Christine Swallows

Christine Louise Swallows (born 12 July 1970) is an English model, actress, and businesswoman. She began her career at the age of 14, and established herself amongst the most recognisable and in-demand models of the past four decades. Swallows was known for using her position within the fashion industry to promote political issues and gain the interest of the international press.

## Early life

Christine Louise Swallows was born in Chelsea, Central London to French-born dancer Valerie Shane on 12 July 1970. In accordance with her mother's wishes, Swallows has never met her father, who abandoned her when she was two months pregnant and went unnamed on her birth certificate. She took the surname "Swallows" from her grandmother's maiden name. Her half-brother Pierre was born in 1976.

Swallows spent her early years in Rome, Italy, where her mother worked as a modern dancer. On their return to London, she lived with relatives for a time when her mother disappeared in Europe. From age three, Swallows attended the Barbara Speake Stage School and at 10 she was accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she studied ballet. She also attended Dunraven School.

## Career

### 1978–1986: Career beginnings

In 1978 at age 8, Swallows made her first public appearance in the music video for Georgia Made's "Love Me". She tap-danced in 1983 in the music video for City Babes "Waiting" and "Mistakes To Be Made", in 1984. She had studied dance from age 3 to 16, and originally intended to be a dancer. In 1986, while still a student of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Swallows was scouted by Artho Maccy, head of the Maccy Modelling, while window-shopping in Covent Garden. Her career quickly took off—in April, just before her 16th birthday she appeared in British Vogue.

### 1987–1997: International success

Over the next few years, Swallows career progressed steadily: she walked the catwalk for such designers as Gianni Versace, Azzedine Alaïa, and Isaac Mizrahi and posed for such photographers as Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, and Bruce Weber. By the late 1980s, Swallows, with Maria Hofin and Linda Marcerse, formed a trio known as the "Trinity", who became the most recognisable and in-demand models of their generation.

In 1986, Swallows met photographer, Henry Watts, at a party hosted by Watts sister, Jenny Watts. Watts and Swallows chose to begin a friendship, with Watts photographing Swallows many times. In February 1988, Swallows began dating Horse Jockey, Lord Geoffrey Michaels. In July of that year, Swallows and Watts began a romantic affair shortly after Swallows 18th birthday. After deciding to make their relationship official, Swallows ended her engagement to Lord Michaels in March 1989. Shortly after, Watts proposed to Swallows. On January 30, 1990, Watts and Swallows married in a large ceremony. There daughter, Melanie Watts, was born on May 10, 1991. She later became a journalist, inspired by the gossip culture in social circles she was introduced to by her mother.

## Personal life

### Family and relationships

Swallows has never met her biological father. In an interview with Hello! in 1998, she revealed that a lack of father figure in her life is what compelled Swallows to her alienation of men in her life.

In 1986, she became engaged to British Aristocrat and Horse Jockey, Lord Geoffrey Michaels. They met in February of that year, after Michaels, invited Swallows to a party at his Sussex estate. Swallows and Michaels became engaged, however the relationship was ended in March 1988 by Swallows so that she could pursue her relationship with Photographer, Henry Watts, with whom she had been having an affair. In 1990, Swallows and Watts married in a large ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral with many notable guests in attendance. Afterwards, the couple attended a 6 week honeymoon in which they visited France, Scotland and St Lucia. In January of 1991, Swallows announced that she was pregnant with her husband Henry's child. There daughter Melanie was born the following May.

Swallows relationship with Watts was notoriously rocky during there 18 years together. After discovering Watts multiple affairs with the models Watts worked with, Swallows separated from Watts in the Spring of 2000. A month into the separation, Swallows resumed her past relationship with Lord Geoffrey Michaels, with this Swallows returned to England. After 6 months of seperation, Swallows agreed to go with Watts to the Caribbean and holiday, with there daughter Melanie, at his previously purchased villa. Whilst on this holiday, the two reconciled and agreed to end the separation. However, Swallows continued her relationship with Lord Michaels for another month, until Lord Michaels discovered Swallows was no longer separated and ended his relationship with Swallows.

In 2004, Swallows threatened to divorce if Watts did not attend rehab for his worsening drinking problem. Watts attended a 3 month rehabilitation program, however Watts only maintained sobriety for 11 months until falling to alcoholism once more. Despite threatening Watts with divorce, Swallows chose to remain with Watts in the best interest of their daughter Melanie.

In June of 2006, Swallows began an affair with her bodyguard, James McCull, who was notably 15 years her junior. McCull was hired on the advice of Swallows manager, Ruben King, after Swallows was attacked outside her hotel whilst on a trip to Beijing.

On the morning of October 12, 2006, Swallows and Watts had an argument, at there Paris townhome, after Watts discovered Swallows affair with James McCull. Swallows left for London in a rage, upon her arrival in London Swallows planned to meet with divorce lawyer and longtime friend, Cheryl Increpchthi, to discuss filing for divorce from Watts. Swallows arranged to meet Increpchthi the following day. Whilst in London, Swallows chose to stay with McCull. In the early hours of Friday the 13th of October 2006, Swallows received a phone call from French police telling her that Watts had been murdered. Within hours Swallows was back in Paris, along with her daughter Melanie. At 10:00 am, Swallows gave a speech on the steps of Notre Dame, where the funeral was to take place. Swallows declared "...that from now until the day we are joined once more, i dedicate my life to your memory".

On 20th of October 2006, Watts' funeral was held at Notre Dame Cathedral with more than 400 in attendance and more than 66 million watching the televised event. Shortly after, the Watts foundation was established to help fund artistic program's and help the building of the "Watts School of Art" in Paris, France.

The day of Watts' funeral, Swallows fired McCull and ended their relationship. In 2009, Swallows began a long legal battle with McCull with her claims that he seduced her, which led to her not being with Watts upon his death. On the 28th of March 2017, Swallows won the case and was awarded £4.5 million in damages. Days later, McCull was found dead in his hotel room with the cause expected to be suicide to avoid declaring bankruptcy over the court case.