Throwback Thursday: The Supermodel

Nowadays, the supermodel has become a rarity (sidebar: the above pic is of the world's first supermodel, Janice Dickinson). Although the world is becoming evermore obsessed with the lives of entertainers, it has become increasingly difficult for models to become household names. We even have several television shows devoted to creating and branding successful models: America’s Next Top Model, Make Me a Supermodel, and America’s Most Smartest Model. And don’t get me wrong! These shows have created successful models. But how many of these models are household names? On today’s Throwback Thursday, we will be focusing on the supermodels who became the biggest celebrities of the eighties and nineties without having to become successful actors/singers/talk show host…


The pic above depicts six of the biggest models supermodels that have ever hit the runway: Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Claudia Schiffer. Three of which, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington, created their own supermodeling powerhouse: The Trinity.



It all started in 1986 when photographer Steven Meisel shot California teenager Christy Turlington for British Vogue. Within days, Turlington introduced Meisel to a teenage Brittish girl named Naomi Campbell, and he in turn introduced her to a Canadian named Linda Evangelista. “The Trinity” was born, and was soon a sensation on the runways and nightclubs of New York, Paris, & Milan.

Linda and Naomi recently got together to do a campaign for DSquared (below)

The Trinity pushed for better wages for models and for better projects. Evangelista, who was called the founder of the supermodel union, exemplified the following quote:

“We don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day.”

Will we have another supermodel as big as Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, or Cindy Crawford? This is what Naomi Campbell has to say about the term supermodel and its pertinence in today’s modeling industry:

“I just think the term is used a little too loosely… After Gisele, I don’t think there’s been one." She is of course referring to Gisele Bündchen, the current highest paid supermodel in the world, and according to Naomi Campbell, the last supermodel in the world.

Until the supermodel resurges, we will always have supermodel reunions to look forward to, like this one from Vanity Fair: