The World's Most Famous Supermodels

Naomi Campbell

A top modeling agent was window shopping at London's Covent Garden when she spotted this Brit —who was just 15 at the time—launching her career. Campbell's first gig had come years earlier, though, with an on-screen appearance.

Bing: Campbell's first "role"

Search: She's on a Vogue cover this month

Find: See more pics of the Brit beauty

Niki Taylor

After winning a $500,000 modeling contract at 13, Taylor appeared on the cover of Seventeen the following year.

Bing: When did she land her first Vogue cover?

Search: How many kids does Taylor now have?

Find: Her younger sister was a model, too

Alek Wek

Wek and her family fled South Sudan for Britain to escape civil war in 1991.

Bing: How was Wek discovered?

Search: Her latest campaign for a popular European brand

Find: More photos of the Sudanese beauty

Irina Pantaeva

After leaving her native Siberia to pursue modeling, Pantaeva tried to break into the Paris fashion scene, to no avail.

Bing: When did Pantaeva catch her big break?

Search: What was she known as on the runway?

Find: See the Siberian "princess" strut her stuff

Erin Wasson

This Texas-raised beauty got her start after her father entered her in former model Kim Dawson's inaugural ModelSearch contest, which Wasson won.

Bing: Her latest spring 2013 campaign

Search: She starred in this 2012 big-screen thriller

Find: More photos of the Texan beauty

Veronica Webb

After Webb moved from Detroit to New York to study design and pursue her dream of becoming an animator, a makeup artist spotted her in a boutique, which led her to make a major career change.

Bing: She co-hosted a Bravo show, among others, in recent years

Search: See Webb with her two young daughters

Find: More photos of the model

Bridget Hall

A model since the age of 10, Hall dropped out of high school and moved to New York City. She was one of the highest-paid models (who else has made this list?) in the world by age 18.

Bing: She's known for her provocative Sports Illustrated photos

Search: More photos of the model

Kate Moss

The 14-year-old Moss was returning from a vacation in the Bahamas in 1988 when a top modeling agent discovered her at JFK Airport. She soon became the face of the '90s grunge movement (see some of her first photos).

Bing: She performed with another famous model last summer

Search: Moss married in 2011 | See her with her daughter

Find: Her collaboration with a popular British fashion brand

Linda Evangelista

This Canadian-born supermodel was discovered by a talent agent when she competed in a Miss Teen Niagara contest in 1978 (how old is she now?).

Bing: What recent scandal was she at the center of?

Search: She once dated this actor

Find: More photos of the model

Natalia Vodianova

As a teen, Vodianova helped her mother sell vegetables in the streets of Russia. But after enrolling in modeling school at age 15, she was on her way to becoming a fashion icon.

Bing: She's the face for a British designer's spring 2013 campaign

Search: Who's she currently dating?

Find: See her with her three children

Christy Turlington

While in Miami with her father, Turlington caught the eye of a local photographer. At age 14, she started modeling after school, then moved to New York—where she was clearly a huge hit.

Bing: Who's Turlington's famous hubby?

Search: Do they have any kids?

Find: She was the longtime face for this famous brand

Karen Mulder

Mulder unexpectedly got her start when a friend of hers secretly submitted her photos to Elite Model Management's Look of the Year contest in 1985. After placing second in the finals, she made modeling her career and started walking in major shows just two years later. How old is she today?

Bing: What was she arrested for in 2009?

Search: More photos of the former Dutch model

Beverly Johnson

Credited as the first black supermodel, Johnson got her start when she walked into esteemed promoter Pete Bennett's office and asked for his help. Legend has it that 24 hours later, she clinched the cover of Glamour and, shortly after, Vogue.

Bing: See Johnson's famous cover shots

Search: How old is she today?

Find: See recent pics of the "ageless" model

Claudia Schiffer

This German model initially aspired to work as a lawyer at her father's firm. But while out at a nightclub, she was spotted by Metropolitan Model Agency's Michel Levaton, who signed her at age 17. How old is the model today?

Bing: What honor did she recently turn down?

Search: See Schiffer in her early modeling days

Elle Macpherson

Before she was crowned "The Body," Macpherson was just another gal growing up in Sydney's suburbs. That is, until she landed a TV commercial for Tab in 1982, which launched her career and established her as Australia's official "girl next door." Watch her in this early TV appearance.

Bing: What show does she currently host?

Search: Her successful skincare line

Find: Where does Macpherson live today?

Peggy Moffitt

Unlike most top models, who were "discovered," Moffitt broke into the business by standing out with a signature look that included an asymmetrical haircut (created by whom?), Kabuki-style makeup and false eyelashes (see more photos).

Bing: How old is Moffitt today?

Search: She posed for a controversial look in 1964

Find: More photos of Moffitt's famous looks throughout the years

Sophie Dahl

Dahl got her start when she walked in pal Lainey Keogh's first major show in London Fashion Week in 1997, catching the attention of a Vogue stylist who helped get her an agent.

Bing: Which fashion magazine does she contribute to?

Search: She's expecting her second baby this year

Find: Who's her British singer hubby?

Jerry Hall

Using insurance money she received after a car accident, Hall left Texas for Paris and was soon noticed by a fashion agent while tanning on a St. Tropez beach. See early photos of the model.

Bing: Which skincare line does she currently represent?

Search: She has four children with a famous musician

Find: Who's she currently dating?

Lauren Hutton

Sartorial legend Diana Vreeland discovered Hutton in 1966 and convinced a fashion photographer to shoot her despite her (now-famous) gap-tooth smile (see more photos) and 5-foot-7-inch frame.

Bing: How old is Hutton today?

Search: She posed nude at a famous age

Find: See early photos of the model/actress

Helena Christensen

This Copenhagen-born model started her career as a beauty queen, winning the Miss Denmark crown in 1986 before moving to Paris to pursue modeling. How old is she now?

Bing: She just launched a super sexy lingerie line

Search: She was linked to this famous actor

Find: See more pics of the former Victoria's Secret Angel

Grace Jones

This model, singer and actress got her start after moving to Paris post-college, where she was discovered dancing on tables in bars and nightclubs.

Bing: How old is Jones today?

Search: See her filmography

Find: She once performed at this famous New York hotspot

Veruschka von Lehndorff

After a particularly rough childhood, some of which was spent in World War II labor camps, von Lehndorff moved to Florence at age 20, where photographer Ugo Mulas helped launch her modeling career.

Bing: How old is von Lehndorff today?

Search: See her on the runway, which she still occasionally frequents

Cindy Crawford

While working a very unglam summer job (doing what?), Crawford was spotted by a newspaper photographer, who took a picture of her and sparked her confidence that she could make it as a model. After being a runner-up in Elite's Look of the Year contest at age 17, she landed an agent and started her career. How old is Crawford now?

Bing: She recently spilled on the secrets to her success

Search: Her kids are rumored to be future models, too

Find: See early modeling pics of Cindy

Kristen McMenamy

Known for her avant-garde, androgynous look, McMenamy was initially told she would never make it as a professional model without getting plastic surgery. However, when she suddenly decided to do this, top designers instantly had to have her. (Who woulda thought?)

Bing: See her recent Paris Fashion Week appearances

Search: Photos of her much-discussed hair color of choice

Find: A 2011 Chanel honor

Janice Dickinson

Self-described as the world's first supermodel, Dickinson got her start after she won a national competition called Miss High Fashion Model and moved to New York City.

Bing: Her recent engagement

Search: Shop for her books

Find: Has she had work done?

Carmen Dell'Orefice

At just 13 years old, Dell'Orefice was approached by the wife of legendary photographer Herman Landshoff while riding the bus in New York. But her big break came when her godfather helped her land a contract with Vogue just two years later (in what year? | see her on the cover). How old is she now?

Bing: What's she well known for today?

Search: See her recent runway appearances

Find: Early photos of the successful model

Ines de la Fressange

After growing up in a mill on the outskirts of Paris, de la Fressange became Karl Lagerfeld's muse—and signed an exclusive contract with Chanel, becoming the first model to do so with a haute couture fashion house.

Bing: See her in her most recent Chanel appearance, in 2011

Search: She has collaborated with this French designer as well

Find: See her with her daughters, Nine and Violette

Benedetta Barzini

This Italian model got her big break when she was discovered by chance on the street by American-born Italian countess Consuelo Crespi, who served as an editor for Vogue and Vogue Italia.

Bing: How old is the model today?

Search: She's still working the runway

Find: Her second career, since 2008

Cheryl Tiegs

After she landed the cover of Seventeen at the fitting age of 17, Tiegs's athletic look (see photos) became synonymous will "all-American girl" in the 1970s. Today, she's known as this famous first.

Bing: She tried her hand at reality TV in 2012

Search: She's part of a prestigious group

Find: How old is the model?

Paulina Porizkova

A photographer pal of Porizkova's took photos of her and sent them to a top modeling agency, hoping the pros would notice her camera skills. Instead, model mogul John Casablancas sent Porizkova a ticket to Paris, jumpstarting her career.

Bing: She has been married to a famous musician since she was 19

Search: Her 2012 TV appearance

Find: Check out her filmography

Carol Alt

After getting noticed while waiting tables in her hometown of East Williston, New York, Alt got her big break when she landed the cover of this popular magazine at age 20.

Bing: She's dating a Russian hockey player

Search: One of her many on-screen roles

Find: More photos of the model