A model may refer to any person who is employed in order to advertise, promote or market either products or services. Models may work in different fields such as fashion, advertising, print media and other kinds of media like television, magazines, shows, music videos, reality television or even the internet. The profession of modeling was first introduced by English designer, Charles Frederick Worth, who had requested his wife to wear and display the clothes that he had designed. Subsequently, the need for fashion models increased with the development of the field of fashion photography in the late 1950s. A decade later, in the 1960’s, fashion agencies were established and during that time there was a great demand for models in Paris. By the 1990s modeling became one of the most highly paid professions. The different kinds of models include fashion models, runway models, super models, glamour models, fitness models, camera and commercial print models, promotional models, showroom models and art models. In the 21st century, male models too have become an important part of the fashion industry. Here is a compilation of a list of famous models from across the world, learn more fascinating facts and details about them with their biographies that include trivia, interesting facts, timeline and life history.
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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.
English actress Cara Delevingne is known for films like Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, Tulip Fever and London Fields. She’s also a very successful fashion model and has been the face of some of the top brands in the world like Burberry, H&M, Zara and Chanel. She has also walked down the catwalk as a model at many prestigious fashion shows.
Like many of her other family members, Kendall Jenner gained fame after starring in the American reality television show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family. She is also a fashion model, co-designs a clothing line and was named the world's highest-paid model of 2018 in the Forbes top-earning models list.
One of the most popular American models of the current generation, Bella Hadid has been featured in popular magazines, such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She was voted Model of the Year in 2016 by industry professionals. The same year, Hadid contributed to Johny Dar's Jeans for Refugees project in order to raise fund for the International Rescue Committee.
Irina Shayk became the first Russian model to appear on the cover page of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011. Widely regarded as an industry icon, Irina Shayk is the face of many international brands. Also a well-known philanthropist in Russia, Irina raises money for a charity organization called Pomogi, which helps sick children.
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.
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.
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.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a popular English model and actress known for being the face of world-renowned brands, such as Victoria's Secret, Burberry, and Marks & Spencer. Known for her stunning looks, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been featured on covers of magazines, such as Vogue. She has also been named in lists like FHM's World's Sexiest Woman and Maxim magazine's Hot 100.
Adriana Lima is a Brazilian model who became famous as a Victoria's Secret Angel. One of the longest-running Victoria's Secret Angels of all time, Lima was adjudged the most valuable Angel in 2017. Since 2003, she has been serving as a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics. One of the world's highest-paid models, Adriana Lima is also known for her charity work.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First gaining media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian didn’t take long to become a celebrity in her own right. She came into the limelight in the early 2000s owing to a leaked sex tape and quickly became a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms.
With her sharp facial features and stunning figure, actress Megan Fox is undoubtedly a head-turner! Making her debut in the early 2000s as a teenager, she has come a long way in Hollywood and is today counted among the most beautiful and sexiest women in entertainment. She has been featured on various magazine covers as well.
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.
Brooklyn Decker is an American actress and model. One of the most popular models to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Brooklyn Decker has also worked for Victoria's Secret. Not surprisingly, she has been featured on lists like Men's Health magazine's 100 Hottest Women of All-Time and Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive.
Charlize Theron is a former model and was an aspiring ballerina whose career came to a halt after a knee injury. However, an unexpected encounter brought her in the world of acting and she went on achieve tremendous success including winning an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She is currently one of the world's highest-paid actresses.
Argentine-British actress, Anya Taylor-Joy, first gained international fame with her role in the period horror film, The Witch. She is trained in ballet dancing and began her career as a model when she was just 16. Her modelling career paved the way for acting and soon she was playing significant roles in TV series and films.
Ruby Rose is an Australian actress, model, and TV presenter. After coming out as a lesbian at the age of 12, Ruby faced many difficulties and has experienced suicidal thoughts throughout her life. Despite struggling with mental health issues, Ruby has gone on to establish herself in the field of entertainment, thereby serving as an inspiration to many across the world.
Zooey Deschanel is an American actress known for her deadpan roles in successful comedy films, such as The Good Girl, Elf, Failure to Launch, Yes Man and 500 Days of Summer. She also acted in the popular sitcom New Girl. She is also a singer and songwriter and plays keyboards, percussion, banjo, and ukulele. Zooey is a co-founder of the female-focused website, HelloGiggles.
Bella Thorne is an American actress who became popular with her portrayal of the character of CeCe Jones on the sitcom Shake it Up. Born to a poor family of mixed descent, Bella Thorne had to start working at a young age to support her single mother. She had a difficult childhood marred by poverty and sexual abuse. She is openly pansexual.
Amanda Seyfried is an American actress, singer and model, who started acting as a teenager. She became famous when she starred in the teen comedy Mean Girls and then for her recurring role in the television series Veronica Mars. Mamma Mia, Solstice, Chloe, Letters to Juliet, Les Misérables, The Big Wedding and Gringo are some of her notable and successful films.
Model and TV personality Hailey Baldwin is a major figure in the international fashion scene and modeled for brands like Ralph Lauren, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger. Born into the famous Baldwin family, she started modeling early on. She has also appeared in a few TV shows and films.
Elsa Pataky is one of the most famous Spanish models and actresses to make it big in the American film industry. She is best known for playing Officer Elena Neves alongside Dwayne Johnson in The Fast and the Furious film franchise. A polyglot, Elsa Pataky can speak Spanish, English, Romanian, Portuguese, French, and Italian fluently.
In 2010, Sunny Leone was named among 12 top porn stars by Maxim magazine. After a flourishing career in the porn industry, Sunny Leone settled in India where she is currently popular as a film actress. Her journey from a porn actress to a successful Bollywood personality is viewed as an inspirational story by many young women across the world.
Candice Swanepoel is a South African model known for her association with Victoria's Secret. In 2016, Swanepoel was ranked eighth among the top-earning models, according to Forbes. Also known for her charity work, Swanepoel works closely with mothers2mothers, a nonprofit organization that aims at averting mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing support and education for pregnant women living with HIV.
Born to a famous musician Phil Collins, Lily Collins first faced the camera at the age of two. As an adult, she gained recognition with Mirror Mirror and then followed it up with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Rules Don't Apply. The British-American actress, who has become extremely successful, is also a model and a published author.
Actress and model Alexis Bledel is best known for her role in the TV series Gilmore Girls. Her mother encouraged her to act when she was a child. She made her TV debut in the early 2000s and eventually ventured into films.
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.
The popular, award winning gorgeous artist, Scarlett Johansson is the highest paid actress in the world. With an interest in acting, Scarlett Johansson debuted in films at the young age of eight and went on to act in numerous films including Lost in Translation, The Avengers, Hitchcock and Marriage Story. She has also worked in television and released an album.
Katrina Kaif is one of the top actresses of the Hindi film industry. Namastey London, New York, Raajneeti, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Ek Tha Tiger, Dhoom 3, Bang Bang and Bharat are some of her hit films. Her career has seen highs and lows and many times she has been criticised for her acting.
A woman of many talents, Sasha Grey is an American actress, author, musician, and former pornographic actress. Grey's journey from the pornographic industry to the mainstream film industry has been quite inspirational. Also a well-known DJ, Grey is credited with co-founding the now-defunct industrial music band aTelecine. An openly bisexual star, she serves as an inspiration to the LGBT community.
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.
Rising to international fame following the success of his 2020 erotic romantic drama 365 Days, Italian actor and model, Michele Morrone, is a man who oozes sex appeal and charisma. Also a professional guitarist and singer, he has a channel on YouTube that has accumulated over one million subscribers. He runs a clothing line as well.
From Miss Israel to Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot has made heads turn and take notice of her. Serving two years in Israeli Army as a combat trainer surely helped Gadot in her movie career, where she is known for playing strong, action-oriented roles. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018.
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.
The Winner of Miss World 2000; a successful actress in Hindi films; the owner of production house that promotes regional Indian cinema and the first Indian actor to play the lead character in an American television show – Priyanka Chopra’s list of achievements is long. The popular star is also a singer, a tech investor and the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Christina Hendricks is an actress and producer. She began her career as a model and enjoyed international success for several years before transitioning into acting. As an actress, she was able to replicate her success and appeared in films like Drive and Lost River. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Ciara is an American singer-songwriter whose debut single, Goodies, earned her the title Princess of Crunk&B. Her songs, Goodies and Yeah!, are credited with introducing the substyle of contemporary R&B and crunk music called crunk&B to music lovers. Also a dancer and model, Ciara has had a major impact on the American entertainment industry for the past 10 years.
