Meet the iconic 80s supermodel who ruled the runway the year you were born (and what she's doing today)

Achieving icon status at the turn of the decade, Christie Brinkley secured her spot as the most famous face of 1980, after she was booked for an unprecedented three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. 

She was known for defining the era's sunny, athletic, and all-American aesthetic and was the face of Cover Girl for over 25 years. 

Working as both an actress and a model, in 1981, Brooke Shields's face was on every billboard, cover and poster the world over. 

She became the youngest fashion model to appear on the cover of Vogue at just 15 years old and ignited an international pop-culture phenomenon with her record-breaking Calvin Klein jeans campaign. 

Renée Simonsen won the Ford "Face of the Eighties" supermodel contest in 1982 and became an unmissable model during that year and beyond. 

The star was an instant international sensation and appeared on the cover of Vogue. In her later years, she transitioned from world-famous model to children's author and psychologist, and moved back to Denmark. 

Iman brought elegance and global sophistication to 80s fashion, becoming one of the most groundbreaking models of her generation. 

Her success helped open doors for greater diversity within the modelling world during the decade. Beyond fashion, she later built a hugely successful beauty business and philanthropic career.

Paulina Porizkova’s striking features and sophisticated European style made her one of fashion’s breakout stars in the mid-80s. 

She quickly became a runway favourite and major magazine cover star across both Europe and America. In recent years, she has been applauded for speaking openly about ageing and the difficulties of beauty standards.

Nicknamed "The Face" by Life magazine, Carol Alt was a regular on magazine covers and on billboards for high-profile campaigns.

Today, she continues to work as a model, adding actress and wellness advocate to her credits as well. Carol heavily promotes a raw food lifestyle through writing and her active social media platforms. 

Elle Macpherson dominated fashion campaigns and magazine covers throughout the late 80s and was subsequently dubbed "The Body" during that time. 

Her athletic glamour and bronzed Australian look became hugely influential during the era's fitness boom. She later transformed her modelling success into a thriving wellness and business career.

Christy Turlington signed with Ford Models in  1987 and experienced her breakthrough year, which launched her international career and led to her iconic Calvin Klein campaigns.

At present, the model still works in the industry but also advocates for maternal health. She founded Every Mother Counts, a non-profit dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe around the world. 

As the decade neared its close, Linda Evangelista helped usher in the true supermodel era with her dramatic hair transformations and chameleon-like ability to reinvent herself. 

Designers adored her versatility, making her one of the most booked runway stars of the decade. She remains one of the most influential models in fashion history to this day. 

Just before entering the 1990s, Cindy Crawford became the face of supermodel culture with her signature beauty mark and all-American glamour. 

She bridged the worlds of fashion, television and celebrity in a way few models had before. In 2026, she spends her time working as a businesswoman, fashion icon and remains one of the most recognisable supermodels ever.