The Big Four, sometimes referred to as The Big 4, is the name given in fashion to the four most notable Vogue covers; American Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue France 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. [1]
The record of most Big 4 Vogue covers currently belongs to Kate Moss with 78 covers to date as of 2024. [2] [3]
The youngest model to ever cover the Big 4 was Karolina Kurkova, [4] who was 17. In 2020, at age 18, Kaia Gerber covered the Big 4. She is currently the second-youngest model to accomplish the Big 4. Kurkova has been the record holder since 2001, the same year Gerber was born.
Madonna became the first musician to complete covers of the Big Four in 1993, followed by Rihanna in 2021. [5]
A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model who has a worldwide reputation and background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became popular in the 1990s. 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."
Mert and Marcus is the working name of two fashion photographers, Mert Alaş and Marcus Piggott, who work together on a collaborative basis. Their work and style is influenced by photographer Guy Bourdin and, together, they have pioneered the use of digital manipulation within their field.
Shalom Harlow is a Canadian model and actress. She began her career in the early 1990s and by the end of the decade was at supermodel status. In 2007, Forbes listed her as thirteenth in the list of the World's Top-Earning Supermodels. She has also appeared in films such as In & Out (1997) and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and hosted MTV's House of Style alongside fellow model Amber Valletta.
Isabeli Bergossi Fontana is a Brazilian fashion model. She is known for her work with brands like Victoria's Secret and has been on the cover of Vogue 58 times. Vogue Paris named her one of the top 30 models of the 2000s decade.
Karolína Kurková is a Czech-American model and actress, known for her work as a former Victoria's Secret Angel and Vogue cover star. Mario Testino praised the "proportions of her body and her face, as well as her energy level", which he said "ma[de] her a model who could fit almost into any moment". Vogue editor Anna Wintour called her the "next supermodel".
Lily Monica Donaldson is an English model. She was featured on the cover of American Vogue's May 2007 issue as one of the "World's Next Top Models" and was recognized by Vogue Paris in 2009 as one of the top 30 models of the 2000s. She has appeared on 30 international covers of Vogue.
Julia Stegner is a German supermodel. Throughout her whole career Stegner has appeared on the cover of international Vogue, 27 times. Stegner is one of the most successful German supermodels and was listed by Forbes as one of the highest paid models in 2010.
Hana Soukupová is a Czech model. She has participated in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows and modelled for the Victoria's Secret catalog.
Raquel Cristina Zimmermann is a Brazilian model. She was announced as a Revlon ambassador in January 2018. Throughout her career Zimmermann has appeared on 37 Vogue covers. She currently ranks under "Icons" on models.com.
V is an American fashion magazine published since 1999. The magazine is printed seasonally and highlights trends in fashion, film, music and art. A men's fashion quarterly entitled VMan started as an offshoot in 2003.
Stella Tennant was a British model and fashion designer, who rose to fame in the early 1990s and had a career that spanned almost 30 years. From an unconventional aristocratic family, she worked with Helmut Lang, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and Gianni Versace. She worked for haute couture names like Valentino, and Dior by John Galliano and with photographers Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, Paolo Roversi, and Tim Walker. Over the years she appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Hermès and Burberry.
Edward Kobina Enninful is a Ghanaian-born British editor and stylist who was editor-in-chief of British Vogue and European editorial director of Condé Nast.
Sebastián Faena is a photographer, singer-songwriter and filmmaker.
Kaia Jordan Gerber is an American model and actress. After starring in a series of ad campaigns for fashion brands since debuting at Fashion Week in 2017, Gerber won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2018.
Jelena Noura "Gigi" Hadid is an American fashion model and television personality. In 2016, she was named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. Throughout her career, Hadid has made at least 50 appearances in international Vogue. Models.com ranks her as one of the "New Supers." Since 2017, Hadid has been one of the highest-paid models in the world, earning $20 million.
Isabella Khair Hadid is an American fashion model. Throughout her career, Hadid, has made 35 appearances on international Vogue covers. In 2022, she was named Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world on its annual list in 2023.
Vittoria Ceretti is an Italian fashion model. Ceretti was discovered in 2012 through the Elite Model Look Model contest. As of 2024, Ceretti has participated in 400 fashion shows and has appeared on the cover of Vogue and its international editions 23 times.
Adut Akech Bior is a South Sudanese-Australian model. Akech made her fashion week runway debut as an exclusive in the Saint Laurent S/S 17 show and went on to close both their F/W 17 and S/S 18 shows as an exclusive. In 2018, she was chosen as "Model of the Year" by models.com, an honour which was repeated the next year. Models.com includes Akech in its list of the "New Supers."
Savage X Fenty Show is an annual American television special about the fashion show for Rihanna's lingerie brand Savage X Fenty, also featuring music performances. The first, non-televised event took place in Brooklyn during New York Fashion Week in 2018. The first television special premiered on September 20, 2019, Vol. 2 premiered on October 2, 2020, Vol. 3 premiered on September 24, 2021, and Vol. 4 premiered on November 9, 2022, all on Amazon Prime Video. Rihanna is the executive producer and creative director of Savage X Fenty Show.
Shin Hyun-ji is a South Korean fashion model. After winning Korea's Next Top Model, Shin appeared on the cover of international Vogue editions. She currently ranks on models.com's "Industry Icons" list.