Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford. These are names immediately recognisable to people both inside and outside the fashion industry.
Along with other iconic runway stars, they have become sort of an institution.
Models with extraordinary powers of influence have long been a subject of fascination – yet, they exist as a loose concept.
In a new documentary series, The Super Models, Turlington was asked to define the word “supermodels”.
“I don’t,” she answered.
It highlights how (like so many things in fashion: trends, fashion capitals, couture, it-bags) such a status does not have criteria set in stone.
Read more: Naomi, Christy, Linda, Cindy! Fashion's supermodels return to tell their stories
“We were the physical representations of power. We looked like strong women,” Crawford said.
This new documentary series focuses on the four legends, known for being a part of the “big six” of supermodels from the 1990s. Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer round up the elite group.
Despite peaking in that decade, the star power of supermodels is going strong.
Campbell, Evangelista and Moss made headlines last month for opening Milan Fashion Week, but not as models.
Instead of walking the runway, their mere presence as front-row guests at the Fendi runway presentation was enough to create buzz. A hush fell as they sat, and the show only began with their arrival.
The scenario illustrates perfectly how supermodels are still treated as fashion royalty.
What’s in a name?
The label of “supermodels” in itself has been used generously and without restraint.
Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Tatjana Patitz, Amber Valletta, Helena Christensen, Carla Bruni, Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Bundchen and lots more are also included into the group.
It has to be said that there will always be people who dispute a model’s “supermodel” status. Perhaps it is more a case of whether you are a fan of a certain runway star or not.
Campbell, Turlington, Evangelista and Crawford are currently in the spotlight because of the new series, but it does not mean that Moss and Schiffer are living quiet lives.
Schiffer walked the recent Spring/Summer 2024 Versace show. It marked her first time on the runway since she closed the the brand’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection alongside Campbell, Crawford, Christensen and Bruni.
Moss’ runway appearances are something of a rarity these days, but she is still actively modelling.
Saint Laurent just announced that Moss is the face of its Autumn/Winter 2023 ads. She appeared in campaigns for Marc Jacobs and Aigner last year, as well as Bottega Veneta in February.
There are also supermodels who somehow flew under the radar.
A recent documentary film, Donyale Luna: Supermodel, explores the story of fashion’s first Black model to grace the cover of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.Released last month, it shines a spotlight on how Luna broke down barriers during her career in the 60s. She died in 1979.
It is the reason why legendary models of past decades (like Twiggy, also famous in the 60s) have not really been associated with the title.
The next generation
Traditional supermodels saw their popularity rise after they began modelling. This is not the case for the younger faces of today.
Kendall Jenner (on the cover) Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid for example, were already extremely famous – mostly on social media – before they started walking the runways.
Jenner first started out as a television personality. With the debut of Keeping Up With The Kardashians in 2007, she captured attention alongside her family.
In 2017, Jenner was named the world’s highest-paid model by Forbes, ousting Bundchen, who had been leading the list for more than 14 years since 2002. With that, Jenner’s “supermodel” status was sealed.
Read more: Supermodels kick off glitzy Milan Fashion Week, but as front-row guests
Sisters Gigi and Bella can now be seen everywhere, and at almost all fashion weeks.
Check out Gigi’s Instagram page (with over 79 million followers!) and you will notice that it reads like a resume of a new-generation supermodel. Bella, with close to 60 million followers on Instagram, is no less in-demand. Time magazine included her into its “100 most influential people of 2023” list in April.
However, she has been absent from key fashion events this year because of her health.
With their powers of drawing attention and inspiring the fashion industry, whether from the older generation or new, iconic runway stars who have been inducted into the club will never be forgotten.
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