Famous 20th Century Models

Named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 2016, fashion model Gigi Hadid has made several appearances on international Vogue magazine covers. The daughter of a former model, she began her career as a toddler. She made her mark in her teenage yeaars and continues to be a popular model.

Monica Bellucci is one of the most popular actresses from Italy. Her popularity in the West helped her become the oldest woman to play a Bond girl in the history of the James Bond film franchise. Known for her hourglass figure, she has been regarded as a sex symbol and has appeared in lists like 100 Hottest Women of All-Time.

German-American model and TV host, Heidi Klum has been featured on the cover of French, Portuguese, German, and Spanish Vogue magazines. She was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel. After a successful modeling career, she became a TV host in the 2000s. She is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. 

Olga Kurylenko is a Ukrainian-French model and actress. She gained international recognition after playing a Bond girl in the 2008 film Quantum of Solace. Olga Kurylenko serves as an inspiration to many young girls as she overcame her difficult childhood to become the face of popular brands like Clarins and Bebe.

Regarded as the epitome of supermodel, Gisele Bündchen is credited with bringing an end to the heroin chic era of modeling and ushering in a healthy look with curves. She pioneered and popularized the horse walk and is considered the only remaining supermodel. 

Best known for her roles in the Austin Powers franchise, Bedazzled, and The Royals, Elizabeth Hurley began her career as an Estee Lauder model. A trained ballerina, she has also been in the news for her relationship with Hugh Grant and her marriage to textile magnate Arun Nayar.

Kate Moss, one of the highest-paid supermodels of the 1990s, was one of the pioneers of the “heroin chic” trend. Featured on TIME 100, she was known for her collaboration with Calvin Klein and her size-zero figure. She owns a clothing range and is a fashion editor for British Vogue.

One of the highest-earning models according to Forbes, Miranda Kerr was the first Victoria's Secret model from Australia. Known for her attractive physique, she is often named in the sexiest women in the world lists by several magazines. She has used her fame and beauty to launch a brand of skincare products called KORA Organics.

Christie Brinkley is an American actress, model, and entrepreneur. Widely regarded as one of the most attractive women ever, Brinkley has been featured on more than 500 magazine covers and was the face of CoverGirl for 25 years! Apart from being an inspiration to aspiring models worldwide, Christie Brinkley has also touched the lives of many through her philanthropic activities.

Sofia Vergara is a Colombian-American actress, model, and TV producer. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in American TV. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a TV host. She began gaining popularity as an actress in the 2000s and appeared in many TV shows and films. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including an NAACP Image Award.

A model who was active during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gia Carangi was considered by many to be one of the first supermodels. She was featured on the covers of multiple fashion magazines, including editions of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She also worked with various famous designers. She died of AIDS at the young age of 26.

Tricia Helfer is a Canadian actress and model. She gained international fame after portraying the enigmatic Cylon model Number Six in the Battlestar Galactica TV series. She began her career as a model and won the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World contest in 1992. Later on, she quit modeling to pursue a full-time acting career. 

Elle Macpherson is an Australian model, actress, television host, and businesswoman. Best known for her record five appearances on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Macpherson went on to found a series of business ventures, such as The Body and Elle Macpherson Intimates. Also known for her philanthropic work, Macpherson serves as an ambassador for organizations like UNICEF.

From being a lanky girl who was made fun of in school to becoming Hollywood’s A-list star, actress Uma Thurman has had quite a journey. She worked in various movies before landing on the film that earned her international appreciation, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Later, Tarantino's two Kill Bill movies and Mira Nair’s miniseries Hysterical Blindness further boosted her stardom.

Iman is a Somali fashion model, entrepreneur, and actress. At the peak of her fashion modeling career, Iman served as a muse for influential designers like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Gianni Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. Also known for her philanthropic activities, Iman is involved in several charitable endeavors. She is closely associated with the non-profit organization, Children's Defense Fund.

Beginning her career as a child model with Wilhelmina Models, Katherine Heigl made her film debut with That Night. However, the role that catapulted her to stardom was that of Dr. Isobel Stevens on ABC's medical drama Grey's Anatomy. The talented actress subsequently appeared in movies like Knocked Up and Life As We Know It and TV series Suits.

The quintessential action heroine of Hollywood, Milla Jovovich was rightly called the reigning queen of kick-butt by VH1 in 2006. Milla Jovovich is synonymous with the Resident Evil film series as the series revolves around its central character Alice, played by Milla. The Resident Evil film franchise is the highest-grossing movie series to be adapted from video games.

American actor, Matthew Gray Gubler, is best known for playing the character of Dr Spencer Reid in the popular and acclaimed television series Criminal Minds. He has also acted in films like 500 Days of Summer, Suburban Gothic and How to Be a Serial Killer. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for his role in the television series, The Beauty Inside.

Model, actress, and author, Paulina Porizkova, became the first woman from Central Europe to be featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1984. She began modeling as a teenager and became a top model in Paris during the early 1980s. She eventually began acting as well. Also a writer, she has written a few books.

Starting out as a child model, Angie Harmon won a modeling contest organized by Seventeen magazine when she was 15. After winning a Spectrum Model Search contest, she pursued a modeling career. She then became an actress and gained international recognition for her performance in series like Baywatch Nights and Law & Order. She also practices taekwondo and boxing.

An Academy Award-winning actress, Geena Davis is also known for her work to fight gender bias, for which she was presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. An ardent archer, who vied for a semifinals spot in the U.S. Olympic archery team for the 2000 Summer Olympics, Geena supports the Women's Sports Foundation among other initiatives that support women.

Peggy Lipton achieved fame after playing Julie Barnes in the TV series The Mod Squad; her character Julie became a fashion icon. Peggy is also credited with raising her children Kidada and Rashida Jones—both celebrities—after marrying Quincy Jones. Interestingly, Peggy achieved all these after overcoming nervousness and stuttering as a child after being sexually abused by a relative.

Carmen Electra is an actress, TV personality, and singer. One of the leading figures of glamour modeling, Carmen Electra gained popularity as a sex symbol. She is also one of the most popular Playboy models of all time. Apart from being a prominent media personality, Carmen also works with various non-profit organizations, such as Elevate Hope and HollyRod Foundation.

Rebecca Romijn is an American actress whose skills and beautiful body were tailor-made for the role of Mystique, whom she portrayed in the X-Men film series. Renowned for her beauty, Rebecca Romijn started her career as a model, featuring on the cover of magazines like Glamour and Sports Illustrated. She has also been featured in advertising campaigns for popular brands.

Linda Evangelista is a Canadian fashion model. Considered one of the most influential and accomplished models of all time, Evangelista holds the record for making the most number of appearances on Vogue Italia's cover. Also an activist, Linda Evangelista works towards promoting breast cancer and HIV/AIDS research and awareness. She is also a supporter of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Actress and model, Pamela Anderson, is known as a sex symbol. She featured regularly in the Playboy magazine and acted in television series Home Improvement, Baywatch and VIP. Baywatch was hugely popular and gave her international recognition. Pamela Anderson has also acted in several films. She is an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the animal rights organisation.

Model Christy Turlington is best known for being part of Calvin Klein's Eternity campaign. Named to Time 100, she has worked with Maybelline and Versace, too. Her cover of British Vogue inspired George Michael's video Freedom. She owns the non-profit Every Mother Counts, which works for safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Amber Valletta is an American actress and supermodel. After starting her career as a fashion model, Valletta went on to become the face of popular brands like Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Versace, and Louis Vuitton, which elevated her status to supermodel. She then started focusing on acting and appeared in films like Raising Helen, Transporter 2, and My Sexiest Year. 

Chad Michael Murray is an American actor who started his career as a fashion model, working for brands, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci. Murray overcame his tough childhood and went on to establish himself as an actor. Also a writer, he co-authored a romantic thriller novel with Heather Graham, which was inspired by a dream!

Actress and model Kelly LeBrock began her career as a model at the age of 16. A contract with Christian Dior made her a popular face and she became one of the most sought-after models in the industry. She then started acting as well and appeared in 1984. Since then, she has appeared in many movies and TV shows.

Tyra Banks became the first black woman to grace the covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and GQ. She became so successful as a model that she used her popularity to try her hand at acting, singing, writing, and producing. She is only one of seven women to appear consistently on Time magazine's world's most influential people list.

Widely regarded as a legend of classical Hollywood cinema, Lana Turner was one of the most prominent and highest-paid actresses in the mid-1940s. Also considered a popular culture icon of Hollywood glamor, Turner also achieved success as a pin-up model. Her life and career have inspired several works across art, literature, music, and film. 

Swiss actress, yesteryear model and sex symbol Ursula Andress gained attention playing Honey Ryder, widely regarded as the first Bond girl, in the first James Bond film titled Dr. No. In the ensuing years, she bolstered her career starring in films like The Southern Star, Clash of the Titans, and particularly as Vesper Lynd in spy parody film Casino Royale.