Supermodels

A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model in an elite group with a worldwide reputation. In an article in Glamour Magazine in 1968, author described Twiggy, Cheryl Tiegs, Verushka, Jean Shrimpton and fifteen other top models as "Supermodels" (Click link to right to see article)[1] The term "Supermodel" gained currency by analogy with Andy Warhol's "superstars" of the 1960s, and, like "superstardom", it has been conflated to include almost anyone who finds steady access to work, with top designers, fashion magazines and commercial clients; uncommon in the highly volatile fashion industry. In the early 60s the term "top models" was used by magazines/fashion critics to define famous and highly paid models, way before the term "supermodel" became popular. Today, these two terms are used to define two different groups. "Supermodels" according to Tyra Banks are famous highly paid models, and "top models" are noted fashion models.

While the term gained popularity in the 1980s, a number of models had become famous in their own right as far back as Dorian Leigh in the late 1940s. Amongst the first models whose name and face were familiar to those outside the fashion industry include Suzy Parker, a model in the 1950s, and Cheryl Tiegs in the 1960s. Others claim that Janice Dickinson has the right to the title of first supermodel since she is credited with the coining the term in 1979. However, as shown by the 1968 article in Glamour, she did not coin the phrase, but gained wide notoriety by publicly proclaiming herself as "The World's First Supermodel". Still others claim Lisa Fonssagrives, wife of two photographers, first of Fernand Fonssagrives and then Irving Penn, to be the world's first supermodel; none have surpassed her over 200 covers of Vogue alone. She was in every fashion magazine during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s from Town and Country, Life, Life, Vogue, and the original Vanity Fair to the cover of Time. Jean Shrimpton, Colleen Corby, Twiggy as well as Veruschka (all from the mid- Sixties) have claim to the title of Supermodel too.

The high point of the supermodel era was in the 1980s and 1990s, with some of the most famous being "The Trinity" of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington. Also in this era, models like Paulina Porizkova paved the way for an influx of Eastern European models. It was at this time that Cindy Crawford successfully leveraged her modelling fame into hosting her own television show, MTV's House of Style, creating and promoting many exercise video tapes, and posing in Playboy (she was the first supermodel to do all of these).

Supermodels are, almost by definition, sex symbols. Supermodels of today are globally famous, and parlay their celebrity into product endorsement deals and often into acting careers. Supermodels who have also made the switch into acting include Milla Jovovich, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, and Tricia Helfer, as well as Twiggy before them.

According to Forbes magazine, as of 2004, the five highest-paid supermodels in the world were, in descending order, Milla Jovovich, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Caroline Murphy, and Tyra Banks. VH1's recent episode of The Fabulous Life Of...Supermodels included Naomi Campbell as among the top 3 wealthiest supermodels in the world.

Almost all supermodels have been female; however, more and more male models are also becoming famous. The position of the world's most famous and highest paid male supermodel is currently usually contested between Jamaican-American actor and model Tyson Beckford, and Dutch-Swedish model and bodybuilder Marcus Schenkenberg; as well as Mark Vanderloo and Brad Kroenig.

Fashion Model

A model is a person who acts as a human prop for purposes of art, fashion, advertising, pornography, etc.

Modeling is distinguished from other types of public performance, such as an acting, dancing or mime artistry, although the boundary is probably not well defined. Appearing in a movie or a play is generally not considered to be modeling, irrespective of the nature of the role. But many models can also describe themselves as actors. Some models have acquired the status of sex symbol, and a highly paid model is sometimes known as a "supermodel." Supermodels are celebrities who may appear in advertisements endorsing products, and often parlay their fame into acting careers, or other areas of the entertainment or fashion industry.

Non-professional models who appear on the list of women's magazines on which any magazine's name is, are known by the name of "reader model."
"Runway modeling," also known as "catwalk modeling," is displaying fashion, and is generally performed by "fashion models." "Glamour modeling" usually includes elements of nudity or eroticism, while "nude modeling" describes any kind of modeling that is performed without clothes. Art school modeling (usually figure drawing or sculpture) involves posing for students of art. Some models specialize in having a particular portion of their body photographed, usually for advertisement purposes; thus "leg models" advertise hosiery, "hand models" advertise nail polish or gloves, et cetera.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell (born May 22, 1970) is a British supermodel and actress. Born in Streatham, South London, Campbell studied at the London Academy For Performing Arts. She is of mixed Chinese and Jamaican descent and she has been a prominent fashion model on the runway and in print advertising since the late 1980s. Campbell's first appearance to a wider public was in February 1978 when she was cast as a pupil to appear in a music video with Jamaican reggae superstar Bob Marley for his song Is This Love?. She is estimated to have so far acquired a wealth of US$28 million from modeling. She also posed nude for Playboy magazine and for a series of lesbian-erotic photos with Madonna in her book Sex. She is reputed to have a quick temper, with several tabloid stories involving violence against her staff as well as verbal abuse.She was once caught filmed on videotape furiously berating a plane flight passenger who apparently took a photo of her, and subsequently tried to snatch the camera away.

She is also a successful singer; her album Baby Woman sold over 1 million copies worldwide (mostly in Japan), and she was featured on Vanilla Ice's single "Cool as Ice." She had previously appeared in George Michael's music video, "Freedom '90", though she merely lip-synched to his song along with other models rather than performing herself. In 1995, her collaboration with Toshinobu Kubota, LA LA LA LOVE SONG, became a hit in Japan, with the single selling app. 1,856,000 copies. She has also appeared in music videos for artists such as Michael Jackson and Jay-Z. In late 2004 she had a high profile relationship with Usher although as of 2005 their relationship appears to be over.

Campbell was selected by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1991.

Campbell also co-authored the best-selling novel Swan and followed it up with a photo book titled Naomi.

Campbell has had notable feuds with several celebrities: the most publicized of which are between herself and fellow Black supermodel Tyra Banks that had been going on for years. The two finally made up in 2005 on an episode of Banks's syndicated talk show The Tyra Banks Show. Campbell also had a rift with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, who publicly branded the model as a "massive cow" and a "bitch" in 2000. The pair apparently also ended their feud not long ago.