The Original Big 5 Supermodels: Where Are They Now?

The concept of the ‘supermodel’ is thought to have originated in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until the '90s that it was fully realised. Five models, known as the ‘Big 5’, defined an era and dominated the decade—appearing not only across international runways, designer campaigns and billboards but films, TV shows, music videos, red carpets, and at every high-profile event.

Let's take a look at the Big 5 that ruled the 90s runway and where they are today.

Who Were The 5 Original Supermodels?

Naomi Campbell

Campbell was the Big 5's undeniable queen bee. Since being discovered at the tender age of 15, the London-born model has graced the covers of over 500 magazines, appearing in campaigns for Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace, and many other top designers. She blazed a trail for women of colour in the industry, being the first black model to appear on the cover of TIME magazine and French, Russian and British Vogue.

But Naomi is no mere model. She also has a long list of film, music video and TV credits. While known for her diva antics, Campbell has proven she has heart, supporting charities such as the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and founding Fashion for Relief which has helped support victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Japan and Haiti earthquakes.

Where is She Now?

In 2021, Campbell graced the Spring issue cover of i-D magazine and was named the face of streetwear brand Hood by Air. This past week also marked a major milestone for the supermodel who welcomed her first child via surrogate.

Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer was the blonde bombshell of the Big 5 and still holds the record for the model with the most magazine covers, with over 1,000 under her belt.

Schiffer was known as the iconic Guess girl and quickly rose to fame as the face of Chanel after being handpicked by Karl Lagerfeld. She strutted the runway for every luxury designer, launched her own cashmere collection, is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and has even dabbled on the big screen with cameos in Love Actually and Zoolander.

Where is She now?

Since marrying British director Matthew Vaughn in 2002, Schiffer stepped out of the limelight to raise her three children. She still dips her toes into the modelling world, appearing alongside her supermodel counterparts in Versace's 2018 Spring show and starring on the covers of Russian and Italian Vogue over the last few years.

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford and her trademark beauty spot shot to stardom after nabbing the 1982 Elite Look of the Year award. Though she appeared on seemingly every magazine and runway during that era, the model is best known as the face of Revlon and her appearance in that iconic Pepsi commercial.

She, too, is known for her advocacy and charity work and has starred in several movies, TV shows and music videos—even releasing her own fitness videos.

Where is She now?

This model and mum appears to be as relevant as ever, featuring on the cover of Vogue Brazil and Harpers Bazaar Russia in May this year and even making a surprise appearance in the highly anticipated Friends Reunion.

Christy Turlington

The famous face of Maybelline needs no introduction. Christy was scouted at age 14 and has since modelled for high-end designers including Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, and Valentino. She starred in Calvin Klein's 1988 Eternity campaign, later appearing in 2014, 2017 and 2020 versions with her husband, Edward Burns.

The multi-talented model has started several business ventures, including clothing lines and an ayurvedic skincare range. She is also a documentary filmmaker, a contributing writer for Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, and The Huffington Post, and is the author of "Living Yoga: Creating A Life Practice."

Where is She Now?

More recently, Turlington appeared in Fendi's Spring '21 show in Paris, alongside Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. And in May this year, the model appeared in a Vogue-produced video promoting the new Adidas Ultra Boost 21 trainers.

Linda Evangelista

Evangelista is the model who famously said, "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." The Canadian supermodel (and long-time muse of photographer Steven Meisel) is known as the fashion industry's 'chameleon' with her frequent reinventions and ever-changing hair colours and styles. She made her mark modelling for the likes of Chanel, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, amongst others.

Where is She Now?

The model, and now mum, retired in 1998 but has since appeared in several designer campaigns. She is also the creative director and vice president of skincare line Erasa.