The 1990s saw a paradigm shift in the fashion industry. The models, which were considered simple mannequins, became iconic and emblematic figures throughout the world. The era of top-models had arrived. Called by their own name, they revolutionized the power dynamics of an entire industry, becoming as recognized as the brands they walked for, to the point of becoming stars.
Four of these top-models have now come together to remember that golden era in The Supermodels, the new documentary series that premieres on Apple TV on September 20 and which tells how Linda (Evangelista), Naomi (Campbell), Christy ( Turlington) and Cindy (Crawford) dominated the world of elite modeling.
Linda Evangelista (Canada, 1965) stood out for her versatility on the catwalk, always wearing different looks. The chameleon Linda was one of the most sought-after models. It is speculated that she said the phrase: “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000,” although she has denied it on several occasions. With a feline look, she has posed for more than 700 magazines, in addition to being the model who has starred on the covers of Vogue Italia the most times. Linda had a brief romance with François-Henri Pinault, while the mogul took some time off from her relationship with actress Salma Hayek. August James (16) was born from the relationship between Pinault and Evangelista.
In 2021, Linda reported that she had been “wildly disfigured” after undergoing cosmetic treatment. Due to this, she suffered a deep depression, from which, a year and a half later, she has already recovered. Evangelista has returned to the fashion industry, becoming one of photographer Steven Meisel’s muses for his first capsule collection for Zara. Two days ago, the supermodel was applauded by her followers at the presentation of her new photographic book, in London.
Christy Turlington (California, 1969) captivated everyone with her serene and sophisticated beauty. In 1986 she starred on her first cover for Vogue. She was one of the essential models for Gianni Versace, becoming, in turn, one of his muses. For more than 30 years she has been the exclusive image of Calvin Klein’s Eternity perfume. In 2003, she married actor Edward Burns, who is also the face of Calvin Klein. The couple has two children, Grace (19) and Finn (17). Recently, she has launched a line of natural cosmetics called Sundari.
Cindy Crawford (Illinois, 1966) never doubted her potential for the catwalk. She won an Elite agency contest and quickly became the cover of magazines such as Playboy and even the first edition of Vogue Spain. Her popularity skyrocketed thanks to her advertisement for Pepsi. The model with the iconic mole above her lip took on her success by hosting an MTV show, House of Style. She debuted on the big screen with Legal Hunt, however, the film was an absolute failure in her professional career.
In 1991, she married Richard Gere, although their marriage lasted only three years. Ultimately, she found love with businessman Rande Gerber, with whom she has two children, Presley (24) and Kaia (22). The latter has walked for the best fashion houses, such as Burberry or Chanel, to the point of launching a capsule collection with Karl Lagerfeld, called KarlxKaia.
The Supermodels, directed by Roger Ross Williams and Larissa Bills, portrays in four chapters how the cultural influence of models has survived to the present day. Kaia Gerber is the best example of this and Grace Burns is starting to be one. Both follow in their mothers’ footsteps and are consolidating their careers in the world of modeling.
