She reached her full adult height at age 14, and stated she was uncomfortable with her tall stature due to teasing from peers. Terwinghe walked the runway for Gianfranco Ferré, Ralph Lauren, Complice, Krizia, Max Mara, and Industria in the early 1990s. She also modeled for a large number of advertisements, including those for Armani, Anne Klein, Chico"s, Dior, Lancaster, Nautica, and Pierre Balmain.
Some of her most prestigious and successful advertisement modeling work was for cosmetic house Revlon in one of the famous "Unforgettable Women" advertisements photographed by Richard Avedon.
Terwinghe appeared alongside fellow models Cordula Reyer, Michaela Bercu, and Carré Otis for the print adjunct Terwinghe later became a spokesmodel for cosmetic house Helena Rubinstein.
Another high-profile endorsement of Fabienne Terwinghe"s was for lingerie, fashion, and beauty brand Victoria"s Secret. She was also the cover subject for the American and Italian editions of Elle, the Italian edition of Marie Claire, and the Spanish edition of Vogue.
In 1989 she appeared in New Order"s video Round & Round
In 1994, with fellow models Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, Heather Stewart-Whyte and Emma Wiklund, Terwinghe posed nude in a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals anti-fur adjunct
Terwinghe has stated that throughout her modeling career, she has refused to pose wearing fur.