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The first supermodel in the world was from Sweden, and her name was Lisa Fonssagrives. Lisa Fonssagrives was featured in over 200 Vogue covers and was so influential that Vogue eventually became a breeding ground for selecting and grooming future supermodels. From the 1930s to the 1950s Fonssagrives could be seen featured in assorted magazines from Town & Country, Life and Vogue to the original Vanity Fair. Lisa Fonssagrives has worked with a handful of talented photographers including Man Ray, Horst, Erwin Blumenfeld, George Hoyningen-Huene, Richard Avedon, George Platt Lynes, and Edgar de Evia. Of the many who took photos of her, Fonssagrives married one of Parisian photographer named Fernand Fonssagrives in 1935 and married another photographer later in 1950 by the name of Irving Penn.

Highly regarded as one of the most famous models of all time, Lesley Hornby was born on the 19th of September in 1949 and chose “Twiggy” as her professional modeling name. She is also known by her married name, Twiggy Lawson. Twiggy is an English supermodel, an actress and a singer and came onto the fashion scene in the 1960s famous for her large dilated eyes, impossibly long eyelashes and skinny frame. Besides trying her hand in movies and reality shows, Twiggy also co-produced “The Nanny” with actress Fran Drescher and has recently supported Marks and Spencer product re-branding campaign by modeling for them.

One of today’s top supermodels, Gisele Bündchen was born in Brazil on the 20th of July in 1980. Forbes mentioned that Bündchen is also one of the highest salaried supermodel in the world and is the sixteenth richest woman in the entertainment industry after earning USD$33 million in 2007 and USD$35 million in 2008, totaling her estimated fortune to be over USD$150 million. This has also been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records who recorded her as the world’s richest supermodel. At present time Gisele Bündchen is the ambassador for over 20 international brands and has graced the cover of over 500 magazine covers.

Only a year younger, fellow countrywoman Alessandra Corine Ambrósio is also a famous Brazilian supermodel. Alessandra Ambrosio (her professional modeling name) hit popularity after signing up with Victoria’s Secret and becoming their first spokesmodel for Victoria’s Secret PINK line. Alessandra Ambrosio then became one of the select Victoria’s Secret Angels as well as being offered the chance to model for the UK company known as Next. Having reached the pinnacle of her modeling career, Alessandra Ambrosio then turned her attention to charity in which she is the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. On a poll conducted by AskMen.com, Alessandra Ambrosio won the 2nd ranking out of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women for 2008.

Other notable supermodels include Karolína Kurková, Elle Macpherson, Christie Brinkley, Huggy Ragnarsson Jerry Hall, Lisa Butcher, Linda Evangelista, , Marie Helvin, Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Daria Werbowy Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Paula Hamilton, Adriana Lima, Tyra Banks, Fernanda Tavares, Gemma Ward, Miranda Kerr, Alice Burdeu, Cindy Crawford, Ana Beatriz Barros, Isabeli Fontana, Elizabeth Hurley, Iman and Heidi Klum.