Page "Michelle Hunziker" Paragraph 1

Hunziker was born in Sorengo ( Lugano ), in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.

Her mother Ineke is Dutch ; her father Rudolf, who died of a heart attack in the fall of 2001, was a German-speaking Swiss national.

He was a painter, but worked as a hotel manager.

In 1983, the family moved to Ostermundigen, a suburb of Bern in the German speaking part of Switzerland.

In Ostermundigen Hunziker attended elementary school.

After moving to Milan with her mother, she decided to become a fashion model and was hired by Riccardo Gay, a renowned agent.

Although considered to be both too heavy and short, at 17 she posed for well-known labels such as Armani, Rocco Barocco, La Perla, Colmar, Fuerte Ventura, Lovable and Swish.