SUPERMODEL

A 'supermodel' is a highly-paid elite fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling.^[1]

Contents

Application

History

Origins of the term

First Supermodel

1960s - 1970s

1980s - 1990s: Supermodel Era

Late 1990s - present: Decline of the Supermodel

See also

References

External links

Application

The elite models who are given the appellation of "supermodel" often share similar traits. These models are reputable in the fashion industry; usually work for top fashion designers and labels; have multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and campaigns; and most importantly, have branded themselves to be household names associated to their modeling profession.^[2][3][4] The true supermodels were known on a first-name basis.

History

Origins of the term

The term "''supermodel''" took hold in the popular culture of the 1980s and 1990s. However, according to ''Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women'' by Michael Gross, the first known use of the term "supermodel" was in the 1940s by an agent named Clyde Matthew Dessner in a "how-to" book he wrote about modeling.^[5]
Janice Dickinson has frequently laid claim to being the originator of the term. In an interview with ET, Janice Dickinson claimed to have coined the term "supermodel" back in 1979, when she was taking every job available. According to her, her agent Monique Pilar of Elite Modeling Agency, asked her, "Janice, who do you think you are? Superman?". She replied saying, "No... I'm a supermodel, honey, and you will refer to me as a supermodel and you will start a supermodel division." Dickinson claimed to be the first supermodel, "because I did everything".^[6]

First Supermodel

:
Lisa Fonssagrives is considered by most in the fashion industry as the world's first supermodel. Fonssagrives was in most of the major fashion and general interest magazines from the 1930s to the 1950s, including ''Town & Country'', ''Life'', ''Vogue'', the original ''Vanity Fair'', and ''Time''. The relationship between her image on over 200 Vogue covers and her name recognition led to the future importance of Vogue in shaping future supermodels.^[7][8]

1960s - 1970s

Christie Brinkley

In 1968, an article in ''Glamour'' described Twiggy, Cheryl Tiegs, Wilhelmina,Veruschka, Jean Shrimpton and fifteen other top models as "supermodels".^[9] The term supermodel gained currency in the 1960s by analogy with Andy Warhol's "''Superstars''". Of the prominent models of the 1960s, "Twiggy" (Lesley Hornby) is an example of a supermodel of the era, as is Donyale Luna, the first African American model to appear in ''Vogue''. The first African American model to be on the cover of American Vogue was Beverly Johnson.
In the 1970s, some models became more prominent as their names became more recognizable to the general public. These models included Janice Dickinson - credited herself in 2003 as being the first supermodel and claims to have coined the term "supermodel"^[10] - Cheryl Tiegs, Jerry Hall, Iman Abdulmajid, Patti Hansen, Anna Bayle, Beverly Johnson, Gia Carangi and Christie Brinkley.

1980s - 1990s: Supermodel Era

Linda Evangelista uttered "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day."

In the 1980s, fashion designers began advertising on television and billboards. Models became more familiar to the masses. They were no longer nameless individuals. Models embraced old-style glamour, which allowed them to replace actresses as symbols of luxury and wealth. In this regard, many viewed supermodels not so much as individuals but as images.1980s: Fashion: Supermodels bookrags.com. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
By the 1990s, supermodels became prominent in the media. Earning the title "supermodel" meant that the model was a superstar, winning fame simply for being a "personality". They did talk shows. They were cited in gossip columns. They partied at the trendiest nightspots. They landed movie roles. They inspired franchises. They dated or married movie stars. And, of course, they made millions. "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." uttered by supermodel Linda Evangelista has become the most famous quote in modeling history. Fame allowed them to take control of their careers, market themselves, and earn higher fees. In 1991, Christy Turlington signed a contract with Maybelline that paid her $800,000 for twelve days' work each year. Four years later, Claudia Schiffer reportedly earned $12 million for her various modeling assignments. Authorities ranging from Karl Lagerfeld to Time magazine had declared the supermodels more glamorous than movie stars. Six, also known as the Big Six were officially anointed by the fashion world as supermodels, they are Claudia Schiffer, Elle Macpherson, Stephanie Seymour, Paulina Porizkova, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, who inspired the "waif" look,^[11] and; "The Trinity" made up of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington.^[12][13]

Late 1990s - present: Decline of the Supermodel

Adriana Lima at the Spiderman 3 premiere in 2007.

In the late 1990s, models were slowly being replaced by actresses, pop singers, or other celebrities on the covers of fashion magazines and ad campaigns.^[14][15] The rise of celebrity culture relegated many models to anonymity. A popular "conspiracy theory" explaining the supermodel's disappearance is that designers and fashion editors were sick of their "I won't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" attitude and made sure a small group of models would never again have the power of the Big Six. However, Charles Gandee, associate editor at ''Vogue'', said, high prices and poor attitudes contributed less to the decline of the supermodel. As clothes became less flashy, designers turned to models who were less glamorous, so they wouldn't overpower the clothing. Majority of the models come from non-English speaking countries and cultures, making the cross over to mainstream spokesperson and cover star difficult.^[16] Runways are not as high-paying jobs as it used to be. It is now considered an internship process for the hundreds of anonymous girls who swarm the runways of New York, Paris and Milan each season. They are paid about $250 an hour on their first season. The opportunities for super stardom were waning in the modeling world. Despite this some of the most famous models of the 1900's and early 2000's include Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, Natalia Vodianova, Laetitia Casta, Carmen Kass, Alek Wek, Alessandra Ambrosio, Shalom Harlow, Liya Kebede, Angela Lindvall, Erin O'Connor, Carolyn Murphy, Karen Elson, Julia Stegner, Lisa Snowdon, Bridget Hall, and Eva Herzigova.
'The Supermodels of the new millennium '
In the early 2000's a new look in faishon arose, the babydoll look was the popular look on the runways of the faishon capitals. Some of these babydoll models were Gemma Ward,
Daria Werbowy, Lily Cole, Jessica Stam,
Lisa Cant, Devon Aoki, Lisa Snowdon Vlada Roslyakova, and Heather Marks.
'The increase of Brazilian Models'
Another big popular craze in faishon during the new millennium, was the sexy Brazilian model. Girls such as Fernanda Tavares, Isabeli Fontana, Ana Beatriz Barros, Letícia Birkheuer, Doutzen Kroes, Fernanda Motta, Michelle Alves, Caroline Trentini, Izabel Goulart, Raquel Zimmermann and Jeisa Chiminazzo.
Even though Brazilian Models were some of the most popular models of the 2000's other non brazilian models arose during this time such as Gemma Ward , Natasha Poly, Daria Werbowy, Elise Crombez, Petra Nemcova, Mariacarla Boscono, Iselin Steiro, Malgosia Bela, Lily Cole, Omahyra Mota, Jessica Stam, Yfke Sturm, Lisa Cant, Vlada Roslyakova, Tiiu Kuik, Heather Marks, and Selita Ebanks.
'The next top Supermodels'
In the May 2007 issue of American Vogue on the cover were Doutzen Kroes, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, Sasha Pivovarova, Agyness Deyn, Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Hilary Rhoda, Chanel Iman, and Lily Donaldson described as the new crop of supermodels.
'Male Supermodels'
Male have always been an important part of the fashion world. Male models are known for the beautiful faces, soild bodies, and outgoing personalities. Some of the most famous male supermodels include Marcus Schenkenberg who just so happens to be the first male supermodel. Tyson Beckford, Alex Lundqvist, Michael Bergin, Mark Vanderloo, Jason Shaw, Andrew Stetson, Boris Kodjoe, Travis Fimmel, Carlson Twins, Will Chalker, Tyson Ballou, Massimiliano Neri, Gabriel Aubry, Bruno Santos, Jamie Dornan, Rusty Joiner, and more recently Evandro Soldati and Eddie Klint.

See also

★ Model (person)

★ Cover girl

★ Body image

★ Physical attractiveness

★ Beauty

★ Self-image

★ Popular culture

References

1. What is a Supermodel? http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074091/supermodel.htm. Retrieved July 2007
2. Supermodel by Heidi Klumrandomhouse.com. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
3. Model Citizensew.com. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
4. ''New Model Army'' by Kate Patrick, ''The Scotsman'' May 21, 2005 onlineretrieved July 7, 2006
5. New York Magazine.We Three Queens
6. Janice Dickinson: From Model to Moguletonline.com. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
7. The First Supermodel; The World's First Supermodel
8. Rosemary Ranck, "The First Supermodel", ''The New York Times'' February 9, 1997 (online) retrieved July 21, 2007
9. Cokal, Susann. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 1999. Michigan: Gale Group.
10. Janice Dickinson, ''No Lifeguard: The Accidental Life of the World's First Supermodel'', Regan Books, 2003, ISBN 0-060-56617-5
11. Kate MossUSMagazine. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
12. The Fall of the SupermodelTime. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
13. ''We Three Queens'' by Alex Williams, ''New York'' online retrieved July 7, 2006
14. ''Not Just Another Pretty Face: The End of the Supermodel Era'' by Hilary Rowland, ''Hilary Magazine'' online retrieved July 7, 2006
15. ''Death of the Supermodels'' by C. L. Johnson, ''Urban Models'' October 21, 2002 online retrieved July 13, 2006
16. [1]models.com. Retrieved July 25, 2007.

External links

★ The Supermodels Forum