The 31 Most Iconic Supermodels of the '80s

The '80s were...an interesting time for the modeling world. The term "supermodel," which was already in existence, really started to apply to some of the modeling icons of the day. The profession was lucrative and also highly visible, with the lives of models becoming just as fascinating as their work (a trend that would continue into the '90s and well beyond). There were also barriers being broken, with non-white models being selected to walk the runways of major fashion houses—but, as is no surprise, there were still problems of exclusion and racism permeating the industry at all levels. We even saw the debut of some modeling superstars who would go on to have careers in the '90s and beyond—truly embodying the idea of supermodel well beyond their initial time on the runway.

Here, you'll see some of the most iconic, groundbreaking, savvy, and fascinating supermodels of the '80s. Many of them you don't know, or know in a different context—but their work was epic.