Supermodel

A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model in an elite group with a worldwide reputation. The term was coined in 1979 by Janice Dickinson, and 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, uncommon in the highly volatile fashion industry.

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While the term gained steam 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 creation of the term. While still others claim Lisa Fonssagrives to be the world's first supermodel and 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, Vogue, the original Vanity Fair to the cover of Time.

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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 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/model to do all of these).

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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 made the switch include Milla Jovovich, Elle Macpherson and Rebecca Romijn.

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According to Forbes magazine, as of 2004, the five highest-paid supermodels in the world were, in descending order, Milla Jovovich, Gisele B?ndchen, Heidi Klum, Caroline Murphy, and Tyra Banks http://funreports.com/2004/07/22/55166.html.

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In the past many supermodels were female. However today more and more male models are also becoming famous. The position of the world's most famous and highest paid male supermodel is currently contested between Jamaican-American actor and model Tyson Beckford, and Swedish model and bodybuilder Marcus Schenkenberg.

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In 2005, tired of hearing this label attached to so many people, the musician LeCain, played devil's advocate and commented that a 'measure of success' was necessary to stop TV from tirelessly using the term for every girl wanting model stardom. And threw into the equation that a supermodel was someone that had attained US Dollars 20 million (USD) in the duration of their career.

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Fashion model: REDIRECT Model (person)...

1979: This page refers to the year 1979. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song)....

Janice Dickinson: Janice Doreen Dickinson (born February 17, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York), is a former supermodel of Polish and Belarusian descent who started modeling at the age of 14. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Harper?s Bazaar Swimsuit Issue, Cosmopolitan and Playboy. She has also appeared in ads...

Supermodel related Images and Photos (experimental)

Supermodel Cindy Crawford March 18 2005

Portrait of Supermodel Heidi Klum August 18 2006

Illusionist David Copperfield with Supermodel Fiancee Claudia Schiffer at His 39th Birthday Party