Top 20 Hottest Supermodels of All Time

The careers of some supermodels start at a very young age. This was definitely the case with Gigi Hadid, who was already modeling the Guess brand as a youngster. The lifestyle seemed to agree with Hadid, too, since she eventually has gone on to become one of the world’s most recognizable supermodels. The Los Angeles native was named 2016’s “Model of the Year” by the British Fashion Council, and she’s since racked up forty-five appearances for Vogue, and counting. Hadid has also parlayed her fortune and fame into activism, donating money to causes such as The War in Ukraine, Unicef, and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

The title of “world’s first supermodel” is a contentious one, with a number of individuals potentially in the running for this honor. Cheryl Tiegs almost always dominates this conversation, however, and with good reason. She also started modeling at a young age and was discovered while posing part-time during high school and college. Time would eventually see Cheryl Tiegs become something of a mainstay in the supermodel world, thanks specifically to her appearances in the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. The rest, as they say, is history, with the name “Cheryl Tiegs” becoming synonymous with modeling, aesthetic beauty, and their places within pop culture.

The list of famous collaborators associated with the Carmen Kass brand reads like a veritable “who’s who” of fashionable influence. Gucci. Versace. Yves Saint Laurent. Calvin Klein. They and more have all come knocking at the door of Carmen Kass, anxious to work with this stunningly beautiful supermodel. Kass isn’t just a pretty face, however, and she’s successfully transitioned from the world of modeling into part-time politics. The Estonian-born Kass announced her candidacy for European Parliament in 2004, and although she didn’t win, she more than proved her mettle as a model of influence.

The career of Canada’s Yasmeen Ghauri only lasted about a decade, but she certainly made one hell of an impact during this time. Ghauri entered the modeling world against the wishes of her parents, but it ultimately seemed to be the right choice, and her public profile skyrocketed almost immediately. Magazine cover shoots for “Elle” would soon follow, together with music video appearances alongside artists like Elton John and Chris Isaak. Chanel, Versace, and more would also hire Yasmeen Ghauri for their respective brands, and her work was celebrated throughout the late eighties and into the nineties.

The cult of celebrity can often be a difficult one to navigate, and this likely goes double for those working within the fashion industry. Niki Taylor was the face of a myriad of famous brands, from CoverGirl and L’Oreal, and appeared on the cover of basically every magazine in the world. Yet, her fans were shocked to learn of a terrible car accident that nearly ended Taylor’s life back in 2001. Thankfully, the supermodel was able to make it out the other end of her ordeal, but the incident underlined the double-edged sword of living one’s life in the public eye.

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#15: Kate Moss

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The world of high fashion is in constant flux, with various trends and looks coming and going as fast as a summer breeze. Kate Moss was at the center of a controversial period in time that focused on smaller and smaller-sized supermodels. This, of course, takes nothing away from the English beauty’s natural grace and striking appearance. That said, Kate Moss was a lightning rod for controversy, whether it came down to her thin features or her reputation for hard partying. Beyond all of the headlines, however, was a face and figure that helped DEFINE fashion chic in the nineties.

Let’s face it: the beautiful people tend to flock together. As a result, some of the most famous supermodels of the world can often be found dating other models, or individuals from the world of music and film. Stephanie Seymour didn’t exactly need to date Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose to become famous, but it certainly didn’t hurt. Her memorable appearance in that band’s iconic videos for “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain” helped solidify Seymour as an “it” girl for the early nineties. This wasn’t the extent of Seymour’s work in the public eye, either, since this generational beauty also did voice work for the 1994 video game “Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller,” and appeared in the 2000 biopic “Pollock.”

For some, fame doesn’t last forever, so it’s important to establish one’s brand early, and for the long term. Elle Macpherson did just that while still reigning as a queen of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issues. The Australian-born beauty parlayed her famous face and figure into lines of feminine apparel and skin care products. Macpherson also pivoted from the world of modeling into searching for the next big thing in her field, this time as a producer. She worked as both host and producer for “Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model,” but fans will never forget when Elle Macpherson ruled the world: on the runway and on movie screens.

The Swinging Sixties era in London was a transitional time full of bold fashion choices. Miniskirts, bright colors, and daring designs all represented the decade’s cultural shift from the conservative 1950s, with Twiggy front-and-center of it all. She was a defining face of the decade, a natural beauty with expressive eyes and an androgynous figure that, quite frankly, looked great in everything. Yet, just as we’ve underlined throughout this video, Twiggy wasn’t content to just be a supermodel. She also proved she could act on stage and screen, earning awards and positive reviews for her work on Broadway and in movies like 1971’s “The Boy Friend.” Oh, and she sang as well. Twiggy could honestly do it all.

Sometimes, it’s just all about loving what you do. Linda Evangelista loved being a model and was perhaps the best ever to walk the runway. This isn’t our opinion, either, with many in the industry labeling Evangelista as a generational talent. She’s been described in the same breath as other icons of the medium, such as Veruschka, yet with a style and attitude that’s nothing if not original. The quote "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day" is attributed to her, and is indicative of just how important and influential Linda Evangelista was, and continues to be, for the world of The Supermodel.

Born in Brazil and with Italian and Polish ancestry, Alessandra Ambrosio got her first taste of the profession when she enrolled in modeling classes at age 12. With that knowledge and her undeniable good looks, the teen went on to grace the cover of Brazilian Elle magazine and book the Millennium GUESS? Campaign in the 1990s. While she walked for designers like Givenchy and Christian Dior, she is most known for being a Victoria Secret Angel - and particularly as the PINK line’s first spokesmodel. In 2012, Forbes named her one the world’s top 10 highest-paid models.

Somalia-born Iman’s tall, slim figure, long neck, and smooth brown skin first caught the eye of an American photographer while she was in university in the 1970s. It wasn’t long before she nabbed the cover of Vogue magazine and strutted her stuff on the catwalk for celebrated designers like Yves Saint Laurent. While breaking barriers in the fashion industry with her exotic looks, Iman found herself working with many well-known designers and photographers, ranging from Gianni Versace and Calvin Klein to Helmut Newton and Annie Leibovitz. She also became involved with film, charity, and cosmetics and was married to David Bowie from 1992 until his death in 2016.

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#8: Christie Brinkley

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With her blond hair, blue eyes, winning smile, and slender build, Christie Brinkley embodied the all-American female ideal. Discovered in the early ‘70s by an American photographer, it wasn’t long before she was signed to a modeling agency and nabbed a CoverGirl partnership that would last over two decades. In the late ‘70s-early ‘80s, Brinkley would become the first model to cover Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for three straight years. While this led to successful calendars and numerous other contracts, Brinkley’s pop culture status was truly cemented with her role in the box office hit, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and her high-profile marriage to Billy Joel in the 1980s.

This German supermodel has become synonymous with “THE runway” after becoming host, judge, and executive producer of the TV ratings phenomenon known as Project Runway. However, long before Heidi Klum topped Forbes’ list of highest-earning models in 2008, she was already a legit icon while younger women were still learning the business. She became a sex symbol through Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues and her time with Victoria's Secret, as well as a pop-culture superstar through appearances in numerous films and TV shows. As the ultimate renaissance woman of the 2000s, Heidi Klum is the fine wine of supermodels.

While she stood out for her 5’11’’ long frame, blonde locks, and baby blues, Claudia Schiffer really made a splash after slipping into a pair of Guess? Jeans in the early 1990s. While she was featured in magazines like British Vogue and Playboy, this native of Germany became one of the industry’s highest-paid models after she bagged a 10 year-contract with Revlon for about $6 million annually. She also made history as the first model on several notable non-fashion publications, such as “Rolling Stone.” She then continued her success by showing off her athletic build with several best-selling workout videos.

Turlie’s striking features are due in part to her El Salvadorean mother, which helped get her discovered by a photographer when she was just a teen going to high school in the U.S. The brunette beauty soon cemented her place as one of the “Trinity” – along with Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista - after becoming a model for designers like Calvin Klein and the face of Maybelline Cosmetics. When she wasn’t parading the runways with her tall and lean figure, Christy Turlington kept busy building a reputation as one of the industry’s most professional models.

By 2010, this Brazilian bombshell had been a Victoria’s Secret Angel for a full decade. And Adriana Lima’s continued demand in the 2010s is a testament to her popularity and talent. As the face of the Marc Jacobs’ “Decadence” campaign and “Vogue Eyewear” while in her early 30s, she has not only defied industry standards, but has also retained her status one of the highest-paid models in the world. Even if you’re somewhat detached from the modeling scene, you’ll probably recognize Adriana for her massively successful Super Bowl ads, most notably with Teleflora. If supermodels have a to-do list, then Lima has certainly been there, done that – and more.

Gisele’s history of catwalk carnage is sprawling and vast. She’s known as the “Boobs from Brazil” and innovated the horse walk, which marked a new era for the modeling industry. Gisele kicked off the 2000s by signing a record-breaking deal to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel and by 2009, “The Independent” had called her “the biggest star in fashion history.” She’s not only regarded as the ultimate supermodel by many of her peers, but also as one of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry. We salute you, Gisele Bündchen, and you are cordially invited to blow our minds forever.

Ever since she was a teen, Naomi Campbell turned heads with her unique looks, which were the product of an African and Chinese-Jamaican background. Oozing sultriness wherever she goes, she covered British Elle before turning 16 years of age. But Campbell really made history when she became the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue. She completed the supermodel “Trinity” by becoming one of the most sought-after women in fashion, despite her outspoken personality and a reputation for being hard to work with. Campbell was also one of the “Big Six” in the supermodel world along with Schiffer, Turlington, Evangelista, Moss, and one more we’ll get to shortly.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Paulina Porizkova
A Czech Legend

Karlie Kloss
An Advocate for Women in STEM

Tyra Banks
A Multi-Threat Media Mogul

Candice Swanepoel
A Forbes Favorite

Karen Mulder
A High Profile Critic of the Industry

With her all-American good looks and an extremely fit and trim figure, it didn’t take long for Cindy Crawford to take the modeling world by storm. Dropping out of university to pursue the profession full-time, she signed with an agency in the mid-80s and soon covered multiple magazines and found herself on many catwalks. Meanwhile, her brown hair and eyes, as well as her trademark mole, enhanced Crawford’s worldwide fame and appeal. In 1995, Forbes declared her the business’ highest-paid model, which is no surprise considering she already had several years under her belt as the original host of MTV’s “House of Style” and had spawned several global trends with her fashion choices.

What defines a supermodel? Sound off in the comments!