Carmen Kass is an Estonian fashion model. She has worked as the face of brands such as Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Valentino, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and, for ten consecutive years, Michael Kors. The American edition of Vogue declared her and Gisele Bündchen the two supermodels of the era on its January 2000 cover.
Kass in 2010
Kass backstage at a Bill Blass fashion show in 2003
Kass (left) participating in the 2004 Mainz Chess Classic
A supermodel is a highly paid fashion model who has a worldwide reputation and background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became popular in the 1990s.
Supermodels usually work for prominent fashion designers and clothing brands. They may have multimillion-dollar contracts, endorsements, and campaigns. Supermodels have branded themselves as household names and worldwide recognition is associated with their modeling careers. They have been on the covers of leading fashion magazines. Claudia Schiffer stated in 2007 that, "In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognise the girls."
Gisele Bündchen was the world's highest-paid supermodel between 2003 and 2016.
Lisa Fonssagrives at London Paddington station, 1951
Margaux Hemingway in 1976. In 1975, Hemingway landed a then-unprecedented million-dollar contract as the face of Fabergé's Babe perfume
Elle Macpherson, nicknamed "The Body" by Time magazine
