What ever happened to all of the beautiful people?
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I have wondered, for some time now, where the supermodels of the late 80s and early 90s have disappeared to. Back in the day, Cindy Crawford was everywhere: the cover of most magazines, on television hosting MTV’s “House of Style” and briefly married to Richard Gere.
I’m pretty sure it was Linda Evangelista who declared she would not get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.
Nicki Taylor was riding high as well, then gave birth to twins, who did not seem to slow her career down one bit. Could have been a well-placed nanny who helped out with that issue.
There was Christy Turlington, Iman, Stephanie Seymour, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christenson, Elle MacPherson, Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks, to name just a few.
Of those superchicks, most had a standard of beauty that left little room for interpretation. All of them had high cheekbones, perfect noses (except Evangelista, who had a tiny bit of a hook to hers) wide eyes and long hair. It goes without saying that their bodies were long and lean, status quo back then.
I know a few married rock stars.
Before I delve further into that, I have to tell you I was crushed when Chris Isaak sold out with the “Wicked Game” video. Yes, I knew I had no chance of ever being with Chris Isaak. I’m a realist.
But up until then his videos were pretty tame. He was an affable Everyman. There was an ever so slight chance that he might be at a Dunkin Donuts in my neck of the woods and we might have hit it off over coffee and a glazed chocolate donut.
What? It was a possibility, in my mind’s eye.
Enter Helena Christenson in the video on the beach. Ugh. I was so disappointed in Chris’ choice to sell out with raw sex appeal. Chris, Chris (shakes head in disgust). You are so much better than that. You do not need to use sex to sell your music. It can (and has) stood on its own.
Because you are a very talented singer/songwriter. Enough said.
Back to the model/rock star hook ups. That seemed to be a trend in the early to mid 90s. I think John Cougar Mellencamp is still married to Elaine Irwin. Iman is still married to David Bowie. But Claudia Schiffer finally dumped magician David Copperfield. I never understood that union. Ever.
Also Stephanie Seymour’s relationship with Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose ended tumultuously, but both lawsuits (his and hers) were eventually settled out of court.
One model/rocker union I do applaud is a relatively recent one: Seal and Heidi Klum. I really love Seal’s music, in fact I need to check out his new album. And Heidi has grown on me via “Project Runway.” So to see them together makes me very happy.
I know Heidi was on the tail end of the 80s supermodel wave. But she has staying power. I like that.
I think what happened to most of those superchicks is time and entertainment. Everything seems to have a cycle and I guess supermodels are no exception. They were an entity back in the late 80s. Everywhere you looked. In my opinion, they seemed to eclipse actors and actresses, but today it seems the supermodel is a dying breed.
I think most of those women are wives and/or mothers who have production companies or host reality shows.
Not a bad gig, if you can get it.
Heh. What happened to some of those superchicks was gravity and time. Gravity always wins. Eventually.
Believe it or not, Brian, most of them look pretty good for having kids and 20+ years under their belts. I think society doesn’t really exalt the supermodel anymore. Isn’t that weird?
I like Heidi and Seal, too. I wonder that perhaps the emphasis in fashion has shifted from who’s modeling the clothes to who’s designing them — there certainly is an influx of young designers (pretty and not so, I might add – fierce!) making waves and at the same time, models seem to have shrunk back into the human clothes hanger role they had before they were Super.
Yes, I think you’re right Elle. Though I do love Christian, he’s so fierce! I loved when he said that all the time. I know they showed him the tape at the end and he swore he would never utter the word again, but I loved it when he said “fierce” with meaning.
Did you like red-headed Laura Bennett a couple seasons back? She was the pregnant chick who had four or five kids already. I thought her designs were really classic and well done. Although I think the judges thought she was too “safe” for fashion. Go figure.
Hi C-Girl,
I’m actually old enough to remember when Christie Brinkley was a super model. I guess her divorce ordeal is finally over. Of course, only knowing what the media says (a dubious source of information at best) I tended to side with her and asked myself – what kind of idiot would let a marriage with Christie Brinkley go bad. But I suppose there are two sides to every story.
I agree with you on Heidi Klum – still on top several years after starting a family. Good for her.
Hope you had a good weekend.
Don
That Christie Brinkley has aged gracefully, hasn’t she Don? She looks great, even though her personal life is sort of in a shambles. I had the same exact thought, “Um if Christie Brinkley can’t keep her husband from cheating, what chance do the rest of us have?”
I think I like Heidi because she seems so approachable, at least on the show Project Runway. I think she and I could talk over a latte.
Everyone is beautiful, in their own way. It’s just that supermodels and their ilk are the supposed “paragons of beauty”, so nobody else gets a look in.
Very true, Solomon. Sometimes I do think sometimes that I could look like a worn down runway model if I had an excellent make up artist and hair stylist at my disposal. That’s something I would like to do one day — have professionals fix my face with make up and then take a picture to see how it turned out.
I know I’ll never do it, but I wonder how well the transformation would go.
Further, I find that physical beauty really can diminish once you learn about what’s inside the head. I have met many people through work who are physically attractive, yet are intellectually and emotionally ugly. You know what I mean?
Is it my imagination or don’t most of the new young “stars” and models look the same?…with the exception of a few of the dark black girls; I think you could interchange most of the rest and never know the difference. With plastic surgery and breast enhancements; it’s hard to know who the person really is any more.
I think you’re right, Terri. The time has finally arrived (when I was 30 I swore this would never happen) when I am not hooked into entertainment anymore. I do not know who the young models/actors/actresses/singers, etc. are. But the little bit that I do know seems sort of vanilla, like you’re describing.
Sup woman! I like your block about the super models. I remember a comedian saying that she heard “‘thin’ was ‘in’ this year! As opposed to the fat cows that grazed the catwalk last year!” Here is some trivia – name that comedian. Hint: she’s female and has starred in several movies with Ben Stiller.
Hey SIL!
Thanks for stopping by and for the listening ear. Damn, I heard that comment before as well, but I can’t think of who it is. It makes me want to cheat and Google it.
It sounds like Kathy Griffin, but I don’t think she was in any Ben Stiller movies. Was it Wanda Sykes? (Love her!) Damn, you have stumped me chick.
Tell me, who is it?
You’re right — there are no real supermodels anymore. I can’t even tell you who’s famous for simply being a model at this time. How strange.
I think Seal is SO FINE. I have been in love with him ever since I first heard “Crazy.” What a delicious hunk of man he is. But I’m glad he’s found love with Heidi Klum. it seems to be working well for them. Also I love that Heidi Klum designs sandals for Birkenstocks. They’re my preferred shoe this summer because they’re SO comfortable, and it’s nice that a supermodel is designing something for a brand that’s normally thought of as stodgy and not fashionable at all.
What makes me giggle is I think the only song I know by Chris Isaak IS “Wicked Game.” I suppose I need to hie myself over to YouTube, yes?
Yes, get thee to YouTube! Love Mr. Isaak.
I didn’t know Heidi designed shoes for Birkenstock. I also love Seal’s voice, I might have to buy his new album through Amazon. I didn’t realize it came out last fall. Where have I been?
Yes. I did love Laura Bennett, she was from N.O., after all. And Christian will always have fierce — he might as well embrace it and promote it LOL.
And Blue, you made me remember another reason I like Heidi — Birkenstocks, Seal and four-leaf clover jewelry!
For some reason I thought she was from NYC. Hmm.
Hola CG!
Hope all is well!
I saw Cindy Crawford on an infomercial as I clicked quickly by yesterday. Sorry I didn’t stay long enough to hear or see the product. There was some other former supermodel with her, but I cannot remember her name. Oh well.
I still think the most beautiful model is Jill Goodacre. She is the Victoria Secret model married to Harry Connick Jr. She still models for VS after 3 kids! B*tch!
BTW – I had to make the no-bakes over the weekend. I had a hankering for them since you wrote about them. And they turned out perfect! MMMMMM………….
Mucho Smooches!
Val
You know, I thought about Jill Goodacre, also but couldn’t come up with her name. And I SWEAR I saw the same infomercial for the same amount of time and I can’t think of who the second chick was either! Isn’t that funny?!
I’m so glad the cookies came out well. They’re dangerous at our house, they become our sole meal. For the day. And then we have to fight the kids for them. It’s not pretty.
I never understood the interest in David Copperfield, either. He’s just… creepy.
He is … uh … somethin’ else. Creepy is a good way to define him. Maybe he put a spell on her.
Hello everyone, Okay I remember those days of Cindy Crawford, Christie B., Inman, Naomi, Tyra.
I love all those women. Okay, I say Iman on “She’s got the look” and girl she still has the look. Beautiful as ever with her flawless skin. I see Christie all the time with Chuck Norris. Makes me wonder about those two. She still looks good. Let’s not forget about Brooke Shields, back in the day when she modeled “Calvin Klein jeans” Well, do know if she was a supermodel or not. I know she was a hot commodity then.
Oh, Nikki Taylor was on “Make me a supermodel” with Tyson Bedford. Janice Dickinson has definitely made a name for herself as the plastic queen with big plastic boobs. :) Well, just thought I would stick my pennies worth in. Love the blog and thanks for memory lane.
I’m working on that supermodel body. HA!
I forgot about Brooke Shields. I guess she was at Princeton when they were being supermodels, eh?
I think celebutantes have taken the place of supermodels. The Paris Hiltons of the world are, apparently, more interesting to the tabloid buying public.
I think you hit the nail on the head, Angelika. I believe the celebutantes *are* the new supermodels.
I don’t get out bed for less than $10 a day. That’s it. That’s where I draw the line.
Pantrypuff, that is CLASSIC! Love that!
Sadly, I think I am forced to get out of bed for less than a dime each day. Give or take a penny.
Now, instead of supermodels, we have scrawny, trashy rehabbers with no real claim to fame other than their questionable celebrity (Spears, Lohan, Richie, Hilton, etc).
Who can a girl look up to these days?
Funny, when you said rehabbers, I immediately thought of Amy Winehouse :) Man I love her voice, I wish she would get her act together.
I suppose we have to look up to ourselves.