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While some may argue that the era of the supermodel has now passed, it is undeniable that certain models became true icons through their work. The high-fashion industry is not as accessible to the general populace as music or films, yet a few models have become household names through both their fame and familiarity.

Proving their enduring appeal, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show made a triumphant return after a six-year hiatus, on October 15, 2024. The iconic brand pulled out all the stops, bringing legendary "Angels" like Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Bella and Gigi Hadid, and veteran Carla Bruni to the catwalk. In a particularly special appearance, the label stunned viewers by featuring '90s icon Kate Moss, marking her debut for the brand at the age of 50.

Is the supermodel era back? If you lived through their golden age or are just discovering the icons who paved the way for today's "influencers," this gallery showcases the names that have transcended the catwalk to become industry legends. Click through to learn more about these beauties!

▲The British supermodel is one of the most iconic and well-known faces on the catwalk. She has also been involved in many controversies.

▲The German model has been involved in a huge variety of work, including writing, designing, and appearing in and producing various TV shows and films.

▲The Brazilian model has been credited with ending the "heroin chic" era of modeling, and replacing it with a healthier look. She has been referred to as the "last supermodel."

▲Possibly the most famous model of all time, the British supermodel became enormously famous in the 1990s. She has also been involved in various scandals.

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Since retiring from the runway in 2004, Moss has pivoted her career in fashion, establishing her own modeling agency. Though she has made occasional post-retirement appearances, her return to the Victoria's Secret runway at age 50 was nothing short of spectacular, proving she remains a fashion icon.

▲Highly successful as a model in the 1990s, Cindy Crawford also acted in films. She has also lent her name to furniture collections and appeared in commercials.

▲The German supermodel holds the record for having appeared on the most magazine covers, numbering over a thousand. She resides in the UK.

▲The iconic Canadian supermodel was one of the most successful models of the '80s and '90s. She is famous for having said, "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day."

▲The American supermodel has been involved in a huge number of high-profile advertising campaigns, including 'Eternity' by Calvin Klein. She is also a charity founder.

▲The Ethiopian model was approached for a Gucci campaign in 2000, and her career rose from there. She has also acted and designed clothes.

▲The Australian beauty has been modeling since the early 1980s. She has also appeared in many films, including 'Sirens,' where she starred alongside Hugh Grant.

▲Lesley Lawson, known internationally as Twiggy, came to prominence in the '60s. She is an icon in the modeling industry, and later moved on to a successful acting career.

▲Carla Bruni was born in Italy, but has lived in France for many years. The supermodel is also a singer-songwriter, and has released several albums.

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Bruni, now 56, made her Victoria's Secret runway debut at the 2024 event, stunning attendees with her daring all-black look. This appearance came a year after she revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment four years earlier.

▲The Brazilian model began her career as a teenager, and has modeled for many brands including Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.

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After modeling for Victoria's Secret for 17 years, Ambrosio retired from the brand in 2017. Seven years later, she made a triumphant return, showcasing her iconic strut in the label's first fashion show after a long hiatus.

▲The Brazilian supermodel began her career as a teenager in the late 1990s. She has since appeared in numerous campaigns, though most prominently she was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018.

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Lima, another iconic former Angel, joined the star-studded cast at the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Returning from retirement at 43, she showcased the signature charm that made her catwalk so captivating.

▲The American model has appeared in over 180 fashion shows for brands such as Dolce and Gabbana, and has been modeling for over a decade.

▲The American supermodel found great success in the 1970s and '80s. She now has her own modeling agency, about which a reality TV show was made.

▲The Israeli model began her career as a baby, and has appeared in many fashion editorials. She was criticized by other Israeli models for avoiding their obligatory military service.

▲The American model began her career as a child. She has modeled for Gucci, DKNY, and Dior, though she's best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. She has also acted in two films, one of which is 2015's 'Dope.'

▲The English model began her career in 1960. Her look embodied the fashion of the so-called "Swinging Sixties" youth movement.

▲The English model was talent scouted in a London Primark store in 2006, and was doing international runway shows by the following year.

▲The Canadian supermodel began modeling in the 2000s. She is known for her charitable endeavors, and has spoken out against the industry's links with anorexia.

▲Originally from Sudan, Alek Wek moved to the UK in 1991 as a child refugee. A few years later, she starred in Tina Turner's 'GoldenEye' music video, which began her career.

▲The Dutch model began her career in 2003, and has become one of the highest-earning models in the world. She is also involved in charitable causes.

▲The Russian model was born into poverty in the Soviet era. She eventually signed a seven-figure modeling contract with Calvin Klein. She is also highly philanthropic.

▲Miranda Kerr began modeling in the late 1990s, while still a teenager. Her success has been attributed to her "girl-next-door" look. She was the first Australian Victoria's Secret model.

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Modeling since she was just two years old, Gigi Hadid made her highly anticipated return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 runway. Hadid opened the event in a memorable look, complete with the brand's signature Angel wings, in her first time walking the Victoria's Secret runway since 2018.

▲Beginning her career as a young teenager, Karlie Kloss quickly began to achieve great success, and had already appeared in hundreds of shows before becoming an adult.

▲The model and actress was born in Ukraine, under the Soviet regime. She began her career as an actress, in film such as 'The Fifth Element.' She later became highly prolific in modeling for brands like Prada and Versace.

▲The English model and author began her career in modeling at age 18. Some of her advertisements in the UK were considered controversial, due to her state of undress.

▲The English model was one of the most successful of the 1980s. She has modeled for many designers, including Chanel, Calvin Klein, and Christian Dior.

▲Christie Brinkley became very famous in the 1970s for appearing in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. She was the face of CoverGirl for many years.

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The German supermodel rose to fame in the 1990s, and participated in runway shows for Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, and Chanel, among many others.

Sources: (InStyle) (The Nightly)

The most iconic supermodels of all time

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returned in 2024 after six-year hiatus

13/12/19 por Paul Hartley

FASHION Fashion

While some may argue that the era of the supermodel has now passed, it is undeniable that certain models became true icons through their work. The high-fashion industry is not as accessible to the general populace as music or films, yet a few models have become household names through both their fame and familiarity.

Proving their enduring appeal, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show made a triumphant return after a six-year hiatus on October 15, 2024. The iconic brand pulled out all the stops, bringing legendary "Angels" like Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Bella and Gigi Hadid, and veteran Carla Bruni to the catwalk. In a particularly special appearance, the label stunned viewers by featuring '90s icon Kate Moss, marking her debut for the brand at the age of 50. Is the supermodel era back? If you lived through their golden age or are just discovering the icons who paved the way for today's "influencers," this gallery showcases the names that have transcended the catwalk to become industry legends. Click through to learn more about these beauties!

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