Linda Evangelista

The Canadian scorcher once said, “We don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day”! That one statement highlighted the power of the Linda Evangelista brand, often credited for sparking the supermodel craze of the late 1980s and 90s. Piercing eyes, perfect features and those never-ending legs made Linda a favourite cover girl. Her ever-changing hairstyle and rare ability to transform herself in front of the camera made her The Chameleon. Did Culture Club have the sexy Evangelista in mind when they sang the iconic Karma Chameleon?

 

Claudia Schiffer

Barbie doll innocence blended with sultry charm. That’s Claudia Schiffer. The 5’ 11” Uptown Girl once said, “Supermodels, like we once were, don’t exist any more”. It’s easy to see why. Those arresting blue eyes, gorgeous blonde mane and killer curves have made many a magazine cover a collector’s edition. Karl Lagerfeld zeroed in on her to be the Chanel girl. And the campaign for Guess denims catapulted her to super stardom. Versace to Valentino, Schiffer has been the face and bod of every iconic label.

 

 

Cindy Crawford

We have stared at that mole — and much more! — for years. Add to that a chiselled face, oh-so-kissable lips and cascading brown locks — a killer combo called Cindy Crawford. The American supermodel shot into the limelight in her teens and has since remained the face of the ramp for many. Versace to Escada, Prada to Gucci, Cindy has been every biggie’s darling. With over 400 magazine covers — including a Playboy in just a thong — here’s a supermodel for all seasons and all reasons. Richard Gere was mesmerised by her once upon a time. We still are.

 

 

Christy Turlington

She was the face of Calvin Klein from 1987 to 2007, a good 13 years after she bid the ramp adieu in 1994. Proof enough of the North California superstar’s standing in the world of modelling? Her sparkling eyes and precious pout saw her making it to the cover of Vogue, Time and Vanity Fair. Sabysachi Mukherjee called her “the world’s most beautiful model, ever” in his in his t2 Ode To Beauty issue. Dare disagree?

 

 

Naomi Campbell

One look at her striking face (and bod!) and you know why Naomi Campbell was the “first black cover girl” for French Vogue. The sexy skin offset by a stunning black mane, puckers to kill for and dreamy eyes — the 5’9” British bombshell has shot for more than 500 covers including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and GQ. India got a taste of Naomi magic when she walked at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2009. Her ramp presence forces us to forgive her bad behaviour. Almost.

 

 

 

Kate Moss

She hit the spotlight running with her black and white photographs for Calvin Klein more than a decade ago. Often dubbed the anti-supermodel for herwaif-like — bordering on the anorexic — frame, the British runway scorcher worked with the best in the business, Gucci to Gabbana, Chanel to Cavalli. What about that hint of being cross-eyed? With Moss, that’s sexy too.

 

Gisele Bund

When Naomi Campbell says, “After Gisele, I don’t think there’s been one (supermodel)”, you get the drift. Golden tan, dark blonde hair, super curves and those here-to-eternity legs make for a bootylicious Brazilian babe called Gisele Bundchen. Plus, she had the uber-sexy Leonardo DiCaprio as arm candy. We jealous? Koi shaque?!

 

 

 

 

Here are three supermodels-in-waiting all poised to be the next big thing

Chanel Iman

All of 20 and already a Victoria’s Secret Angel. At 16, she was the youngest ever Vogue cover girl. Hailed as one of the “world’s next top models”, Chanel Iman has labels like Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermes and Givenchy to her name. A rising star on the ramp with a girl-next-door charm and a diva-ish attitude. Watch out.

 

 

 

 

Coco Rocha

That red mouth hasn’t looked better on anyone for a while. Less than five years on the ramp, 22-year-old Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha has walked for the best in the business. Her supermodel moment? When she opened and closed the 2007 Jean Paul Gaultier show by performing an Irish dance down the runway. Oh so Coco! (That’s also her Twitter handle, by the way.)

 

 

 

 

Jessica Stam

The name is Stam. Jessica Stam. Dior to DKNY, Bulgari to BCBG — the 24-year-old Canadian ramp hottie is on the wish-list of every big name in the fashion world. What makes her the next big thing? Her “doll” image and a sweet smile. Need further proof of Stam’s supermodel status? Marc Jacobs has a bag — The Marc Jacobs Stam — dedicated to her. Sigh.

 

 

 

 

Four Indian ramp scorchers who redefined the desi fashion scene

Madhu Sapre

Oomph has been her middle name. Thanks to the dusky complexion, that sexy pout and rare long legs. The beauty queen who nearly became India’s first Miss Universe was a newsmaker, on and off the ramp. For many girls growing up around that time she was the last word in being uninhibited and gutsy. Who can forget the shoe ad in which she posed with only a python and Milind Soman covering her?

 

 

Ujjwala Raut

Few would have expected this girl from small-town Dahisar to take the global fashion scene by storm. Ungaro girl Ujjwala Raut had the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta queuing up at her door. What for? Super-high cheekbones and a body to drool over. Ujjwala is also one of the top 50 Victoria’s Secret Angels of all time. Get the picture?

 

Mehr Jessia

One of our earliest supermodels. And perhaps our best. Tall and lissome, this Parsi stunner acquainted the average Indian with the fashion world. Today, as a mother of two and one half of a celebrity couple (she’s married to actor Arjun Rampal), Mehr continues to turn heads. Class act.

 

 

 

Sheetal Mallar

The wild child was a winner on the runway. The face of Maybelline and a favourite with Fendi and Armani, Sheetal Mallar was one of India’s last supermodels. Now a photographer, she is almost as successful behind the lens as she was in front of it.