From Kate Moss to Bella Hadid, here's a rundown of major supermodels in each decade of fashion.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/tatjana-patitz-dead-90s-supermodel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supermodels</a> are the most enamoring women in the world. Naturally gorgeous, they seem to have everything they could ever want&mdash;they live the life most of us dream of. When we hear "supermodels," we think of women like <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cindy-crawford-young-90s-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cindy Crawford</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-best-90s-moments-young-model-runway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naomi Campbell</a>, or <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gisele-bundchen-birthday-iconic-runway-model-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gisele B&uuml;ndchen</a>, but these otherworldly women first came into premonition in the 1930s. Lisa Fonssagrives is widely believed to be the first supermodel. The <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/frama-interior-design-scandanavian-minimalism-sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sweden</a>-born model was first photographed in 1936, and she quickly became extremely sought-after. Since then, the world has been obsessed with models.&nbsp;
With the start of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fashion-week-dates-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fashion month</a>,&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;is taking a look back at the most gorgeous supermodels from the 1930s until now.&nbsp;

Lisa Fonssagrives has been long regarded as the first supermodel. The <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/scandinavian-style-furniture-design-menu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swedish</a> model was born in 1911. Before she spent her time in front of the camera, Fonssagrives was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/art/van-cleef-arpels-dance-reflections-ballet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dancer</a> and sculptor. When she became a model, she was frequently photographed by Irving Penn, who she eventually married. Lisa Fonssagrives' <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/alva-claire-cozy-glamour-fashion-style-trend">glamour</a> set the way for future models.&nbsp;

Dovima was in 1949 and quickly became one of the highest-paid models of the 1950s. Photographer Richard Avedon said that Dovima was "the most remarkable and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/paco-rabanne-futuristic-unwearable-fashion-chainmail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unconventional</a> beauty of her time."&nbsp;

Suzy Parker was an American girl. Throughout the 1950s, Parker frequented many magazine covers, television shows, and movies. She quickly became the face of Revlon. Her beauty was so potent that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rock-star-supermodel-couples-david-bowie-iman-jerry-hall-mick-jagger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Beatles</a> named a song after her.&nbsp;

We can't think of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/sharon-tate-60s-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1960s</a> without thinking of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/twiggy-iconic-style-moments-fashion-60s-mod" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twiggy</a>. The fresh-faced young model hallmarked a newer modern take on beauty standards. Her short haircut, spider lashes, and girlish body defined <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/beauty/defining-an-era-of-beauty-twiggy-s-60s-mod-makeup-looks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mod</a> fashion. She quickly retired in 1970, but Twiggy continues to be revolutionary to this day.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/beverly-johnson-beauty-lessons-skincare-young" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beverly Johnson</a> was one of the most important supermodels of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/70s-fashion-fall-winter-2021-vintage-inspired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1970s</a>. After deciding to take up modeling while in college, she has now been on the cover of over 500 magazines. In addition to her time on the runway, Johnson has starred in some television episodes and written books.&nbsp;

"I did the first nude in Vogue," Marisa Berenson famously proclaimed. While her career began in the '60s, she became a supermodel in the 1970s. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/yves-saint-laurent-most-iconic-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yves Saint Laurent</a> stated that Berenson was "the girl of the Seventies." &nbsp;

Despite facing violent racism during her early career, including being rejected by Ford Models based on her skin color, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/pat-clevelend-model-archive-cover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Cleveland</a> will go down in history as one of the greatest models ever. She is best known for her participation in the historic <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/10-facts-about-stephen-burrows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Battle of Versailles Fashion Show</a> which pitted five French designers against five American designers in an all-out fashion royale. Now, Cleveland has passed on the modeling gene to her daughter, Anna.

The '80s heralded a new type of supermodel. Though in years past, models were feminine and glamorous, this was the decade that brought the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gisele-bundchen-reacts-tom-brady-nfl-retirement-reversal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">athletic</a> supermodel into the light. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cindy-crawford-young-90s-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cindy Crawford</a> is the exact embodiment of this ideal. Iconic in her own right, Crawford walked in hundreds of shows and appeared on hundreds of covers.&nbsp;

Karen Alexander was discovered when she was 16 years old. The supermodel appeared on several covers such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. She reached the peak of her career when she appeared on the 1988 and 1989 covers of&nbsp;Sports Illustrated.&nbsp;She has also been very candid about the racism she experienced while working in the fashion industry.&nbsp;

Another classic 1980s supermodel, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/linda-evangelista-best-runway-moments-age-90s-supermodel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Linda Evangelista</a> fit the standard for the time. The Canadian model has been featured on over 700 covers. Her famous haircut, nicknamed "The Linda," helped the model gain recognition amongst other models of the time. Now, she is regarded as being one of the most influential and important supermodels of all time.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-traded-love-life-for-model-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naomi Campbell</a> was the It girl of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/90s-whale-tail-trend-exposed-thong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'90s</a>. She debuted her career when she was only 15 years old, and quickly became one of the most sought-after models. Formally declared a true "<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-most-iconic-90s-catwalk-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supermodel</a>" by the fashion industry, Campell is considered one of the best to ever walk the runway. She also released an <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/aaliyah-best-style-moments-90s-y2k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">R&amp;B</a> album titled Baby Woman in 1994. Still today, Campbell is active in the fashion world.&nbsp;

You can't hear "'90s supermodel" without picturing <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/young-kate-moss-90s-style-runway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate Moss</a>. She was discovered at JFK Airport in New York City at the age of 14. She found fame with the "Obsession" <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/young-kate-moss-style-90s-to-today" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Klein campaign</a>, and soon after, every designer wanted her on their <a href="lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/marc-jacobs-fall-winter-2023-collection-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">runway</a>. Moss was highly criticized for her "waifish" thin and small appearance that many credit as the beginning of the "heroin chic" aesthetic. Throughout the 2000s, the supermodel was under scrutiny by the press for her partying and her alleged promotion of anorexia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Along with Campbell and Moss, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/christy-turlington-age-young-fashion-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christy Turlington</a> was a part of this trifecta of 1990s supermodels. Turlington's perfect bone structure accompanied her successful career with ease. Now, Turlington is very active with humanitarian endeavors, such as "No Woman, No Cry" and "Every Mother Counts."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/gisele-bundchen-best-fashion-campaigns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gisele B&uuml;ndchen</a> is the only supermodel who has attained the title of "<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gisele-bundchen-birthday-iconic-runway-model-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ubermodel</a>." The Brazilian-born model famously struggled at the beginning of her career. She was told several times that her eyes were too small and her nose was too big for modeling. However, she completely proved those voices wrong. She ended the controversial "<a href="https://www.lofficielmonaco.com/art-and-culture/throwing-out-the-heroin-chic-throwback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heroine-chic</a>" era that Kate Moss began; B&uuml;ndchen, instead, ushered in the time of the Brazilian beauties. She and her ex-husband, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/biggest-celebrity-breakups-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Brady</a>'s, divorce has been the center of attention recently.&nbsp;

Alien-faced beauty Gemma Ward was notable throughout the 2000s. She became the youngest model on the cover of Vogue. Her fragile, interesting look was common throughout the 2000s fashion scene, but Ward dealt with pushback from the industry and was later weight-shamed.&nbsp;

Another Brazilian beauty, the 2000s fashion scene was obsessed with these bronze beauties. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/adriana-lima-young-modeling-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adriana Lima</a> began her career at age 15 when she won the "Supermodel of Brazil" prize. She is most recognized for her involvement with the lingerie brand <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rise-and-fall-victorias-secret-timeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria's Secret</a> as the longest-running Angel from 1998 until 2018. &nbsp;

Joan Smalls was born in Puerto Rico and signed with Elite Model Management in 2007. In 2009, Smalls was chosen as "Model of the Year." She has appeared on several covers and is believed to have brought back the "supermodel," according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/g7749/joan-smalls-quotes-fashion-photos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elle</a>.&nbsp;

Though she is also known for her friendship with <a href="https://www.lofficiel.at/en/fashion/taylor-swift-easter-eggs-music-midnights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor Swift</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/karlie-kloss-styling-tricks-fashion-age-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karlie Kloss</a> was an important model throughout the 2010s. Like many other supermodels, American-born Kloss was discovered at the young age of 14. She was a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/model-doutzen-kroes-young-victorias-secret" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria's Secret Angel</a> and the face of many brands such as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/history-of-swarovski-crystals-luxury-jewelry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swarovski</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/glenn-martens-jean-paul-gaultier-collection-spring-summer-2022-couture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jean Paul Gaultier</a>. Kloss is also very active in her organization, "Kode with Klossy," which promotes coding for girls aged 13-18.&nbsp;

Daughter of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/every-kardashian-family-business-kylie-cosmetics-skims-kkw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kris</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/caitlyn-jenner-california-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlyn Jenner</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/kendall-jenner-highest-paid-supermodel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kendall Jenner</a> is one of the most prominently known "<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/famous-celebrity-children-young-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nepotism</a> models." Though she began her modeling career in 2009, Jenner was on the reality television show <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/kim-kourtney-khloe-kardashian-kris-jenner-talk-ending-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keeping Up With The Kardashians</a> since she was 11 years old. She has walked in several runway shows and was named the highest-paid model in 2017.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gigi-hadid-best-street-style-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gigi Hadid</a>, daughter of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/young-yolanda-hadid-model-gigi-bella-real-housewives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yolanda Hadid</a>, began modeling when she was only two years old. The model's career really began in 2013 when she walked in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fashion-week-dates-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> New York Fashion Week</a> for the first time. Hadid has continued to be a recognizable and important face in the fashion world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Photo via Getty Images.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bella-hadid-iconic-runway-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bella Hadid</a> is our generation's supermodel. Though she has modeled for several years, in the early stages of her career, she was considered less recognizable than her sister, Gigi. However, since 2021, Bella Hadid has become the face of the fashion industry. During <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/best-celebrity-red-carpet-vintage-fashion-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coperni</a>'s Spring/Summer 2023 show, a white, off-the-shoulder dress was iconically sprayed onto the model using three-dimensional technology. Hadid continues to be monumental and is the current muse for many designers.&nbsp;

Daughter of '80s supermodel, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/model-mom-daughter-twinning-moments-kaia-gerber-cindy-crawford" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cindy Crawford</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/kaia-gerber-model-style-evolution-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaia Gerber</a> made her runway debut in 2017 during the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/calvin-klein-collection-pride-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Klein</a> show. Her mom's look-a-like, Gerber often worked with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-spring-summer-2023-haute-couture-collection-runway-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chanel</a>'s <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/met-gala-2023-details-karl-lagerfeld-theme-hosts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karl Lagerfeld</a>. In 2018, they created their Karl x Kaia collection. Now, the 21-year-old can be seen found walking the runways from New York to Paris.

Looking Back at Supermodels Through the Decades

Tags

Related Articles

Pop culture

The 10 Raddest Rock Star and Supermodel Couples

Fashion

Bella Hadid's Most Iconic Runway Moments

Fashion

Kate Moss’ Best '90s Runway Moments

Recommended posts for you

Pop culture

Sarah Jessica Parker's Most Iconic Roles

Beauty

Best New Beauty Products to Shop in March 2023

Fashion

NYC Store Openings in 2023

Fashion

LVMH Announces 2023 LVMH Prize Finalists

Fashion

The Name Behind the Brand: Celebrating the Life of Guccio Gucci

Shopping

12 Cut-Off Shorts to Shop Just in Time For Spring

Fashion

7 Transitional Fashion Trends to Take You From Winter to Spring

Shopping

14 Effortless Spring Dresses to Shop This Season