One of our readers asked recently about her sister who was a model of Givenchy. Of course it is very hard to find now some rare photos, especially when models were not world known.

But I did like this topic and decided to compare some modern models with the models of the past century. All we know that a new one is once forgotten, so looking at the modern models you would recognize the features and style of the old guard.

Nevertheless contemporary beauty standards differ from the past years etalons. Blonds or dark-haired, blue-eyed or burning brown – all the models have the one and only peculiarity that brings them to the fashion height.

Veruschka and Abbey Lee

Known for hair, lips, nose ring, tattoos and teeth young Australian Abbey Lee Kershaw throws a challenge to an Aryan Veruschka. Abbey Lee, former worker of the bakery section at Newmarket Safeway won the Girlfriend CoverGirl Model Search in Australia which started her career. Veruschka von Lehndorff was discovered at age 20 by the photographer Ugo Mulas, who asked her for a sudden photo. Vera was very shy at first as she did not suppose becoming a model.

Soon after Veruschka became one of the most wanted models, working with Salvador Dalí and photographer Peter Beard. When photographers came to ask her for a session she even did not show her portfolio but said it brassily: “I know how I look like, show me something new”.


Talking about Abbey Lee’s career, she now is ranked 5th on the Top 50 Models Women list. In November 2009, Fashion TV placed her first in their First Face Countdown for Spring / Summer 2010. Not to forget her joining Victoria’s Secret Angel’s family.

Twiggy and Mila Jovovich

British-born Twiggy (her real name was Lesley Hornby) got her nickname from her boyfriend’s brother for having super-slim legs. Despite of the offensive nickname her not simply “Mad-ugly“ and “Super-slim” but “Pretty” and “Skinny As A Twig” appearance got her to the world of modeling, along with her tomboy haircuts, waif-like style and unbelievably big eyes in tow.

As a matter of fact Twiggy stepped on the catwalk rather early, at the tender age of 16. This fact coincides with the Mila Jovovich story. Mila started going to modeling auditions at the age of 9 and began modeling very early, at her 11 as she was noticed by the photographer Richard Avedon.

And it was Avedon, the head of marketing at Revlon at the time, who choose Jovovich to appear in Revlon’s “Most Unforgettable Women in the World” advertisements. In 1988, flat-chested and rather twiggy-like Jovovich made her first professional model contract. Jovovich was among other models who gained controversy for becoming involved in the industry at a young age.

Later Jovovich’s cover of The Face brought to new contracts and covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Since then, she has graced over one hundred magazine covers, including Seventeen, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle. Her modeling career has included advertising and other campaigns for Banana Republic, Christian Dior, Damiani, Donna Karan, Gap, Versace, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Coach, Giorgio Armani, H&M, and Revlon. Since 1998, Miuccia Prada‘s muse Mila Jovovich has been an “international spokesmodel” for L’Oréal cosmetics.

Patti Boyd and Eva Herzigova

Similar to many models like her, British-born Patti was initially turned away by a number of photographers. One of them remarked that “models don’t look like rabbits”. But if you look at contemporary models’ photos you will probably notice many of them not having the ideal face proportions.

But Patti paid them no mind and went on to grace the covers of Mary Quant as well as the UK and Italian versions of Vogue. She was also shot by famous photographers such as Terence Donovan and David Bailey.

Talking about modern models with some “rabbit-like” features I can’t help mentioning Eva Herzigova which despite of this “animal peculiarity” (or may be thanks to it) managed to become one of the best known models. At the age of 16 Eva won a modeling beauty contest in Prague thus beginning her modeling career. After arriving in Paris, her popularity increased.

Her first important appearance was the Wonderbra campaign in 1990s. She was also featured in Guess? jeans advertisements. She has also appeared in the Victoria’s Secret catalog and Sports Illustrated. Herzigová has also appeared in several movies. In 2006 she was Venus at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Penelope Tree and Lili Cole

Penelope was an extremely unique model – she was unusual. At that time Penelope Tree was the only model with the round features, the doll-like face – making her very intriguing. No one had what the American model had – a unique appearance which contributed towards the level of success she achieved.

She was a real ‘It girl’ of the 60s.  Years after models with similar features to hers came along such as Lily Cole.

Cole was born in Torquay and raised in London by her mother alone. A chance encounter began her modelling career at the age of 14. Cole was walking through Soho when scout-turned-actor Benjamin Hart approached her about modeling. She initially declined, later saying, “I was cynical enough to think it wouldn’t come to much”, though she later changed her mind and signed to Storm Models, the mother agency of models such as Kate Moss.

In April 2007, Cole first featured in the Sunday Times Rich List, which estimated her net worth at £6 million, ranking her as the 77th richest young person in the United Kingdom. As of 2009, Cole who admitted “I definitely never thought of myself as model material”, was thought to have earned more then £11 million.

Another luminous full-moon eyes and serene cheekbones have been recently brought to the catwalk by the young newborn model Luisa Josephine working with Vivamodels in Berlin, Germany and with D1Model Management London.

You may also like Forbes’s TOP 10 Earning Models 2010

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