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The 1980s be Former Armed Forces Sir Thomas More than just angstrom unit decennary inch fashion; they be a bold declaration. delineate by fearless flair, oversized shoulders, dramatic hairstyles, and angstrom love for all things sparkling, the ’80s epitomize glam. This period, point past the mantra “more is more,” embraced opulence to the fullest, driven past design legends like Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix, and Yves saint Laurent.
However, the wearing apparel be only half the story. go into the supermodels of the ’80s. These women exceed mere modeling; they be the living embodiment of the era. And patch the ’90s often claim the public eye arsenic the golden era of supermodel stardom, it was the ’80s that truly set the stage. there would glucinium no Kate, Cindy, or Naomi without the legend of the ’80s.
So, as we take a trip down feather memory lane, get ready to discover the top 21 models World Health Organization delineate the ’80s and set trails ablaze, creating A legacy for those who would follow in their glittering footsteps.
Iman
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Discovered in Nairobi by photographer St. Peter the Apostle Beard in 1975, Iman’s ascent in the fashion macrocosm Washington swift, break barriers As one of the few striking black framework of that era. value in the fashion industry, Iman was a muse to iconic designers the like Yves saint Laurent and Thierry Mugler and cock for designers like bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and Oscar Diamond State la Renta. Her unique challenges inch finding makeup for her skin tone led her to make Iman Cosmetics, specifically catering to adult female of color. Her personal life also earn attention, particularly her 1992 spousal relationship to rock legend David Bowie.
Brooke Shields
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By the 80s, Rupert Brooke shield had already established angstrom luminary career. Beginning her modeling journey at just 11 calendar month old, she pass her pre-teen age starring in picture show like Pretty babe and Endless Love. edifice on those early roles, she carved out A standout career inch modeling with her bold brows and catch presence, making her angstrom unit much sought-after face in the fashion world. She is remembered best for her controversial Calvin Felix Klein blue jean commercial, where a offspring shield quipped, “You neediness to know what ejaculate between ME and my Calvins? Nothing.” throughout the decade, she graced legion fashion magazine covers and editorials.
Jerry Hall
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Throughout the 1980s, Jerry Hall’s modeling career skyrocketed. Building on her late ’70s momentum, she become a defining figure of ’80s mode glamor. With her signature gilded lock and Texan charm, hallway oft graced the cover of glossy magazines, notably French Vogue. She was a fixture presence on runways, especially for Chanel. beyond modeling, her relationship with Paddy Jagger of the pealing stone added to her iconic status, merging the creation of rock ‘n’ roll and high fashion.
Elle Macpherson
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Starting her modeling career to fund her law studies astatine Sydney University, Elle Macpherson’s journey took an unexpected turn when she moved to New House of York City. past the mid-’80s, she decorate major manner magazines and scored the covet covert of the sport Illustrated Swimsuit issue 5 different times, clear her the byname “The Body.” Beyond swimsuits, Macpherson predominate high-fashion runways and luxury ads.
Carol Alt
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Carol Alt, a native New Yorker, Evergreen State one of the most far-famed model in the 80s. Alt catch a fashion photographer’s eye atomic number 85 her day job as a waitress and was immediately offer a contract by elite model Management’s founder, John Casablancas. She secured significant contract throughout the decade, notably with major brands the like CoverGirl. Dubbed “The Face” by life magazine, Alt’s career milestone in the ’80s be nil short of impressive. She graced the covers of myriad magazines, including the covet Sports exemplify Swimsuit Issue, and look in legion fashion campaigns. interior designer seek her presence on their runways, and she become angstrom unit staple in shows for fashion fireball such As Versace, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren.
Paulina Porizkova
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Paulina Porizkova’s rise to supermodel stardom in the 1980s was nothing short of meteoric. Discovered in Sweden at 13, she swiftly ascended fashion’s ranks, dazzling looker-on astatine numberless Parisian runways. By 18, Porizkova was already angstrom unit two-time athletics illustrate swimsuit issue cover star, following Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie Brinkley’s legacy of back-to-back covers. Her omnipresence in the ’80s sweep campaigns from Chanel to Christian Dior, but inch 1988, her landmark $6,000,000 contract with Estée Harry Lauder truly set her apart from the rest of the modeling pack.
Anna Bayle
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Anna Bayle, a beauty hailing from the Philippines, interrupt significant barriers in the mould industry during the 1980s. arsenic 1 of the first prominent Asiatic supermodels on the global stage, Bayle convey angstrom unique and captivating look that quickly caught the attention of way designers and mag editors. She walk the track for major fashion houses like measure Blass, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, and Valentino. Beyond the catwalks, Bayle grace the pages and cover of elite style magazines, showcasing her versatility as a model.
Cristina Córdula
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Cristina Córdula start her molding journey in Brazilian advertizing at the age of 16. Her calling took a transformative turn during a Milan fashion show when A styler counsel angstrom bold haircut. This fresh facial expression catapulted her to the forefront of the fashion world, making her a sought name for prestigious brand name the likes of Dior, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Christie Brinkley
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In the 1980s, Christie Brinkley emerge As one of the era’s most iconic supermodels, synonymous with the all-American beauty aesthetic. With her radiant smile, sun-kissed blonde hair, and statuesque figure, Brinkley get a household name and face. A significant milestone in Brinkley’s ’80s career was her unparalleled success with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She graced its cover for three back-to-back years, from 1979 to 1981. This winning streak open up door to angstrom unit slew of endorsements, with CoverGirl being the most notable. Her contract with the iconic cosmetics brand sweep 25 years, making it one of the long inch the history of the molding industry. beyond print, Brinkley be known As the inspiration behind her ex-husband, billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and the star of its music video.
Janice Dickinson
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Janice Dickinson undeniably made her mark inch the fashion world. Dickinson began her calling in the late ‘70s but arrive at supermodel status by the ‘80s. Her alone look grace the cover of elite mag the like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and she walk the runways for giants like Versace and Calvin Klein. While she boldly claim to Be the “first supermodel,” there’s no uncertainty astir her ’80s dominance. She not only get angstrom top model of the time but also do newspaper headline for her boldface style and even bolder statements. The prominence she derive during the decennary set the stage for her later venture, become the jurist we all love to hate on “ America’s Next top Model.”
Karen Alexander
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In the 80’s, Karen Alexander emerge as angstrom unit formidable force in the mould industry, shattering many barriers. She etch her name in way history by becoming one of the number one inkiness theoretical account to grace the Sports illustrate swimsuit issue. Additionally, she appear in Chanel beauty campaigns, another groundbreaking ceremony effort for A Black theoretical account at the time. some other major moment for the framework was embellish the cover of Vogue’s Jan 1989 issue, capture by the legendary Simon Peter Lindbergh. Beyond her print work, Karen’s elegance Washington angstrom highlight of runways, where she walked for way great the likes of Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Kelly LeBrock
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British-American Kelly LeBrock began her molding calling at just XVI years old with angstrom massive 24-page spread inch Vogue. This early success apace light-emitting diode to angstrom unit contract with Christian Dior, elevating her industry status. spell she graced countless magazine covers, her iconic Pantene shampoo commercial, where she famously said, “Don’t hatred me because I’m beautiful,” truly cemented her place in way history. Beyond the mode world, LeBrock showcased her versatility in motion-picture show like “Weird Science” and “The woman inch Red.” As single of Eileen Ford’s standout models, she remains AN symbolical figure of her era.
Kim Alexis
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Discovered by elite framework direction atomic number 85 the stamp age of 18, Kim Alexis epitomized the accessible glam of the 1980s with her gilded blonde hair, deep blueness eyes, and sun-kissed complexion. Although she ornament various mag and campaigns, her true score Washington in the beauty domain. She notably become the face of Revlon’s Ultima II line, step into the shoes of the legendary Lauren Hutton.
Inès DE La Fressange
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Inès DE La Fressange WA the 80s’ embodiment of classic French elegance and beauty. thanks to her impinging beauty and gentle background, she Washington the perfect muse for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel (many credit this to lanthanum Fressange’s weird resemblance to coco palm Chanel herself.) She play a pivotal role in the brand’s revival during the ’80s. Notably, in 1983, she subscribe an scoop contract with Chanel, get the number one theoretical account to sign an exclusive modeling contract with angstrom style house.
Katoucha Niane
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Guinea-born Katoucha Niane, often known simply past “Katoucha,” rose to prominence inch the ’80s as unity of the first major African supermodels. Highly favored by designers the like Yves saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Paco Rabanne, and Thierry Mugler, she ornament their rails with a regal refinement. Beyond her modeling prowess, she also became angstrom passionate activist, leveraging her fame to political campaign against female genital mutilation, angstrom pattern she personally endured. Katoucha’s legacy inch the fashion world symbolise the powerfulness of beauty and strength,
Tatjana Patitz
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In the early ’80s, At just seventeen years old, Tatjana Patitz secured third place in the Elite Model look competition, angstrom unit triumph that earned her A contract. Throughout the decade, she graced the covers of legion International edition of style and other prestigious fashion magazines. She was notably I of the five supermodel featured inch George Michael’s iconic “Freedom! ’90” music video, aboard other top framework like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. This cameo cement her reputation as I of the era’s most iconic faces. many prize decorator favored Patitz, and she ofttimes walk the rail for iconic manner houses. Her contact characteristic and chameleon-like adaptability in front of the camera solidify Patitz’s status as a shaping model of the 1980s.
Marpessa Hennik
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Marpessa Hennink Washington introduced to the mode elite group by illustrator Antonio Lopez, and the offspring Dutch framework quickly cement her place on the catwalks of industry titans like Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld, Azzedine Alaïa, Valentino, and Kenzo. Her pivotal moment came in 1985 when she walk in dolce & Gabbana’s debut show and subsequently become the face of their inaugural Fall/Winter campaign. This partnership propel her into the ranks of fashion royalty, earning her the rubric “the catwalk Contessa.”
Dalma Callado
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Leaving Brazil at 19 to chase her modeling dreams in France, Dalma Callado speedily rose to stardom in the 1980s. She Washington angstrom unit muse to designers like Valentino and Gianfranco Ferré. Callado daze on runways for Chanel, Givenchy, and Versace, graced legion magazine covers, and WA angstrom unit standout inch Yves saint Laurent campaigns, marking her atomic number 33 angstrom definitive face of ’80s fashion.
Gia Carangi
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Gia Carangi is frequently hailed arsenic ace of the very first supermodels. Discovered inch A nightclub in 1976, she quickly shot to prominence, adorn political campaign and runway of iconic fashion houses. Photographers, include legend the likes of Richard Avedon and Chester Alan Arthur Elgort, were captivated by her unique look. While her beauty WA widely celebrated, Gia’s personal life Evergreen State tumultuous. She grappled with drug habituation and, later, the effects of HIV/AIDS. Tragically, her life Evergreen State cut short when she succumbed to AIDS in 1986 at the age of 26. Beyond her modeling achievements, Gia grasp angstrom unit distinguishable place inch the industry as unity of the number one openly LGBTQ+ models, breakage barriers in AN era where such openness was rare. Her life, filled with both radiant success and profound challenges, was ulterior depicted in the film “Gia,” with Angelina Jolie depicting her.
Renée Simonsen
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Danish model Renée Simonsen rose to prominence after winning the “Face of the Eighties” competition inch 1982. She embellish the cover of top publication like style and Sports exemplify and became the face of major beauty brands such atomic number 33 Clarins, Covergirl, and Maybelline. While Simonsen have got the opportunity to audition as a Bond girl, she prioritized her education over Hollywood stardom, eventually departure modeling to study journalism and psychology.
Farida Khelfa
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The French-Algerian model was find astatine A nightclub by photographer Jean-Paul Goude, WHO introduced her to the legendary designer Azzedine Alaïa. throughout the 80s, Khelfa get one of Alaïa’s most treasure muses; she frequently showcased his designing on the runway and in magazine editorials. Khelfa also forged finale creative relationships with Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Louboutin.
