7 ICONs: Top Models and How they represent the Collective
Town Studio is privileged to host some of the most well known models in the industry, and has also hosted some models with incredible promise. What makes a model an icon? Is it a moment in time? Is the model a celebrity or is a model representative of a particular moment in time that mirrors our collective identity? Let’s look at some of these icons and think about collective identity and the models that defined the eras.
Twiggy - Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby, is a British model who rose to fame in the 1960s. She was known for her androgynous look, short hair, and big eyes, which became a symbol of the era. Twiggy's popularity helped to popularize the "mod" fashion style and has continued to inspire fashion trends to this day. Her rise also coincided with liberation of women and a challenge to patriarchy.
Iman - Iman is a Somali-American model and actress who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. She was known for her stunning beauty and her ability to connect with audiences through her work. Iman has been a trailblazer for models of color and was one of the first models to use her platform to promote diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry.
Cindy Crawford - Cindy Crawford is an American supermodel who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. She was known for her all-American beauty, and her signature mole above her lip. Crawford was one of the highest-paid models of her time, and her popularity helped to elevate the status of the supermodel to that of a cultural icon. Let’s think about the 90s for a moment. Cindy Crawford typifies the era of models as celebrities, but were their comparisons drawn regarding our own fascination with celebrity?
Naomi Campbell - Naomi Campbell is an English model who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. She was known for her striking beauty and her ability to capture the attention of audiences with her confident and commanding presence. Campbell has been an outspoken trailblazer for models of color and has been an advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. Her career extended beyond the Model/Celebrity axis in the 1990s and she also has been a critic of the fashion industry in general regarding inclusion.
Kate Moss - Kate Moss is an English model who rose to fame in the 1990s. She was known for her waifish, androgynous look, which helped to define the "heroin chic" fashion trend. Moss's unique look and style have made her a constant presence in the fashion world for over three decades. Kate Moss’s rise was shocking, however, it was in stark contrast to the celebrity models, whose salaries were widely known, and whose shapes were more voluptuous.
Gisele Bundchen - Gisele Bundchen is a Brazilian supermodel who is considered one of the most successful models of all time. She has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and has appeared on countless magazine covers. Bundchen's popularity helped to usher in a new era of supermodels and cemented her status as a cultural icon. Gisele could be categorized as the epitome of Victoria’s Secret model era. Slightly more celebrity than Kate Moss, but scrutinized and praised for their physical stature and walks.
Tyra Banks - Tyra Banks, also of the Victoria’s Secret era, is an African American model and television personality who rose to fame in the 1990s. She was known for her striking beauty, and her ability to connect with audiences through her television appearances. Banks has been a role model for young women and has used her platform to promote self-confidence and self-love. Like Naomi Campbell in outspokenness and in celebrity, Tyra Banks also began more commentary on issues of weight and image in the industry, using her talent as her platform.
These are just a few of the 21st century icons of the model industry. They have shaped the way we think of fashion and beauty, and also as we see here, are a reflection of the collective identity and ideal that a model represents. Town Studio has one of the most diverse portfolios and is proud to be a starting point for many fresh faces, new talents, and where a new collective identity is developed. We look forward to hosting the next ICON at Town.