Annalise Braakensiek

Braakensiek's modeling career took off after being scouted on Bondi Beach at 16. Her big break came in 1994 when she won the Inside Sport Model of the Year, an honor she repeated, gracing the magazine's cover a record six times. She appeared on the covers of Cosmopolitan (US), Loaded (UK), and Maxim (Italy), among others. She also starred in campaigns for Guinness, Nivea, La Perla, Lee, Levi's, and Toyota, working with photographers like Rankin. She was featured on 21 different "Sexiest Woman Alive" lists and made regular appearances in FHM and Ralph.

Beyond modeling, Braakensiek was an actress and presenter. She earned a Logie Award nomination for Outstanding New Talent in a Comedy for her role as Claudia McPherson on the cult SBS comedy Pizza. She co-wrote dialogue and helped develop her character, and the show itself received four Logie nominations. She also appeared in Home and Away and Heart Break High, presented on German MTV, and co-hosted the UK game show Play Your Cards Right. Fluent in five languages, including German, Dutch, Italian, and Japanese, she brought a global perspective to her work.

Braakensiek was also a designer and entrepreneur. In 2009, she launched her lingerie collection specializing in larger cup sizes, made from organic and recycled materials. In 2012, she introduced her signature jewellery collection. She held a double major in jewellery and sculpture from the University of NSW College of Fine Arts. A vegetarian chef, she balanced her creative and business pursuits with advocacy. She supported cancer charities, including the Starlight Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, and campaigned for animal rights with PETA, HSI, and the RSPCA. She passed away in January 2019 at age 46.