Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Hunter began modelling by age 17 and rose to prominence after posing as a Sports Illustrated model in 1989. She appeared on magazine covers, including Cosmopolitan and on the 1994 "Dream Team" cover of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue.She was paid a reported $1.8 million to pose nude for Playboy magazine in 2004. She also became the face and body of Ultimo, a Scottish lingerie house, famously replacing Penny Lancaster, the fiancee of Rod Stewart (whom Hunter was married to). She was replaced by Helena Christensen in November 2005.
