Reflecting on the past, every ten years had their signature style: the mod movement of the 1960s, the punk appearance of the 1980s, and the emergence of grunge in the 1990s, among others.
iconic supermodels
Models favored by specific designers and prominent brands embodied that style—essentially serving as the “faces” of certain aesthetics. While you might not recognize them now, these models significantly influenced the decades during which they were active. Here are 32 supermodels who shaped fashion and beauty for their respective times.
Mary Jane Russell
Technically, Mary Jane Russell began her modeling career in the late 1940s, yet she gained significant recognition during the 1950s. With her elongated neck and sharply defined features, she perfectly embodied the sophisticated atmosphere of that era, appearing on numerous magazine covers throughout the decade.
Vogue
and
Harper’s Bazaar.
Janice Dickinson
You might recognize Janice Dickinson as a vibrant figure in the media landscape, but during the 1970s and ’80s, she was a highly sought-after model. By the time the second half of that era rolled around, her striking presence graced numerous international magazine covers.
Vogues
37 instances and collaborated with brands such as Revlon and Christian Dior.
Lauren Hutton
Several renowned models have had spaces between their front teeth, but Lauren Hutton was among the earliest—her deal with Revlon in 1973 became the highest-paid modeling contract ever at that time. She might be better known for her acting roles, such as those in various productions.
American Gigolo
.
Lara Stone
Dutch supermodel Lara Stone was spotted at age 12! Rising to fame in the early 2000s, she was labeled the “anti-model.”
New York Times
Due to her distinctive characteristics, when she became the spokesperson for Prada’s perfume in 2010, her style started gaining traction among other models cast in significant advertising initiatives.
Georgia Hamilton
Georgia Hamilton was a prominent model during the 1940s and 1950s, appearing on the cover of various magazines.
Life
The magazine cover from 1948 (one among numerous others she created). Her sharp facial characteristics coupled with her slender waist made her an ideal choice for both editorial and advertising work during those years.
Naomi Sims
Naomi Sims, one of the earliest African American supermodels, rose to fame during the 1960s and 1970s. After beginning her career by collaborating directly with photographers, she gained significant recognition from a nationwide AT&T advertisement campaign. Additionally, she became the first black model to grace the cover of various publications.
Ladies’ Home Journal
and
Life.
Suzy Parker
Comparisons to Greta Garbo have been made for Suzy Parker, who began her modeling career as a teenager (she appeared in
Life
At peak performance in the mid-1950s, she became the first model reportedly earning an annual salary of $100,000, which included contributions from her work with Revlon.
Eva Herzigová
The most significant milestone in Eva Herzigova’s career came from an iconic campaign: a Wonderbra advertisement showcasing her wearing a black bra accompanied by the line, “Hello Boys.” This billboard reportedly caused such distraction among motorists that it led to crashes; however, it also propelled her into a successful modeling journey.
Karen Mulder
Dutch model Karen Mulder was prominent in the modeling industry during the 1980s and 1990s, notably featuring on an American cover during that period.
Vogue
and the
Sports Illustrated
Bathing Suit Issue. She was among the first Victoria’s Secret Angels and played a key role in shaping their initial look.
Karen Graham
Karen Graham, who served as the sole spokesmodel for Estée Lauder for 15 consecutive years and became the first model to secure a beauty contract, was also prominently featured on the cover of American Vogue.
Vogue
In the late 1970s, she appeared around twenty times. (Her identity wasn’t revealed in the photographs, which led some to believe her name was Estée Lauder!)
Dovima
The fact that models gaining recognition under a single name isn’t a recent phenomenon is demonstrated by Dovima, who was among the highest-paid models of her era—earning around $60 per hour back in the 1950s. One iconic photograph of her taken by Richard Avedon highlights this.
Dovima With Elephants
This image is regarded as one of the most iconic photographs ever captured and a true masterpiece.
Beverly Johnson
You might know Beverly Johnson as an actress, including her work in
Crossroads
and
The Meteor Man
But she was also an extremely influential model and the first Black model to grace the cover of American.
Vogue
In 1974, she fundamentally altered the fashion industry’s approach to inclusivity.
Gia Carangi
Gia Carangi had a tragically brief life and died at the age of 26 due to complications from AIDS. She was regarded as one of the top supermodels of the 1980s, known for her notable work with various brands and designers.
Vogue
And campaigns for Dior and Armani. Her tale was later adapted into a film led by Angelina Jolie.
Gia
).
Cheryl Tiegs
If you are acquainted with the history of the
Sports Illustrated
The Swimsuit Issue might be recognizable for Cheryl Tiegs—who appeared on numerous covers during the 1970s and 1980s. One notable piece is a poster from 1978 featuring her in a pink bikini, which has been described as
SI
became a fixture hanging on the walls of nearly every American teenage boy’s room during the 1970s.
Sondra Peterson
During the 1950s and 1960s, Sondra Peterson was regarded as a prominent leading model, sharing the spotlight with models like Jean Shrimpton. Her appearance was highly desirable, to the point where she graced magazine covers in May 1960.
Seventeen
highlighted her as part of their model lineup: she graced the cover alongside an article named, “How to Achieve Sondra Peterson’s Look.”
Karen Alexander
Karen Alexander began her modeling career in the late 1980s and, despite encountering racial discrimination in the field, enjoyed a successful journey. She became one of the earliest Black models to be showcased in major publications.
Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit Issue and turned into one of
People
50 of the Most Stunning Individuals.
Carol Alt
During the 1980s, Carol Alt graced over 500 magazine covers, including “American”
Vogue
,
Elle
,
Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit Edition, and
Cosmopolitan
.
Life
The magazine called her “The Face,” and she was featured in advertising campaigns for brands like Cover Girl, Givenchy, and Diet Pepsi.
Shalom Harlow
Shalom Harlow gained significant recognition in the ’90s along with top models such as Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell. Her distinctive look made her suitable for both commercial and high-fashion assignments, and she received the Vogue/VH1 Model of the Year accolade in 1995.
Paulina Porizkova
Originating from Czechoslovakia, Paulina Porizkova became the first Central European woman to appear on the cover of the
Swimsuit Illustrated
Bikini Issue. In addition, she inked an agreement worth $6 million with Estee Lauder in 1988, making it the largest modeling contract at that time.
Evelyn Tripp
Evelyn Tripp achieved prominence in 1949 with a
Vogue
she covered and was featured on 40 magazine covers throughout her career during the ’50s and ’60s. Similar to those mentioned earlier, she had strikingly angular facial features (in
her case
, with their very high cheekbones, high forehead, and pronounced chin) were appealing during this era.
Liu Wen
Occasionally known as China’s premier supermodel, Liu Wen became the first Chinese model to strut down the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and the second Chinese model to grace the cover of American Vogue.
Vogue
, and she was also the first East Asian spokesperson for Estée Lauder cosmetics. Her work has been
prolific
, yet many people are still unfamiliar with her.
Amber Valletta
A contemporary of Shalom Harlow (along with other top models such as Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and others from the ’90s), Amber Valletta featured in 17 American
Vogue
Covers. It’s worth mentioning that she and Harlow co-hosted MTV’s
House of Style
, and as a result, she shifted her focus to acting.
Liya Kebede
The model from Ethiopia (who appeared on the cover of
Vogue
(occurring 20 times) was a significant influence during the early to mid-2000s. Notably, in 2002,
Vogue
Paris dedicated an entire edition to her, and in 2003 she was appointed as the first African American spokesperson for Estée Lauder.
Christie Brinkley
You might recognize Christie Brinkley better from her roles in Billy Joel’s music videos (and let’s not forget, she was his wife too). However, her modeling career is also noteworthy, considering she has graced the covers of over 500 magazines consecutively throughout three different periods.
Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit Issue covers.
Kathy Ireland
Kathy Ireland was extremely popular during the 1980s and 1990s; she appeared on the cover of
Sports Illustrated
In 1989, for the Swimsuit Issue…it turned out to be one of their highest-selling editions (the magazine would later refer to it as “The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Ever”). Over this period, she graced thirteen successive swimsuit issues and simultaneously pursued an acting career.
Jourdan Dunn
In the early 2000s, British model Jourdan Dunn was spotted, with her peak of success occurring during the following decade. She made history in 2008 when she became the first black model in over ten years to stride down the Prada catwalk. Then, in 2014, she was enlisted as the newest spokesperson for Maybelline New York.
Linda Evangelista
You might recognize Linda Evangelista from her days as one of the “Big Six” supermodels in the 1990s, known for her iconic statement about only getting out of bed for gigs paying at least $10,000 per day. However, often overlooked is just how versatile and flexible she proved herself to be across various modeling roles, along with her remarkable success—such as securing a lucrative $7.75 million deal with Yardley of London.
Jean Shrimpton
The ’60s are probably most well-known, from a modeling perspective, for the aesthetics of Twiggy and Jane Birkin. But Jean Shrimpton was just as influential (and just as defining for the decade), and was named by
Time
among the top 100 most impactful fashion icons in history.
Iman
You might have most recently spotted her at red-carpet events alongside her late husband, David Bowie, but Somalia-native Iman was once a leading model during the ’70s and ’80s, inspiring fashion legends such as Calvin Klein and Gianni Versace. She reached the height of her success in the 1980s before retiring and launching her own makeup range in the following decade.
Jean Patchett
Jean Patchett was a prominent figure in the world of modeling during the 1940s and 1950s, reportedly setting the standard for that era with her composed and distant demeanor. She held significant influence during these years due to her iconic status. She achieved two major accomplishments or recognitions during this time.
Vogue
She has covered 1950 and 40 magazine covers throughout her career, along with significant advertising campaigns such as those for Revlon.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is predominantly recognized for her acting career; however, she also gained prominence as the youngest model to grace the cover of
Vogue
In 1980 (at age 14), she was.
Vogue
cover designs would subsequently appear along with some widely popular yet rather contentious Calvin Klein advertisements.
Tyra Banks
Sure, you’re probably familiar with Tyra Banks because of
America’s Next Top Model
But we shouldn’t overlook her influence. Banks was a Victoria’s Secret Angel and became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of the
Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit Issue, and VH1 named her “Supermodel of the Year” in 1997.
