Then and Now: 80’s Supermodels

If you’re like us, you grew up with a deep appreciation of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and Victoria’s Secret catalogs, though it had nothing to do with a love for swimsuits or lingerie.

This, of course, was during the 80s and 90s — widely considered the “Supermodel Era.” That meant the models in those publications, as well as on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and a host of other magazines were all household names, not just the unattainable goals of teenage boys everywhere.

We did a little research to find out what those supermodels are up to now, and not surprisingly, it brought back waves of bittersweet post-pubescent nostalgia. After checking out the photos below, you’ll know what we mean.

Christie Brinkley - The ultimate sun-kissed California blond, Christie reigned as America’s sweetheart during the early 80s.

Christie’s recent tabloid divorce from fourth husband Peter Cook proves that just because a woman has her pick of men doesn’t mean she is good at picking men.

Iman - The quint-lingual (that means five) daughter of a Somali diplomat was legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent’s “dream woman.”

Iman has been married to David Bowie since 1992, and currently hosts “Project Runway Canada.”

Cindy Crawford - With her trademark mole and early embrace of “tasteful” nudity, the former high school valedictorian stood out even in the era of the supermodel.

These days Cindy does former supermodel stuff like charity work and being photographed with other famous people as she sunbathes in St. Tropez.

Christy Turlington - Her flawless skin made her the perfect pitchwoman for Maybelline’s “Maybe She’s Born With It Maybe It’s Maybelline” ad campaign, and helped her become one of highest paid supermodels of all time.

Turlington is married to director-actor Ed Burns, and in 2006 she signed a multi-year deal to return to Maybelline. She also has no problem posing in the buff, as evidenced by her work for PETA.

Carol Alt - Labeled “the face” for her piercing blue eyes and pouty lips, appeared on over 500 magazine covers before abandoning the fashion industry for an acting career that never quite took off.

Alt has found success as a nutritional guru — her two cookbooks promoting the virtues of the “raw diet” became national best sellers. She’s also gone toe-to-toe with Trump on “The Apprentice.”

Paulina Porizkova - This Czechoslovakian stunner gave the world a preview of the bevy of beauties that would eventually emerge from post-Communist Eastern Europe, and then gave hope to not-traditionally-handsome men everywhere when she married gangly Cars front man Rick Ocasek.

Paulina has been doing the reality TV circuit lately, with appearances on “Dancing With The Stars” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

Janice Dickinson - The self-proclaimed “World’s First Supermodel” also claims to have slept with leading men Sylvester Stallone, Warren Betty, Jack Nicholson and Bruce Willis, as well as rock legend Mick Jagger, during her 80s heyday.

Dickinson and her special brand of crazy has gotten more out of the reality television format than any other former supermodel thanks to Oxygen’s “Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.”

Grace Jones - During the 80s, the androgynous model had a successful singing career and displayed disturbingly superhuman strength in the movies “Conan the Destroyer” and “A View to a Kill.”

Jones has a new album coming out later this year, although, sadly, she no longer sports her once-signature flat top.

Claudia Schiffer - A fashion insider once said that Guess Jean girl Schiffer “looks better in jeans than any other model has looked in Chanel.”

After making long-time beau David Copperfield disappear, Schiffer married a film producer, had a couple kids and enjoys horseback riding, painting, playing tennis and skiing.

Jerry Hall - The one-time roommate of Grace Jones used her 6-foot frame and long blond hair to end up on the cover of every fashion magazine and nab common law hubbie Mick Jagger.

After having four kids with Jagger, the couple split in 1999. Hall is currently working as a pitchwoman for Levitra, an erectile dysfunction drug. No joke.

Elle Macpherson - In 1986, the Aussie sensation had men all over the world learning the proper way to say g’day after she landed on the front of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition for the first of her record five covers.

Macpherson dabbles in acting — she had a cameo on “Friends”– and has just signed up to be the global brand spokeswoman for cosmetics manufacturer Revlon.

Kathy Ireland - Ireland appeared 13 times in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition, including three covers, and was known for having mesmerizing green eyes befitting of her surname.

Ireland has been so successful selling clothes, furniture and skin care products through her company Kathy Ireland Worldwide, that Forbes Magazine called her “the prototype for the model turned mogul.”

Brooke Shields - At 14, Shields was the youngest model ever to appear on the cover of Vogue. But it was probably her controversial nude film scenes and her provocative advertisements for Calvin Klein that made her one of the most recognizable faces in the world by the age of 16.

Lately Shields has been guest starring on TV shows and forgiving Tom Cruise for making insensitive comments about her.

Naomi Campbell - With her distinctive catwalk strut and exotic Chinese/Jamaican looks, Campbell was a fashion powerhouse well into the 90s.

Campbell’s charity work in Africa and on behalf of the victims of Katrina tends to get overshadowed by her nasty habit of assaulting underlings with cell phones and other PDAs.

Carrie Otis - In 1990, Otis was thrust into the spotlight amidst rumors she shot an unsimulated sex scene with then-boyfriend Mickey Rourke during filming of the movie “Wild Orchid.”

Otis has overcome anorexia and heroin addiction and now works as a plus-size model.

Linda Evangelista - Evangelista was famous for constantly switching up her hair style, and for coining the supermodel maxim, “We don’t wake up for less than 10,000 dollars a day.”

Linda, who had her first child in 2006, still pops up on the modeling scene from time to time — presumably for at least 10,000 dollars a day.

source: [asylum]

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