Biography
Born and raised in Ohio, Melissa Baker’s rough-and-tumble youth would certainly come as a surprise to those who just know her as a gorgeous supermodel. Athletically inclined practically since birth, Melissa Baker spent much of her adolescence training to be a gymnast, devoting six years of her life to competitive events within the field. There did reach a point, however, at which young Melissa Baker started to take an interest in modeling, and by the time she was 17, the aspiring "catwalker" began actively pursuing gigs within the increasingly cut-throat business.
melissa baker models for ralph lauren
Melissa Baker, along with the help of her mother Becky, had little choice but to start out slowly, as Ohio isn’t exactly known for its fashion-friendly atmosphere. She took on jobs wherever she could and got her start by posing for various bridal magazines, which led her to sunny Miami, Florida. It was there that she finally got a real taste of what the modeling business was all about and it wasn’t long before she was able to start booking gigs for such high-profile names as Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren and Sisley.
melissa baker in the 2008 sports illustrated swimsuit issue
Melissa Baker’s increasingly ubiquitous presence within a variety of ad campaigns and magazines brought her to the attention of executives at Sports Illustrated, who were looking for up-and-coming models to include within the pages of the annual Swimsuit Issue. Melissa Baker was subsequently whisked away to the Virgin Islands, where she was shot in a variety of sultry outfits and poses under the watchful gaze of photographers Randall Grant and Raphael Mazzucco.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2008: Melissa Baker