(A cover contract was unique in those days and unheard of now) When legendary photographer Patrick Demarchelier found out that she didn't have an agent, he notified John Casablancas at Elite Model Management, who sent a representative to the studio and she was quickly signed.

She also did some runway work in her early career for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Perry Ellis in New York and Hong Kong.

She has worked with numerous photographers including Richard Avedon, Steven Miesel, Francesco Scavullo, Irving Penn, Steve Landis, Arthur Elgort, Denis Piel and Patrick Demarchelier.

Nancy co-authored ONE on ONE with her former husband, the fashion model, Jeff Aquilon, published by Simon & Schuster, a best-selling book about two people giving to each other physically and emotionally.

Casablancas claimed that the recommendation from Donahue was so good that he never investigated Weil further, nor did he search into the background of his business partner, Peter Bucchieri.