 8:20am PST
Crawford's all-American look launched her to supermodel status -- making her one of the top models in the '80s and '90s. Her signature beauty mark was widely admired and emulated.
A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Nov 19, 2015 at 5:51am PST
More than 30 years later, Crawford can look back on her career with pride. Vogue covers, iconic red Versace dresses, Balmain campaigns — name it, and she really has "done it." “What else do I need to do? I can’t keep reinventing myself,” Crawford told Rhapsody. “I shouldn’t have to keep proving myself. I don’t want to.”
#TBT Hello, New York! Back in the city for the last leg of my #BecomingCindy tour. A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Oct 22, 2015 at 6:50am PDT
Now Crawford will likely direct her attention to raising her two children, Kaia and Presley -- both of whom have shown interest in modeling.
Happy Holidays! With love from me, @randegerber, @presleygerber & @kaiagerber by @taylortupy A photo posted by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Dec 25, 2015 at 9:36am PST