Former ’90s Vogue model Niki Taylor is now 51, a grandmother, and living a quieter life in Nashville — and she still looks remarkably youthful. The supermodel recently opened up to People about how dramatically her world has shifted since her high-profile runway days in New York.
Taylor married race car driver Burney Lamar in 2006, and the couple share two children, daughter Ciel, 17, and son Rex, 14. She is also mother to 31-year-old twin sons, Hunter and Jake, whom she welcomed at 19 with her first husband, football player Matthew Martinez. The pair divorced in 1996. Taylor said she always hoped to become a young mom and described having twins as a “lovely surprise,” adding that she feels proud watching them grow into adults.
In 2025, she entered a new stage of life when her son Hunter and his wife welcomed a baby boy, making Taylor a grandmother. She gushed about her grandson Nico, calling him smart, energetic, and already full of personality, and said she spends as much time as possible with the family.
These days, Taylor enjoys a slower pace in the South and values privacy more than the whirlwind lifestyle she experienced in the ’90s. She admitted she missed time with her older sons while building her career but feels she has achieved a healthier balance with her younger children. Her routine now revolves around motherhood, fitness, and occasional modeling work, including a recent shoot for Elle and a spring campaign for Talbots.
Taylor’s modeling career began early — she landed her first Seventeen cover at 14 and, at just 15, became one of the youngest stars to appear on the cover of Vogue. She went on to grace magazines like Cosmopolitan, Allure, Elle, and Marie Claire, while fronting campaigns for brands such as L’Oréal, Gap, CoverGirl, Versace, and Jean Paul Gaultier. Despite the glamour, she recalled juggling school with working alongside models much older than her, calling it like living “two different lives.”
She credits her supportive parents and trusted manager for helping her navigate fame at a young age. Taylor also reflected on the devastating loss of her younger sister Krissy in 1995 from an undiagnosed heart condition, saying she still thinks about her often and remembers their incredibly close bond.
Now in her 50s, Taylor believes aging is more about mindset than numbers and welcomes the fashion industry’s growing acceptance of older models. She joked that she prefers being described as “timeless” rather than “ageless,” embracing how her life has evolved — from teenage supermodel to devoted mom and proud grandmother — while continuing to maintain the radiant look that made her famous.
