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The Hottest Fashion Models Right Now (And Why They're Awesome)
Fashion consumption is almost nothing without the models to showcase the clothes. And while we often laud designers for crafting beautiful clothing, we often neglect to pay homage to the men and women who bring the best designs to life.
Recently, there's been a push for diversity on the runways and in designer ads, something that's been decades in the making. From diversifying race on the runway, to including models with curves, the fashion world is letting new types of models into the mix. Furthermore, most models aren't just on the catwalk anymore; several of the biggest supermodels are attaching their names to ventures in the food, television, and music industries.
Noting this, we wanted to put a spotlight on the faces that we've seen throughout the biggest shows, street style photos, and magazine spreads, giving you insight into the best models currently in the game today. These are The Hottest Fashion Models Right Now (And Why They're Awesome).
Cara Delevingne
Born: August 12, 1992
Notable work: TAG Heuer brand ambassador 2015; British Fashion Awards “Model of the Year” 2012 and 2014; Modeled in 2012 and 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show; Created collaboration clothing line with DKNY; Cast in DC Comic's "Suicide Squad" 2016; Contributing Fashion editor for LOVE magazine, 2015.
Notable work: TAG Heuer brand ambassador 2015; British Fashion Awards “Model of the Year” 2012 and 2014; Modeled in 2012 and 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show; Created collaboration clothing line with DKNY; Cast in DC Comic's "Suicide Squad" 2016; Contributing Fashion editor for LOVE magazine, 2015.
It’s easy to see why London-born Cara Delevingne is making all of the headlines. She first appeared in Vogue Italia at the age of 10 before officially signing to Storm Model Management in 2009. Since then, she has gone on to flourish as not only a model, but also in film and music. She's brand ambassador for TAG Heuer, the Face of Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, and has been in multiple Burberry campaigns. She also won “Model of the Year” at the British Fashion Awards in 2012 and 2014.
Her modeling work for NYC's Donna Karan prompted not only a spot as one of the brand's most recognizable models, but ultimately resulted in a Cara D. xDKNY diffusion collaboration line with a "social media casted" ad campaign. If there's a way for modern-day models to harness the real power of social interaction, Cara's definitely figured it out.
Cara seems to be tireless. Apart from her modeling, she has six movies lined up, with five set to release this year and one in 2016. She has also just been announced as a contributing editor for Condé Nast's LOVE magazine and recently interviewed and modeled with Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner in two separate spreads for LOVE's 13th issue.
Leona “Binx” Walton
Born: April 27, 1996
Notable work: Featured in campaigns for Tom Ford, Coach, Public School, Chanel, Balmain, Maiyet, and Céline; Face of and design collaborator forSuperga; Modeled for Sacai x Nike collaboration
Notable work: Featured in campaigns for Tom Ford, Coach, Public School, Chanel, Balmain, Maiyet, and Céline; Face of and design collaborator forSuperga; Modeled for Sacai x Nike collaboration
Earning her nickname after Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars, Binx Walton has never looked back after being discovered at 13. Currently, she is signed to Next Model Management and made her debut at the Marc Jacobs autumn/winter 2013 show. She's been featured across the spring/summer 2015 campaigns, working with recognizable brands like Balmain, DKNY, Fendi, Tom Ford, and Coach. It's believed that her first major ad appearance (and subsequent big break) came via Céline's spring/summer 2014 campaign opposite Daria Werbowy.
Chrissy Teigen
Image via StyleBistro
Born: November 30, 1985
Notable work: A place on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 50th anniversary swimsuit issue and named SI “Rookie of the Year” in 2010; Host of MTV2 cooking show "Snack Off"
Notable work: A place on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 50th anniversary swimsuit issue and named SI “Rookie of the Year” in 2010; Host of MTV2 cooking show "Snack Off"
Ever since she made her debut for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 2010, Chrissy Teigen has never looked back. She was named “Rookie of the Year” in that same year and went on to be a major part of the annual issue, including spots on the roster in 2011, 2012, and 2013. This culminated with an appearance on the 50th anniversary cover of the magazine last year, which got a lot of people talking. She was also in this year's 2015 issue.
Outside of modeling, Teigen has gained quite a following through her social media presence, whether it's through her meme-inducing cry face or her buddingreputation as a foodie. Maybe this is why she appears not only relatable to her audience, but quite at home with her cooking site, Delushious, and the MTV2cooking show “Snack-Off.”
Candice Swanepoel
Born: October 20,1988
Notable work: Victoria's Secret Angel since 2010; Wore “Royal Fantasy Bra” for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, 2013 (worth $10 million); Ranked #1 on Maxim’s “Hot 100 List,” 2014; Walked runways for Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs
Notable work: Victoria's Secret Angel since 2010; Wore “Royal Fantasy Bra” for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, 2013 (worth $10 million); Ranked #1 on Maxim’s “Hot 100 List,” 2014; Walked runways for Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs
Candice Swanepoel was discovered at the age of 15 in a place that one would never expect: the Durban Flea market in her native South Africa. She's spent time on the runway—most recently with Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs—but it's her time with Victoria's Secret that has made her a household name. While she had been in the lingerie brand's fashion shows for several years prior, it was the VS 2013 Fashion Show that not only had her wearing the “Fantasy Bra,” but cementing her as the face of the global megabrand.
Kendall Jenner
Image via LOVE Magazine
Born: November 3, 1995
Notable work: Global face of Estée Lauder; Modeled for Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Chanel, and Alexander Wang; Named “World’s Coolest Woman” by GQ magazine in 2015
Notable work: Global face of Estée Lauder; Modeled for Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Chanel, and Alexander Wang; Named “World’s Coolest Woman” by GQ magazine in 2015
Kendall Jenner used to go relatively unnoticed among the Kardashian-Jenner clan, but she has steadily amassed her own fan following. Even though she began her modeling career at 14 with Wilhelmina Models, she has a wide range of interests spanning from editorial work with W and V magazine to helping support the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Her career has grown massively in the last year, even though it's widely rumored that her fellow models harass her due to her pre-established fame.
Recently, her spread in LOVE magazine, involving prosthetic breasts and butts, helped catapult her into the high fashion stratosphere—something that resembles the rapid high-fashion bloom of her older half-sister. Take into account runway appearances for Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Chanel Haute Couture, and it doesn't matter if she's a reality star anymore—she's worth her weight in name-brand modeling power.
Gigi Hadid
Born: April 23, 1995
Notable work: Cover of Teen Vogue, A spread in issue 13 of LOVE magazine, New York Fashion Week debut 2014 including the shows for Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors
Notable work: Cover of Teen Vogue, A spread in issue 13 of LOVE magazine, New York Fashion Week debut 2014 including the shows for Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors
Gigi Hadid seems to have been born to be a model. She was discovered by Paul Marciano at the age of 2 where she modeled for Baby Guess. While she returned to school to focus on her studies, she ultimately returned to become the face of Guess in 2012.
Hadid signed to IMG Models in 2011, making her debut in February 2014 at the fall/winter 2014 NYFW runway shows of Desigual and Jeremy Scott. Recently, her portfolio includes the 2015 Pirelli Calendar and Tommy Hilfiger's fall/winter 2015 NYFW show.
Joan Smalls
Born: July 11, 1988
Notable work: Modeled in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011 to 2014; First Puerto Rican model chosen to front advertising campaigns for brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Givenchy; Ranked #1 by models.com in 2012, 2013, and 2014; Appeared in Beyoncé's "Yonce" video
Notable work: Modeled in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011 to 2014; First Puerto Rican model chosen to front advertising campaigns for brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Givenchy; Ranked #1 by models.com in 2012, 2013, and 2014; Appeared in Beyoncé's "Yonce" video
Joan Smalls Rodriquez is the first Puerto Rican Model asked to front numerous advertising campaigns—including luxury brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Givenchy; and fast-fashion companies like Gap and H&M. She signed first with Elite Model Management, in 2007, but switched to IMG Models in 2009.
Her time on the runway includes shows for Givenchy and Victoria's Secret, along with a spots in the Spring/Summer 2015 campaigns for Olivier Rousteing's Balmain, Marc Jacobs, and Prabal Gurung. Aside from her modeling work, she was also featured in Beyoncé's “Yonce” video alongside Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn.
Chanel Iman
Born: December 1, 1990
Notable work: Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2010 to 2013; associated with HerShe Group foundation; Spread in Vogue with then-boyfriend A$AP Rocky
Notable work: Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2010 to 2013; associated with HerShe Group foundation; Spread in Vogue with then-boyfriend A$AP Rocky
Exposed to the modeling world at only 13 by her aunt, Chanel Iman’s impact was immediate. She signed with Ford Modeling Agency in 2004 and has never looked back. She may be most well known for her time as a Victoria's Secret Angel, signing with the American lingerie brand in 2010— and ending her career with them in 2013.
While she may be recently well-known for a Vogue spread involving her and then-boyfriend A$AP Rocky, Iman has continued to prove her place in the fashion world with covers for GQ South Africa, Harper's Bazaar Russia, and Glamour Italy.
Anna Ewers
Image via Vogue Deutschland
Born: March 14, 1993
Notable work: Covered February 2015 issue of Vogue Paris; Covered the March 2015 issue of Vogue Germany; Milan Fashion Week’s Top Model of 2014; Featured in the ad campaigns of Mango, Moschino, and Alexander Wang
Notable work: Covered February 2015 issue of Vogue Paris; Covered the March 2015 issue of Vogue Germany; Milan Fashion Week’s Top Model of 2014; Featured in the ad campaigns of Mango, Moschino, and Alexander Wang
The rise of internet blogging can share some of the credit for the discovery of Anna Ewers; especially if your photo on a random fashion blog catches the eye of NYC designer Alexander Wang and kickstarts your career. The 21-year old model from Frieburg, Germany has a portfolio that features over 40 fashion shows, including opening for Dolce & Gabba, along with walking in Rag & Bone, Chanel Haute Coture and Alexander Wang.
This doesn't even factor in the features in over 100 editorials, campaigns, and magazine covers. More specifically, her portfolio features ad campaigns for Mango, Versace, Alexander Wang, and Prada along with the covers of Vogue Germany and Numero. At the time of publication, you can catch her in the spring/summer 2015 campaign for Alexander Wang.
Barbara Palvin
Born: October 8, 1993
Notable work: UNIQLO "Model T" campaign with Pharrell; Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2012; Runway debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2010; December 2014 and January 2015 Covers of Vogue Portugal, and January 2015 cover of Elle Brazil
Notable work: UNIQLO "Model T" campaign with Pharrell; Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2012; Runway debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2010; December 2014 and January 2015 Covers of Vogue Portugal, and January 2015 cover of Elle Brazil
Discovered on the streets of Budapest in 2006 at the age of 13, Hungarian heartthrob Barbara Palvin has steadily climbed the ladder of the fashion world. Her mother agency is Icon Model Management in her native Hungary. Her global magazine cover features are probably her most publicized work, with covers on Wonderland, Elle Brazil, and Glamour Germany.
She was featured in the video ad campaigns of L’Oreal Paris in 2015, and the print and video promotions for Uniqlo's spring 2014 campaign alongside Pharrell Williams.
Sara Sampaio
Born: July 21, 1991
Notable work: “Best Female Model” Vogue Portugal Fashion Awards 2011, 2012,Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue “Rookie of the Year” 2014, Modeled in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2013 and 2014
Notable work: “Best Female Model” Vogue Portugal Fashion Awards 2011, 2012,Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue “Rookie of the Year” 2014, Modeled in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2013 and 2014
Hailing from Porto, Portugal, Sara Sampaio first broke onto the scene following a victory at the Cabelos Pantene contest in 2007. She broke into the U.S. market via her Axe ads in 2011.
Arguably her most recognizable role, one as a Victoria's Secret model, began at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show in 2013. In terms of magazine covers, her portfolio includes GQ Portgual, GQ Mexico, and Vogue Spain. Sampaio also has years of work with Jeremy Scott, featuring in ads and runways for both on his adidas collections and for Moschino runway shows.
Karlie Kloss
Born: August 3, 1992
Notable work: Victoria's Secret Angel since 2011, Modeled in Victoria’s Secret Fashion show since 2011; Created the Karlie Kloss x Warby Parker collection of eyewear in 2014; Ad campaigns for Joe Fresh, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, and L'Oreal; Cover of March 2015 Vogue with Taylor Swift
Notable work: Victoria's Secret Angel since 2011, Modeled in Victoria’s Secret Fashion show since 2011; Created the Karlie Kloss x Warby Parker collection of eyewear in 2014; Ad campaigns for Joe Fresh, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, and L'Oreal; Cover of March 2015 Vogue with Taylor Swift
Karlie Kloss broke into the fashion world at the 14 with a shoot for the June 2006 issue of Scene Magazine. Since that time, she has walked for Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, and Louis Vuitton (among many others). In 2011 she became a Victoria’s Secret Angel and walked in the Victoria's Secret fashion show every year since. Recently, she's tapped into her fitness side by modeling Nike's tech gear for Fall 2014.
It's often noted that her runway success is assisted by her signature "moody gait."
She's made a name for herself by breaking out of a singular “fashion” lane, crafting a healthy cookie line (naturally called Karlie's Kookies) via Momofuku Milk Bar, and hanging with major celebrities like Taylor Swift (who she sharedVogue's March 2015 cover with). You probably didn't see Karlie koming, but she sure isn't going out of sight any time soon.
Soo Joo Park
Born: March 26, 1989
Notable work: DNKY spring 2015 campaign; Chanel Haute Couture spring/summer 2015 show; Hood By Air fall/winter 2015 show
Notable work: DNKY spring 2015 campaign; Chanel Haute Couture spring/summer 2015 show; Hood By Air fall/winter 2015 show
At just 25, South Korean model Soo Joo Park has already amassed an impressive resume. She’s strutted down the catwalks of Peter Som and Hood By Air, was recruited for DKNY’s Spring 2015 campaign, and has appeared in editorials for magazines like Hunger, and Vogue Japan. She’s not just a pretty face; she studied studied architecture and design at UC Berkeley, and she recently took on the role as creative advisor with Caeden headphones in 2014. Beauty and brains? Total wifey material.
Jourdan Dunn
Born: August 3, 1990
Notable work: “Model of the Year” at 2008 British Fashion Awards; Modeled in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show from 2012 to 2014; Face of Maybelline New York; Host of web series "Well Dunn"; Featured in Beyoncé;s "Yonce" video
Notable work: “Model of the Year” at 2008 British Fashion Awards; Modeled in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show from 2012 to 2014; Face of Maybelline New York; Host of web series "Well Dunn"; Featured in Beyoncé;s "Yonce" video
London-born Jourdan Dunn is one of our favorite models from across the pond. She carries an interesting “0-100” come-up story, starting her career after being randomly discovered at a Primark in 2006 by Storm Model Management (the iconic agency that also discovered Kate Moss). Recent accomplishments include Dunn's cover of British Vogue (becoming the first solo model of African descent to grace the cover in 12 years) modeling in the Victoria's Secret Fashion show, and becoming the face of Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2015 campaign alongside Naomi Campbell.
If you're looking to see more of Dunn off the runway, head over to Jay-Z's Life + Times site, where she hosts a cooking show titled “Well Dunn” (get it?).
Sui He
Born: September 23, 1989
Notable work: Walked in the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show; 2011 Ralph Lauren Campaign
Notable work: Walked in the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show; 2011 Ralph Lauren Campaign
The media is swooning over Sui He right now, and it’s not hard to see why; just a few years into her career, she’s already making history as a pioneer for Chinese models. She became the face of Ralph Lauren in 2011 after she walked Ralph's runway in that year's fall/winter season. She holds the honor of being the first Asian to open one of his shows. Shortly after, she covered Vogue China’s sixth anniversary issue and became the first Asian global spokesperson for Sheiseido, a Japanese hair and cosmetics label.
In December of 2011, she turned heads as the second Chinese model to walk the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, and with a sweet face and a personality to match. Since her break out season in fall/winter 2011, she is quickly emerging on the industry forefront.
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Tags:
Lists, Cara Delevingne, Chrissy Teigen, Models, Models At Work, kendall-jenner, candice-swanpoel
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