The body double! Real Housewives star Kelly Bensimon is the spitting image of Elle MacPherson as she poses in a white bikini and cowboy hat

PUBLISHED: 23:40 EST, 27 March 2013 | UPDATED: 05:31 EST, 28 March 2013

As far of similarities go between Elle MacPherson and Kelly Bensimon, there are plenty.

They are both supermodels, both posses similar body types and were even married to the same photographer, Gilles Bensimon for several years after one another.

And Kelly has now channelled the more famous model by posing in one of Elle's favourite looks yet - a bikini and cowboy hat combination.

Spot the difference: Kelly Bensimon, left, looked eerily like Elle MacPherson when she slipped on a white bikini and cowboy hat in Miami on Wednesday. Elle wore a similar look in a 2008 sunscreen advertisement, right

The Real Housewives Of New York star, 44, displayed her supremely toned figure in a white two-piece as she hit the sands of Palm Beach, Miami on Wednesday.

Looking eerily like Elle, she accessorised her swimsuit with a straw hat and long bohemian-style necklaces, an ensemble the 48-year-old often favours for her photo shoots and beach outings.

In the snap she even emulates a pose similar to one the Australian star does in a 2008 sunscreen advertisement, when she slipped on a beige bikini and straw hat for a shoot in her native Sydney.

Kelly took to the beach before her book signing at the Letarte Swimwear shop on Worth Ave.

White hot: The Real Housewives Of New York star, 44, displayed her supremely toned figure in the white two-piece as she hit the sands of Palm Beach

Fun in the sun: Kelly also splashed around in the water

The swimsuit she was wearing was actually the same white two-piece bikini that Kate Upton wore on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition earlier this year.

Looking like she could be Elle's twin, Kelly posed for the camera with a smouldering stare.

Aside from looks, the pair share many similarities.

Book signing: Kelly took to the beach before her book signing at the Letarte Swimwear shop on Worth Ave.

Kelly began her modeling career in New York City, appearing in magazines such as Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Harper's Bazaar, as well as being the face of Clarins beauty products.

She was married to Bensimon for ten years from 1997-2007.

The former couple have two daughters together, Sea Louise Bensimon, born in 1998, and Thadeus Ann Bensimon, born in 2000.

Favourite look: Elle has often favoured the bikini and cowboy hat combination, wearing it in several shoots

Down time: She also likes to wear the ensemble in her down time

Meanwhile, Elle is the more famous out of the pair, having appeared on countless covers of big name magazines throughout her career, which has spanned for over 30 years.

Those have also included Cosmopolitan, Elle and Harper's Bazaar as well as GQ and vogue.

One of her greatest achievements is appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition a record five times.

They don't just share looks: Kelly and Elle were both married to photographer Gilles Bensimon

The leggy Aussie also featured in Elle for six consecutive years, during which she met Gilles who was the creative Director of the magazine at the time.

She went on to marry the famous photographer at the age of 21 in May 1986, but the couple later divorced in 1989.

They did not have any children together.

She is now reportedly engaged to billionaire Jeffrey Soffer.

Elle and Soffer had ended their two-year romance in March 2012, but quietly reconciled in the November when she rushed to his side after he survived a helicopter crash.

KEngaged: Elle is reportedly now engaged to billionaire Jeff Soffer and was seen flashing her large engagement ring in London this week

Engaged: Elle is reportedly now engaged to billionaire Jeff Soffer and was seen flashing her large engagement ring in London this week

While Elle has yet to confirm the engagement reports, a source told Access Hollywood that The Body said 'Yes' to the Miami-based businessman - who is also a hotel heir - and plans to not let distance affect their relationship this time around.

The British based supermodel plans to move to be with her beau in Miami, Florida.

As well as having her own lingerie line, the Aussie icon now hosts and executive produces NBC's reality competition series Fashion Star.

Meanwhile, Kelly last year she became an author with the release of her book, I Can Make You Hot! The Supermodel Diet.

She is still on good terms with her former husband Gilles, who photographed her for the March 2010 edition of Playboy magazine, in which she posed on the cover and in a six-page pictorial.

Look familiar? The swimsuit Kelly was wearing was actually the same white two-piece bikini that Kate Upton wore on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition earlier this year

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I like KKB, but she doesn't have a pretty body. She's healthy and toned, but it's too muscular and boyish. I don't think EM ever had a boyish body. And KKB has really bad implants. So basically, you just have two women in cowboy hats and bikinis.

- Catherine in Tulsa , Tulsa, 29/3/2013 15:52

Click to rate Rating 7

Every time I see Kelly I have to laugh. She poses and acts as if she's a dainty petite female, but I imagine she has the elegance of a tractor.

- Madison , London, United Kingdom, 29/3/2013 09:54

Click to rate Rating 20

i don't know why these bikini pics of kelly keep popping up. she looks awful!... she has no waist & her skin is terrible. she has creases in places you shouldn't have creases.

- sweetvyc , new york city, United States, 29/3/2013 08:59

Click to rate Rating 23

And I have no idea who this manly "woman" with the man waist and man jaw is. Did it vacation to Bangkok recently?

- Pearls B4 Swine , House Rules, United States, 29/3/2013 06:46

Click to rate Rating 35

Holy cr*p was this thing born a man? It's probably a Thailand Katoey, look at its waist: MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANLY! She's built like a tree trunk. Why bother to don a bikini when you look like that. She's as sexy as the underside of my pick up truck....

- Pearls B4 Swine , House Rules, United States, 29/3/2013 06:42

Click to rate Rating 29

No way.

- Chacha , Atlantis, 29/3/2013 06:31

Click to rate Rating 13

Listen...Kellly did this at 43.......elle at 23...KELLY looks amazing....you've got to admit it..sure ..elle was pretty...but look at kelly at43?>>>>> you cannot compare....................apples oranges........... - LauraJP, Groveland Florida, United States, 29/3/2013 Afraid not, Laura - Elle did it in 2008 - 5 years ago when she was 44. She is 49 now. So we are comparing two 44 year old models, and one of them is the only model who deserved to be called 'The Body'. Poor Kelly is out of her league.

- Karen , Brisbane_ Australia, 29/3/2013 04:58

Click to rate Rating 25

one thing is for sure: she looks more like Elle than 99% of the female population does!

- giusysang , Portland, 29/3/2013 03:42

Click to rate Rating 5

Elle is all elegance and style. Kelly , not so much.

- RdS , California, 29/3/2013 02:03

Click to rate Rating 46

Bensimon is no Elle. Not in any way whatsoever. Forgetaboutit.

- whalerman , chaumont, 29/3/2013 01:12

Click to rate Rating 52

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