These models are every designers’ dream and most of them have left incomparable legacies behind.
From Kate Moss to Emily Ratajkowski, the world of fashion has given us countless icons who made haute couture glamorous for us. These long-limbed legends have walked for some of the biggest names in fashion, like Tom Ford, Valentino, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, LV to name a few. Thanks to Instagram, we can now live a part of their lives, by merely scrolling through their bewitching accounts.
The most super supermodels of all time.
Highlights —
- Gigi and Bella grab the top spot
- David Gandy and Tyson Beckford are the spearheads of the male fashion industry
- 90s’ icons: Naomi and Linda can still rock the runway
Here are the 9 most celebrated models who still rule the fashion world.
9) Godfrey Gao
The Taiwanese-Canadian model rose to fame in 2011 when he became the first Asian male to walk for Louis Vuitton. After an exquisite career in fashion, Gao laid his hands on acting and starred in ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ (2013). Asia’s first male supermodel died from cardiac arrest on November 27, 2019, in Ningbo, China.
8) Kendall Jenner
‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ might be coming to an end in 2021, and fans can’t thank Kris Jenner enough for giving birth to five superstar daughters who rule social media today. Kendall decided to separate from the pack and make a name for herself in fashion when she debuted in 2014 for Marc Jacobs. With an estimated net worth of $30 million, Kendall is definitely the most successful model of our times.
7) Linda Evangelista
The supermodel who gave the world “the Linda” haircut started her career in 1984 when she first appeared on the cover of L’Officiel. The Canadian supermodel was one of the pioneers of the ‘Supermodel Era’ in the 90s who appeared on the nearly 700 magazine covers throughout her career.
There’s no doubt that she is regarded as “the greatest supermodel of all time”.
6) Sean O’Pry
The 31-years-old model from Georgia, United States is one of the most staple faces of today’s fashion industry with countless campaigns for Calvin and Armani under his belt. Sean is counted among the highest-paid male supermodels since 2013. He also happens to be the hot dude from Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ music video.
5) Naomi Campbell
When it comes to the biggest names in fashion, Naomi Campbell is the one that shines the brightest. Scouted by none other than Beth Boldt at the tender age of 15, Naomi went on to become the first black model to feature on the cover of Vogue.
After a sprawling career that lasted 33 years, Naomi hates the word “retire” as she justifies her reputation of being a surly diva.
4) David Gandy
You may recall this brawny-chiselled model from Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue fragrance campaign of 2006. David revolutionised the menswear industry at a time when even the most successful male models didn’t enjoy the superstar status as their female counterparts.
The British model can be found topping the richest male models’ list while he designs his menswear line for Marks & Spencer.
3) Gisele Bundchen
Followed by 16.4 million people on Instagram, Gisele Bundchen is a name that needs no introduction. The Brazilian supermodel debuted for Alexander McQueen’s Spring Show of 1998 and never looked back since.
Vogue credited Gisele for popularising the paradigm shift from the heroin chic era to the sexy-healthy look era in 1999. Besides featuring on several top magazines, Gisele is known for her philanthropy and working closely with the United Nations Environment Program for 11 years now.
2) Tyson Beckford
Best known as the face of Ralph Lauren’s polo line in the 90s, there’s hardly any runway that this legendary model hasn’t walked. The fashion veteran is also an activist and speaks vehemently about racial injustice.
Tyson made it to the tabloid section again (in 2018) after engaging in a scuffle with Kim Kardashian over one of her posts on Instagram.
1) Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid
The royalties of the global fashion industry, Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid are the most celebrated supermodels of this decade. Gigi took the internet by a storm when she welcomed her newborn with partner Zayn Malik in September. Bella, on the other hand, continued to amaze in her latex-lingerie ensemble when she walked for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 show that premiered on October 3rd.
Gigi became the brand ambassador of Tommy Hilfiger in autumn of 2016 while Bella was announced as Dior’s ambassador for its makeup line. Having featured on several dozen magazine covers, the future of Hadid siblings only seems to be getting brighter.
These supermodels have been able to cultivate niche fans all across the world who adore them religiously. While many of these models tend to pursue acting and reality TV, some become brand moguls and even launch their own makeup, skincare, or clothing line. What all of them have in common is the mastery of their craft and razor-sharp jawlines.
