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Supermodel Wikipedia

A supermodel is a highly paid model (person)|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)http://groups.msn.com/MiniMadMod60s/supermodelsofthe60s.msnw?albumlist=2 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.

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. However, as shown by the 1968 article in Glamour, she did not coin the phrase, but gained wide notoriety by public proclaiming herself as "The World's First Supermodel". Still others claim Lisa Fonssagrives, wife of superphotographer Irving Penn 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. Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy as well as Veruschka (all from the mid- Sixties era) 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/model to do all of these).

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

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. VH1's recent episode of The Fabulous Life Of...Supermodels included Naomi Campbell as among the top 3 wealthiest supermodels in the world.
http://funreports.com/2004/07/22/55166.html.

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 Dutch-Swedish model and bodybuilder Marcus Schenkenberg.

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.

Last Modified:   2005-12-15