Modeling, as a profession, has been around for 169 years. It began when the legendary Charles Frederick Worth, known as the “father of haute couture,” asked his wife to model some clothes he had designed. Other fashion houses picked up on this and soon modeling became the norm. Over the years this has evolved greatly, as models don’t just stride down catwalks. They have also become part of pop culture, with models appearing on the covers of magazines, starring in films and TV shows, and trying their hand at all types of media. A lucrative career, some of the most famous models have made their mark over the past 30 years and become superstars.
The likes of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Gig Hadid have made a career from their face and body. But they aren’t the only models to crack the big time. Read on to find out the 16 most famous models the world has ever seen.
1. Claudia Schiffer
One of the OG models, Claudia Schiffer made her presence felt during the 90s. The German beauty was everywhere and soon become known as a supermodel, one of those rare models who transcended the modeling world and became a star in their own right. Schiffer holds the record for the most magazine covers as listed by Guinness Book of World Records, with over 1,000 covers. She got her big break as the face of Guess and soon found herself on the cover of Elle, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Rolling Stone. She even posed for Playboy in 1997, causing quite the stir.
Along with modeling, Schiffer has tried her hand at acting and launched her own fashion line of cashmere clothing. While she still models, these days Schiffer is more concerned with charity work and being a mum.
2. Gigi Hadid
Gig Hadid first started modeling at the age of two for Baby Gap. This continued during her childhood until she took a break to finish her schooling. Once complete, Hadid became a full-time model and quickly took the world by storm. One of the world’s most in-demand models, Hadid has strutted her stuff on the catwalk for a host of big time designers. She has modeled for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Max Mara. Hadid has also hosted the American Music Awards and appeared in several music videos. Hadid is part of the new breed of models who are making their mark on the world.
3. Naomi Campbell
Along with Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell is one of the six supermodels that dominated the world of fashion in the 90s. Campbell’s career as a model has spanned over 40 years. The British celebrity has appeared on the cover of all the major fashion publications and modeled for just about every luxury brand ever made. Campbell has also released 25 fragrances over the years and dated a string of heartthrobs, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher, and Liam Payne. While she still models, Campbell also donates lots of her time to the various charities she is involved with and leads a much more philanthropic life.
4. Georgia May Jagger
The daughter of supermodel Jerry Hall and Rolling Stone frontman Mick Jagger, it’s not hard to see why Georgia May Jagger has turned to modeling. The gorgeous offspring of the former couple has made her mark, modeling for the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander Wang, Versace, Fendi, and Tom Ford. She was named Model of the Year in 2009 and has designed collections for Volcom and Mulberry.
5. Kendall Jenner
The only member of the Kardashian clan not to have a child, Kendall Jenner has been the highest-paid model in the world since 2017. The model and social media star began modeling at the age of 13 and has had tremendous success since. Not only has she made millions from magazine covers and catwalks, but Jenner has a keen business sense. Teaming with her sister Kylie, the two have released several clothing collections. Jenner has also partnered with several beauty companies and is one of the pioneers of using Instagram as a way to advertise products and get paid the big bucks, cementing herself as one of the world’s most famous models.
6. Kate Moss
Of all the models on this list, none have partied as much as Kate Moss. During her heyday in the 90s, she was a regular on the British social scene, her exploits often splashed on the front pages of the tabloids. Whether hanging with former partner Johnny Depp or walking the runway for Calvin Klein, Moss was the supermodel of the 90s. Moss is known for introducing heroin chic to the world and has featured in advertising campaigns for everyone from Yves Saint Laurent and Dior to Topshop and Gucci. Like many of the models on this list, Moss also posed for Playboy, appearing nude for the 60th-anniversary issue in December 2013.
7. Miranda Kerr
Following in the steps of fellow Australian Elle Macpherson, Miranda Kerr is a model and businesswoman who came to the attention of many after she modeled for Victoria’s Secret. She is the first Australian Victoria’s Secret Angel and has walked all the big runways and continues to have success around the world. Ed Razek described Kerr’s appeal as having “the cheeks of a chipmunk, the smile of an angel and the body of a devil.” You can see why she is so highly thought of in the modeling world.
8. Linda Evangelista
Here is another one of the top fashion models of the 80s and 90s. Linda Evangelista moved to New York in 1984 from Canada and signed with Elite Model Management. The rest, as they say, is history.
Evangelista soon became one of the biggest names in the modeling world and continues to strut her stuff on catwalks across the globe today. Unlike many of her peers, Evangelista stuck strictly to modeling. She didn’t try her hand at acting or music or capitalize on her recognition by endorsing products she had no interest in like her contemporaries.
This can probably be attributed to a comment she made in the October 1990 issue of Vogue. “We have this expression, Christy (Turlington) and I. We don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day.” If I was making that much money I don’t think I’d change career anytime soon either.
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9. Cara Delevingne
Model, actress, and singer. Cara Delevingne has done it all. The British personality signed with Storm Management straight out of school and quickly established herself as one of the world’s upcoming models. Her first catwalk show was for Blueberry at London Fashion Week in 2011. She was everywhere until 2015 when she began to cut back on her modeling work and focus on her acting. She has appeared in a number of well-received movies (Suicide Squad being the most popular) and has dabbled in music, even featuring on the title track of Fiona Apple’s 2020 album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters. While her sexuality has overshadowed her more recent career moves, Delevingne remains a sort after name in the modeling game and a talented actress.
10. Kate Upton
Although she was the face of Guess, it was her Sports Illustrated cover that propelled Kate Upton into the stratosphere. The American model first posed on the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was photographed in bodypaint and got men around the world standing to attention. Her quick success resulted in her being named Rookie of the Year by the magazine.
Upton has gone on to appear on multiple covers of Sports Illustrated since (2012, 2013, and 2017 issues), as well as other big name publications including GQ, Esquire, and Harper’s Bazaar.
11. Rosie Huntington Whiteley
Jason Statham is one lucky man. The chrome dome actor is engaged to Rosie Huntington Whiteley. Not only is she one of the world’s most famous models, but also one of the most beautiful. She is best known for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel and for being the face of Burberry’s 2011 fragrance Burberry Body. Despite her foray into film being well-received, Whiteley has only appeared in two movies; Transformers: Dark of the Moon (not great) and Mad Mad: Fury Road (really great). She continues to model but has slowed down now she has two young children.
12. Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks has done it all. After rising to fame as one of the world’s most famous models in the 90s, Banks explored a number of different careers and business opportunities. Banks starred in a number of movies (Love & Basketball the best of the bunch), launched her own cosmetics range, wrote a few books, and was even a guest lecturer at Standford University. Today she is most known for being the host of America’s Next Top Model, which has been on the air since 2003.
13. Adriana Lima
Here is another Victoria’s Secret Angel that made a huge impact in the modeling world. Brazilian Adriana Lima was the longest-serving Angle, being part of Victoria’s Secret from 1999 to 2018. She has also been a spokesperson for cosmetics brand Maybelline since 2003, illustrating her loyalty to the brands she works with. She is one of the highest-earning models of all time and is believed to have a net worth of around $94 million.
14. Bella Hadid
The sister of Gigi has also had an extremely successful modeling career. The younger sibling has appeared on 27 Vouge covers and made her modeling debut at New York Fashion Week in 2014, walking for Desigual. Since then she has gone on to work with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, and many more big brand names. She is now arguably as big as her sister, and her celebrity became even great while she dated Canadian singer The Weeknd. While they are no longer together, her profile certainly got a boost from being with the crooner.
15. Pat Cleveland
Here is a trailblazer of the modeling world. Pat Cleveland was one of the first African American models to make an impact. Rising to fame in the 60s and 70s, she was photographed by some of the top names at that time (Andy Warhol, Steven Meisel, and Salvador Dali) and modeled for luxury fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christina Dior, and Valentino. Her biggest success came during the 70s when she was part of the Battle of Versailles Fashion Show in Europe and became the second black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue. She was a mainstay at Studio 54 and friends with many famous people, only enhancing her reputation on the runway. While she retired to start a family, she eventually returned part-time in 1995 and now runs her own modeling agency alongside her daughter.
16. Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum has done it all when it comes to the world of modeling. Not only has she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue back in 1998, but she has also been a Victoria’s Secret Angel. There aren’t too many women who can claim that honor. Klum was discovered after she won a national modeling competition in her home nation of Germany. She beat out 25,000 other contestants and won a contract with Metropolitan Models New York.
Best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret, Klum has ventured into other mediums throughout her life. She has released a number of fragrances, created a clothing line, started in her own reality TV series, and produced a number of shows, including the highly successful Project Runway.