Hansen, who is of Norwegian ancestry, was born and raised in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York City, the youngest of six children.

[1][2] During Hansen's modeling career, she appeared on the covers and in the pages of Seventeen, American Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Harper's Bazaar.

She also had campaigns for Calvin Klein (for which she featured on a billboard in Times Square), Revlon, Versace and André Courrèges.

[1][2] At the height of her fame, Hansen appeared on the December 1978 cover of Esquire, celebrating "The Year of the Lusty Woman".

[7] Hansen married Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards on December 18, 1983 (his 40th birthday), at the Finisterra Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.