If you spent any time looking at a fashion magazine between 2012 and 2016, you’ve seen her. That face is hard to forget. With the kind of classic, blonde-bombshell look that felt like a throwback to the 1960s, Valerie van der Graaf didn't just walk into the modeling industry; she basically took it over for a solid half-decade. But honestly, the way people talk about her today usually misses the mark. They see the Sports Illustrated cover or the Playboy spreads and think she was just another "it girl" who faded out.
That is not even close to the full story.
Valerie's trajectory is actually a wild case study in how the modeling world shifted from "discovery by luck" to the digital-first era we live in now. She was one of the first major stars to come out of a social media platform before Instagram even existed. Born in Rotterdam on February 12, 1992, she grew up in a city she calls a "small New York." It's a place with grit. And you kind of need that grit when you get thrust into global fame before you're even old enough to drive.
The Hyves Discovery and the Rise of a New Aesthetic
Most people think models get "scouted" at airports or shopping malls. Not Valerie. She was 15. She had some vacation photos on a Dutch social media site called Hyves. If you aren't Dutch, you’ve probably never heard of Hyves, but back in 2007, it was everything in the Netherlands. An agency saw those holiday snaps, sent a private message, and her mom—thankfully being protective—vetted the whole thing.
It was legit.
Suddenly, this teenager from Rotterdam was flying to London and Paris. By the time she turned 20, she had secured the 20th Anniversary Lavazza Calendar cover, shot by the legendary Ellen von Unwerth. If you know anything about fashion photography, you know Von Unwerth doesn't do "boring." She does playful, messy, and high-energy. That became Valerie’s signature. She wasn't just a clothes hanger. She had a personality that popped through the lens.
Why the Kate Upton Comparisons Were Lazy
Around 2014, the media started calling her the "next Kate Upton." You’ve probably seen the headlines. Both were blonde, both had curves that the high-fashion world (which was obsessed with being painfully thin at the time) didn't quite know what to do with, and both were Sports Illustrated darlings.
But here is the thing: Valerie was doing something different.
While Upton was the quintessential American girl next door, van der Graaf brought a European, almost "Bardot-esque" edge to her work. She could transition from a high-fashion Vogue editorial to a commercial Topshop campaign without losing her identity.
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The Sports Illustrated and Playboy Era
In 2014, Valerie van der Graaf officially hit "supernova" status. She was named one of the rookies for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. They flew her to Barreirinhas, Brazil. Imagine being 21 and standing on white sand dunes for Raphael Mazzucco. It was the peak of that era of modeling.
Then came the Playboy Playmate of the Month in August 2016.
A lot of people think these moves were just about "being sexy," but they were calculated business decisions. Valerie was building a brand that was "imperfect by design" long before that became a 2026 marketing buzzword. She was open about the fact that she loved the travel and the weirdness of the job. She wasn't trying to be a porcelain doll.
Where is Valerie van der Graaf now?
If you go looking for her on the runways of 2026, you might be looking in the wrong place. Modeling has a shelf life, and Valerie seems to have known that. While she is still signed with agencies like SPS Model Management and Uno Models, her focus has shifted toward the "behind-the-scenes" world of visual storytelling.
There is a Valerie van der Graaf currently serving as a Director of Programming at BlackRook Media.
Is it the same person? It’s a common question. Interestingly, the industry experience listed for this role mentions a decade in the fashion industry and a transition into documentary production and video solutions. It makes sense. When you spend ten years being directed by the best photographers in the world, you pick up a "highly-developed visual sense." She’s moved from being the subject of the video to the person overseeing the production.
Managing the Myth vs. The Reality
It is easy to get her confused with other people—especially given the name "Van der Graaf" is fairly common in the Netherlands. For instance, do not confuse her with the infamous Volkert van der Graaf. Seriously, don't. One is a world-class model and producer; the other is a high-profile Dutch criminal. Google’s algorithms sometimes get them tangled, but their lives couldn't be more different.
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Valerie’s real legacy isn't just a bunch of glossy pages. It's the fact that she survived the "meat grinder" of 2010s modeling and came out the other side with her career intact and a new direction.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Creators
If you’re looking at Valerie’s career as a blueprint, here are the actual takeaways that matter in today's landscape:
- Diversify your skill set early. Valerie didn't just stay a "bikini model." She worked in high fashion, commercial, and eventually moved into the production side. In 2026, being a "one-trick pony" is the fastest way to become irrelevant.
- The "Discovery" can happen anywhere. You don't need a professional headshot to get noticed. Real, candid photos (like her Hyves pictures) often show more potential to an agent than a staged shoot.
- Authenticity beats polish. The current trend in social media is "Notes App Chic" and "Underproduced Content." Valerie’s best work always felt spontaneous. If you’re building a brand, stop over-editing. People want the "real" version of you.
- Research your name. If you have a common name or a name shared with someone controversial, be proactive about your digital footprint. Valerie had to carve out her own space in search results against a very dark Dutch historical figure.
Valerie van der Graaf remains a fascinating figure because she represents the bridge between the old guard of modeling and the new, creator-led world. She wasn't just a face; she was a precursor to the modern influencer, minus the annoying "hey guys" intros. Whether she’s in front of the camera or running the production from a boardroom, her influence on the "visual language" of the last decade is undeniable.
To really understand her impact, you have to look past the Sports Illustrated covers and see the business-savvy woman who navigated a cutthroat industry before she was even legally an adult. That’s the real story.