Stella Nina McCartney was born in London, England in 1971 to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and famed rocker photographer, Linda McCartney. Stella's birth almost ended in disaster where both mother and child almost died - the traumatic event led her father to pray she be born "on the wings of an angel", thus inspiring the name of her parent's band "Wings". McCartney admits she had a "normal" childhood, despite her famous parents - though she did travel the globe with them and their group, the whole family lived in a two-bedroom while she was growing up. Stella was on her own and independent by the time she was in college, making her own money (and sometimes having to clean dishes at a near-by restaurant to do so.) At age 15 she had the opportunity to work with Christian Lacroix on his first couture collection and in 1995, she graduated from London's Central St Martins College of Art & Design, showcasing at her collection of clothes modeled by good celebrity friends Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. In 1997, with two collections under her belt, McCartney was appointed chief designer at Paris fashion house Chloé, but resigned four years later to enter in a joint venture with the Gucci Group. The line opened three stores and later Stella expanded her brand to include perfume. In 2000, she was presented VH1/Vogue Designer of the Year award by her father. Most recently, McCartney designed a line of clothing and accessories for H&M, helping sales to skyrocket with her designer name and in August of 2003, married publisher Alasdhair Willis.