The sister of model Dorian Leigh, she grew up and attended school in Highland Park, New Jersey. Dorian introduced her to Eileen Ford, a famous modelling agent, at the age of 15.
She was a successful model during the 1950s and was the 'signature face' for Coco Chanel during much of that period. She was the first model to earn more than $US100100 per hour and $100,000 per year, and at one point she was the highest paid model in the industry at $US200 per hour. She is often called the 'original supermodel'.
Her acting debut was in the 1957 film Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. Her other acting credits included Kiss Them for Me, Ten North Frederick and appearances in the TV series Tarzan and The Twilight Zone.
Married three times, she took her third husband's name and was known as Suzy Parker Dillman after she retired from celebrity life. Her children are Georgia (from the first marriage), Dinah, Charles and Christopher (from the third marriage).
She was especially well known for her laidback and honest style. She publicly condemned the use of alcohol and cigarettes, and suggested that marriage killed all romance.