A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products, or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography. Though models are predominantly female, there are also male models, especially to model clothing. Models may work professionally or casually.
A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term supermodel became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s and 90s. Supermodels usually work for prominent fashion designers and clothing brands. They may have multimillion-dollar contracts, endorsements, and campaigns. Supermodels have branded themselves as household names and worldwide recognition is associated with their modeling careers. They have been on the covers of leading fashion magazines. Claudia Schiffer stated in 2007 that "In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognise the girls."
Linda Evangelista is a Canadian fashion model and one of the top supermodels from the 1990s. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential models of all time, and has been featured on over 700 magazine covers. Evangelista is primarily known for being the longtime "muse" of photographer Steven Meisel, as well as for coining the phrase "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." She holds the record for her multiple appearances on the cover of Vogue Italia, all of which were photographed by Meisel.
Yasmin Le Bon is an English model, one of the highest-earning models during the 1980s, and known for being the wife of Simon Le Bon.
Janice Doreen Dickinson is an American model, television personality, author, actress, and talent agent. Initially notable as a model, Dickinson has been disputably described by herself and others as the first supermodel. One of the most successful models of the 1970s and 1980s, she also served as a judge on four cycles on America's Next Top Model (2003–2006). Dickinson opened a modeling agency in 2005, which was documented in the reality television series The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (2006–2008).
Tatjana Patitz is a German model and actress who achieved international prominence in the 1980s and 1990s representing fashion designers on runways and in magazines such as Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue. Patitz is one of the "big five" supermodels who appeared in the 1990 music video "Freedom! '90" by George Michael, and is associated with the editorial, advertising, and fine-art works of photographers Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh.
Steven Meisel is an American fashion photographer, who obtained popularity and critical acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex. He is now considered one of the most successful fashion photographers in the industry, shooting regularly for both US and Italian Vogue, and lately W and British Vogue.
Miss Selfridge is a nationwide UK high street store which began as the young fashion section of Selfridges department store in London in 1966. Miss Selfridge got its name when Charles Clore, the owner of Selfridges at the time, saw a window display in the Bonwit Teller store in New York City which showed "Miss Bonwit" dresses aimed specifically at teenagers. He later launched it throughout his Lewis's & Selfridges stores throughout the UK.
Gilles Francis Charles Bensimon is a French fashion photographer and the former International Creative Director of Elle magazine. He has also been the photographer on the reality television series America's Next Top Model.
Naomi Elaine Campbell is an English model, actress, and businesswoman. Discovered at the age of 15, she established herself amongst the most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and the 1990s and was one of six models of her generation declared supermodels by the fashion industry and the international press.
David James Gandy is a British male fashion model who began his career after winning a televised model-search competition. For several years, Gandy was the lead male model for Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana who featured him in their advertising campaigns and fashion shows.
Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is a charity campaign originally launched in the UK in 1996 by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and now operated under the charity's new name Breast Cancer Now. Corporate partners for the campaign represent famous high-street brands, including M & S, Topshop, and River Island. M & S has sold a wide range of charitable women's clothes for Breast Cancer Now for many years. The campaign is best known for its famous 'target' logo T-shirt designed by Ralph Lauren. Since 1996, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has raised over £14 million to fund pioneering breast cancer research.
Jade Parfitt is a British model and presenter. She was born in Hammersmith, London, England her family moved to Devonshire, Southern England when she was 14.
Francisco Lachowski is a Brazilian male model. He has been featured in advertisements for a number of notable brands, including Dior Homme, Balmain, Hugo Boss, Etro, L'Oréal, Armani Exchange, H&M, and Tommy Hilfiger. Described as an "übermodel" by Vogue and a "male model legend" by W, Lachowski has been ranked as a top 'Industry Icon' and one of the 'Sexiest Men' by models.com since 2015.
Edward Kobina Enninful is editor-in-chief of British Vogue. He was appointed fashion director of British fashion magazine i-D at the age of 18, a position he held for over two decades.
The Society Management is a model management company based in New York City, and is the official U.S. division of the Elite World network. It is also the U.S. branch of the Elite Model Look contest.
Guinevere van Seenus is an American model, photographer and jewelry designer.
Catwalk is a documentary film following model Christy Turlington during Spring Fashion Week in Milan, Paris and New York City. It was filmed in 1993 by director Robert Leacock and premiered in 1995.
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion was a fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that ran from May 6 to August 9, 2009. It focused on iconic fashion models of the twentieth century who inspired fashion in their respective eras. Organized by historical period from 1947 to 1997, the exhibition was made possible by Marc Jacobs with additional funding from Condé Nast. It was curated by Harold Koda and Kohle Yohannan.
The Big Four, sometimes referred to as The Big 4, is the name given in fashion to the 4 most notable Vogue covers; American Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue Paris and Vogue Italia. The term is commonly used when a model completes all four covers and is considered one of the biggest achievements in the fashion industry.
