The concept of the supermodel truly came to fruition in the 1990s, and while those beauties were it girls decades ago, today, they’re just as stunning. Heidi Klum celebrated her 49th birthday in the summer of 2022, and it looks like she discovered the fountain of youth or a time machine, because she’s somehow prettier than she was in the 1990s. See what Heidi and the rest of the OG goddesses of the runway are up to these days.
1. Heidi Klum
Heidi was one of the best-paid, most famous models of the past, and since then, she’s become a mega-celebrity thanks to a role as judge, executive producer and host on “Project Runway” which she won an Emmy for. Along with voicing movie characters, acting as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” and starring in “Making the Cut” on Amazon Prime, Klum isn’t slowing down any time soon. While she split from Seal in 2012, she’s now with guitarist Tom Kaulitz.
2. Tyra Banks
Starting at the young age of 15, Tyra Banks soon moved to Milan where she broke out as a major star. By 1991, she had walked 25 shows in her first runway season during Paris Fashion Week. Banks broke many records as a Black model, and she’s still breaking more today as a successful entrepreneur. She wrote a book dubbed “Modelland” and has hosted a range of shows, including “ANTM”.
3. Cindy Crawford
At age 17, this stunner and her famous birthmark won second in Elite Model Management’s Look of the Year contest. The career that followed and the names she walked for were extremely impressive — she also hosted “House of Style” on MTV for several years in the ‘90s. Although Crawford claimed to retire from modeling in 2000, she’s posed for many brands and magazines since then, and even today isn’t scared to show some skin. Her daughter and mini-me Kaia walked alongside her for Runway’s 2018 presentation at Milan Fashion Week.
4. Naomi Campbell
Just before she turned 16, a talent scout spotted Naomi out and about on a shopping trip. Soon, she was in high demand from major players in the fashion industry and would walk thousands of runways, forming the iconic supermodel posse in the 90s. Just as gorgeous in 2022, she’s still modeling and has also regularly released over 12 fragrances for her perfume line. She’s broken many records as the first Black model on covers and is also a passionate philanthropist. She’s never married but has dated plenty of famous businessmen and celebrities.
5. Kate Moss
Often regarded as the “anti-supermodel” with her thin, girlish figure, the slender Kate Moss was a major departure from the curvy, athletic women on the runway like Cindy Crawford. Although it did cause some unhealthy self-esteem issues in some girls, Moss founded the “heroin chic” movement and her work with Calvin Klein skyrocketed her to the top — and her relationship with Johnny Depp. Today, she’s still a top-earning model and has designed collaborations with brands like Topshop and Longchamp, along with launching multiple jewelry collections.
6. Linda Evangelista
With her otherworldly beauty, Linda was considered photographer Steven Meisel’s muse and she was one of the most sought-after models of the era. Covering over 700 magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Harper’s Bazaar, Linda decided to take a long break from modeling before making a comeback many years later. In 2021, she filed a $50 million lawsuit claiming that CoolSculpting “fat-freezing” procedures deformed and disfigured her in 2015, causing her to isolate herself from society for five years.
7. Christy Turlington
After being featured in Calvin Klein’s Eternity campaign, this American supermodel worked with brands like Marc Jacobs, Prada, Versace and Chanel. She also showed up in Duran Duran’s “Notorious” music video in the tender age of 17. She graduated from NYU and also attended Columbia University, directing a documentary called “No Woman, No Cry” which was about maternal mortality. She also founded a charity called Every Mother Counts, which promotes safe pregnancy/childbirth practices around the globe.
8. Helena Christensen
With her unique, Peruvian-Danish look, the breathtaking Helena started catwalking at 20 before landing a Revlon contract. Working with most major fashion designers, Christensen co-founded fashion magazine Nylon in 1999, serving as its original creator director. Within her personal life, she’s dated a range of frontmen and actors, including Norman Reedus. While she still models, she’s recently started working behind the camera more as a photographer and has also launched multiple fragrances.
9. Eva Herzigova
After she won a modeling contest in Czechoslovakia at the young age of 16, Eva moved to Paris and was soon seen all over the runways, ultimately landing a Wonderbra campaign in 1994 and some famous Guess jeans ads as well. Today, she’s still working for high-end brands and is a mom to three boys with her fiancee, who is an Italian businessman.
