The Original Supermodels: Then and Now
When it comes to modeling, these industry heavyweights have been around the block. Ahead, see 8 icons from when they first made their debuts to present day.
LINDA EVANGELISTA, 23: THEN
Canadian-born Evangelista got her start when she was spotted by a talent agent at a Miss Teen Niagara pageant in 1978. Ten years later, she lost a number of major runway bookings when she suddenly swapped her then-shoulder-length hair for a boyish, close-cropped style, but her ever-changing ‘do eventually became her trademark. A face of Revlon, Donna Karan, and Versace, she famously told a reporter in 1990 that she and her supermodel colleagues “don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.”
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: See Heidi Klum’s Transformation
LINDA EVANGELISTA, 50: NOW
Evangelista has worked more or less steadily for the last twenty years-recent gigs include ad campaigns for Prada, Talbots, and John Galliano.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: How Well Do You Know Celebrity Tattoos?
CINDY CRAWFORD, 26: THEN
The all-American Crawford appeared on hundreds of magazine covers. She also pitched Pepsi (right), hosted the MTV series House of Style, and married the movie star Richard Gere. (They divorced four years later.)
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
CINDY CRAWFORD, 49: NOW
Re-married in 1998 to businessman Rande Gerber, Crawford has launched several successful businesses of her own, including an eponymous Home Collection and a line of anti-aging skincare products called “Meaningful Beauty.”
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: 8 Ponytails You Haven’t Tried Yet
ELLE MACPHERSON, 24: THEN
A leggy blonde Australian known within the industry as “The Body,” Macpherson appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue a record five times. She also kept a foot in the high-fashion world, walking runways for designers like Azzedine Alaia and John Galliano.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: 11 Chic Amal Clooney Looks to Inspire Your Work Wardrobe
ELLE MACPHERSON, 50: NOW
The model-turned-entrepreneur’s signature lingerie line, Macpherson Intimates (far left), is a best-selling success, stocked at Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus. She’s also launched a skincare collection, called (of course) “The Body,” and recently was the host of NBC’s Fashion Star. She made a triumphant return to the runway, closing Louis Vuitton’s buzzed-about Fall 2010 show (near left).
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
HELENA CHRISTENSEN, 23: THEN
A former Miss Denmark, Christensen attained international success (and fame) after appearing in the Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” music video, which led to her signing lucrative contracts with CoverGirl and Victoria’s Secret.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
HELENA CHRISTENSEN, 46: NOW
Christensen co-founded Nylon magazine, co-owned a New York city boutique, and has co-designed a line of jewelry for Pilgrim.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
CHRISTY TURLINGTON, 20: THEN
A face of Missoni, Valentino, Chanel, Revlon, and Calvin Klein, Turlington starred, alongside Linda, Cindy, and Naomi, in George Michael’s model-packed music video for “Freedom! '90.”
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
CHRISTY TURLINGTON, 46: NOW
The yoga devotee has launched two active-wear brands, Nuala and Mahnuala, and is a partner in the all-natural ayurvedic skincare line, Sundari. Turlington-who’s married to the actor/director Ed Burns-released a documentary, No Woman No Cry, about at-risk pregnant women around the world, visited Capitol Hill to advocate for the Global MOMS act (near left), and co-starred with models Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova in Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 ad campaign.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: The Best Beauty Moments from 2015 Cannes
STEPHANIE SEYMOUR, 22: THEN
Seymour, a face of Almay, Christian Dior, Valentino, and L'Oreal, was one of the first models to sign with the then-fledgling lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret; a stormy, multi-year relationship with Guns-N-Roses singer Axl Rose further raised her profile. (She appeared in the music videos for “Don’t Cry,” and “November Rain.”)
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
STEPHANIE SEYMOUR, 44: NOW
She’s dabbled in acting, appearing in the 2000 film Pollock and on an episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Seymour has also worked as a contributing fashion editor at Interview and continued to model, most recently for Ferragamo, Hermes, and Valentino.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
RELATED: Naomi Campbell’s Transformation
NAOMI CAMPBELL, 23: THEN
Discovered at 15 while window-shopping in London’s Covent Garden, Campbell quickly went from being an in-demand catwalk star (at right, she’s seen walking runways for YSL and Versace) to posing for numerous magazine covers, many of which had never before featured a black model. She represented Nars, Ralph Lauren, and Prada, appeared in music videos for Madonna, George Michael, and Michael Jackson, and dated Mike Tyson, Robert DeNiro, and Eric Clapton.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
NAOMI CAMPBELL, 44: NOW
Although plagued by personal scandals, Campbell is still a fashion-world star. In 2010 Dolce & Gabbana celebrated the 25th anniversary of her career with a party and limited-edition T-shirt; proceeds benefited her charity, Fashion For Relief, which also held a fashion show to benefit Haiti earlier that year. Campbell currently stars in The Face on Oxygen, in which aspiring models compete for the chance to be the face of ULTA cosmetics.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, 19: THEN
Schiffer was only seventeen when Karl Lagerfeld enlisted her to model for Chanel; a subsequent ad campaign for Guess? played up her resemblance to the actress Brigitte Bardot and turned her into an international star.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, 44: NOW
The German-born model is now married to filmmaker Matthew Vaughn (he directed Kick-Ass) and has three children. She’s a paparazzi favorite, thanks to her chic-mom style and continues to pose part-time for brands like Chanel, Ferragamo, Alberta Ferretti (she’s the face of their signature fragrance) and Yves St. Laurent.
photo: RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE
