7 17 Top — Supermodels From

In the history of fashion, few titles carry as much weight as Supermodel . Before the age of Instagram influencers and TikTok stars, there was the catwalk. There was the magazine cover. And there was a rare breed of women whose last names were as famous as their first.

Today, a model with 10 million Instagram followers is a "influencer." But Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista? They were celebrities before social media existed. They were the original architects of the dream. supermodels from 7 17 top

The German "Blonde Bombshell." Discovered in a Dusseldorf nightclub, Schiffer was the 1990s answer to Brigitte Bardot. She booked the most Guess? campaigns of any model and replaced Cindy as Revlon’s queen. In the history of fashion, few titles carry

Today, we break down the definitive list of the era’s top 17 supermodels—the women who dominated Vogue covers, signed million-dollar contracts, and turned fashion into the multi-billion dollar spectacle it is today. The 1970s marked a seismic shift from the rigid, wasp-waisted elegance of the 1950s and the mod cuts of the 1960s. The new model was natural, bohemian, and fragile, yet impossibly powerful. Here are the absolute queens of that decade. 1. Lauren Hutton (Born: November 17, 1943) The original "face" of the 1970s. Hutton broke the mold with her gap-toothed smile—a supposed flaw that became her trademark. In 1973, she signed an unprecedented $400,000 contract with Revlon, making her the highest-paid model of the decade. She is the prototype for the "natural" supermodel. 2. Jerry Hall (Born: July 2, 1956) The Texan amazon with long blonde hair and a seductive drawl. Hall embodied the glamorous, jet-set lifestyle of the late 1970s. She was the muse for Halston and the face of the Studio 54 era. 3. Janice Dickinson (Born: February 16, 1955) Love her or hate her, Dickinson famously coined the term "supermodel." With a chiseled profile and a "don't-care" attitude, she walked every major runway from Paris to Milan. She represents the transition from the natural 70s to the power-dressing 80s. 4. Iman (Born: July 25, 1955) The Somali-born beauty brought regal sophistication to the decade. Discovered by Peter Beard, Iman shattered racial barriers in a time when Black models were rarely seen on high-fashion covers. Her marriage to David Bowie later cemented her celebrity status. 5. Gia Carangi (Born: January 29, 1960) Often called the "first supermodel," Gia had a short but explosive career in the late 1970s. She was punk, androgynous, and dangerous. Her look defined the edge of the decade, influencing everyone from Madonna to Kate Moss. 6. Cheryl Tiegs (Born: September 25, 1947) The all-American girl. While Europe went avant-garde, Tiegs represented the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and healthy California beauty. She was the first model to have a 6-figure contract with CoverGirl. 7. Beverly Johnson (Born: October 13, 1952) History maker. In 1974, Johnson became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue . This act alone changed the industry, paving the way for every model of color who followed. Part II: The "Top 17" – The Golden Era (Late 80s to Mid 90s) By the late 1980s, the "7s" had evolved. The industry coalesced around an elite group of women who were no longer just hangers for clothes; they were CEOs, icons, and celebrities. While many lists exist, the consensus "Top 17" supermodels of all time (specifically peaking from 1987 to 1997) are as follows. And there was a rare breed of women

By The Style Archives | October 2023

The catwalk leopard. No one walks like Naomi. British, fierce, and relentless, she was the first Black model (since Iman) to achieve total global top-tier status. Her 1990s runway strut is still the gold standard.

The Dutch doll. A former Miss Netherlands, Mulder was the perfect "Versace girl" of the early 90s. She was part of the original "Dutchesses of Fashion" alongside Yasmine Le Bon.