The List of Famous 90s Supermodels That Dominated 90s Fashion — ZEITGEIST (2024)

The 1990s are often referred to as the Era of the Supermodel.During the 90s, supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss became household names thanks to growing media coverage on TV and in the tabloids. In an era before social media, their rise to supermodel status occurred mainlythrough magazine covers, runway shows, and appearances in music videos and television shows.

Though today's celebrity model squad often draws comparisons to the "Big Six" of the 90s, these original supermodels were in a league of their own. Here's a list of the famous 90s supermodels every90s fashionlover should know by heart.

"The Trinity" Becomes The "Big Six"

The "Big Six" was agroupof elite models in the 1990s: Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington. This handful of high-paid models are often considered to be the first ~capital S~ Supermodels.

The "Big Six" actually began with a trio of models—Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell— called "The Trinity." The trio were the most in-demandsupermodels of the 1980sand early 1990s. After iconic 90s fashion moments likeGeorge Michael'sFreedom! '90music video, Peter Lindbergh's 1990 Vogue cover, and Gianni Versace's 1991 Fall runway show, the trio began to grow.

Before the supermodels of the 90s, models could typically be divided into two categories: print and runway. If you were good at one, you probably weren't too great at the other. The "Big Six" defied this notion by doing runway shows, print campaigns, magazine covers, and even music videos.

The "Big Six" were also known for their big paychecks. Linda Evangelista said in 1990 that "we don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." Rumor has it that Claudia Schiffer earned a cool $15 millionin a single yearas the face of Chanel.

Like many supermodels today, the "Big Six" gained fame outside of the fashion industry and became pop culture icons in their own right.

You can't talk about 90s fashion without talking about Kate Moss. Like other members of the "Big Six," she became a pop culture icon and is still considered one of the most prolific supermodels ever.

Moss was discovered in a London airport at age 14. After walking the runways at Perry Ellis and Anna Sui, she quickly became the face of 90s grunge fashion,—thanks in part to "heroin chic" look, party-filled lifestyle, and numerous celebrity boyfriends.

Moss's impact on the modeling industry is somewhat controversial.80s supermodels had an "Amazonian" body shape: toned abs, long legs, and feminine curves. But when a rail-thin, 5'8" Kate Moss arrived on the scene, things began to change.

By the end of the decade, Moss's boyish, skinny figure was the new norm in the modeling industry.Many critics believe her thin frame is responsible for unrealistic body standards in the modeling industry and a widespread increase in eating disorders.Moss was once quoted saying, "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"— a statement that has been echoed by anorexics ever since.

Throughout the 90s, Linda Evangelista's hair made headlines with every cut or color change. Thanks to her ever-changing hair colors, designers and photographers considered her a chameleon.From jet black to platinum blonde to fire engine red, there wasn't a color the supermodel couldn't pull off.

Evangelista is widely regarded as one of the most influential supermodels of all time, having been featured on over 700 magazine covers throughout her career. During the 90s, she was a frequent flyer on the runways of Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, Versace, and more.

Anyone born before the year 2000 knows Cindy Crawford as the hot supermodel from her1992 Pepsi commercialand sexy Guess Jeans campaigns. Anyone born after probably thinks of her as Kaia Gerber's hot mom.

That's right! Kaia Gerber is second-generation supermodel royalty. FYI, many of today'sIt-Girls and celebrity models(read: the Hadid Sisters) are too.

British supermodel, Naomi Campbell, was one of the most recognizable supermodels in the 1990s. She was a member of the OG "Trinity" and the "Big Six." Over the years, Campbell has gained quite a reputation for her temper— something viewers of her short-lived modeling competitionThe Face know all too well.

Besides her fiery temper, Campbell is also known for her famous runway walk. In the 90s, she was dubbed "Queen of the Catwalk" thanks to her signature strut.She's walked for top designers like Alaïa, Versace, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Fendi, and Vivienne Westwood throughout her career.

Campbelldefied white beauty standards in the modeling industry and was often the only Black model in the runway show, ad campaign, or editorial.

When faced with discrimination. she received overwhelming support from her white allies in the industry. In 1988—after Yves St. Laurent threatened to withdraw advertising— Campbell became the first Black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue. She was also the first Black model on the cover ofTime Magazine.Legend has it that Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista once told Dolce & Gabbana that "if you don't use Naomi, you don't get us."

In 2008, famed casting director James Scully declared Christy Turlington was "the greatest model of all time," and that "you could combine every model to this day into one person, and they wouldn't come close." During her career, she's been on over 500 magazine covers and walked foriconic fashion houses like Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Marc Jacobs.

Though still one of the most recognizable faces in the world, Turlington turned her focus to her maternal health non-profit,Every Mother Counts, after experiencing childbirth complications during her own pregnancy.

The American modelwas notorious for herstreet style and airport outfits. Her signature style was laid-back and tomboyish, consisting largely of Levi's jeans, oversized outerwear, and minimalist basic tees.

Turlington helpedpopularize countless 90s fashion trends and set the standard for the model-off-duty style seen today.

Heidi Klum's career began thanks to a magazine ad for a modeling contest. After submitting a few photos "just for fun," Klum won the contest, beating the 30,000 other entries and earning a $300,000 modeling contract in New York.Over the next twenty-something years, the German model would become one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world, with a net worth of over$160 million.

In 1997, Klum became one of the early Victoria Secret Angels. The following year, she graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her fame skyrocketed in theearly 2000s.

While there were already several Black supermodels on the fashion scene in the late 80s and early 90s, none were quite like Alek Wek.

While other Black supermodels in the 1990s— like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell— had long hair and light skin, Wek sported a buzz cut and had a darker skin tone than most mainstream models of color. In 1997, at just 19 years old, Wek won MTV's Model of the Year award. During the pivotal year of her career, she alsomade history as the first Black model on the cover of Elle.

Though well-known in the fashion industry for her powerful runway walk and iconic smize, her work in television brought her mainstream success in the 2000s. Over the years, she's had countless appearances in TV shows, movies, and music videos. She's best known for America's Next Top Model (which ran for a remarkable 24 seasons) and The Tyra Banks Show.

To learn more about these influential models of the 1990s, we recommend listening tothe podcastIn Vogue: The 1990s,and watching the upcoming docuseries on Apple+ titledThe Supermodels.

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