PFor those who were there, this is an unforgettable return to the future, for those who arrived later, Supermodels – but unlike Apple TV+, Google combines the terms in a way that would be normal for everyone – it’s a tasty history lesson. About fashion, customs, publishing, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Mixed propaganda (all four are also producers), damage control timeless reality show and beautiful printed and scanned photographs. AND experts industry and popular culture, which also include the poor Vivienne Westwood (possibly in one of his last appearances).
Everyone spoke together about that moment between 1989 and the mid-90s when Naomi, Cindy, Linda and Christy they became the first models to become more important than the clothes they were paid to wear. Even the first to free themselves from their surname (professionally, Iman and Twiggy never had one). To be paid highly, to dictate terms, to help RuPaul stand out Supermodel (Better Work), form a court of friendship, support and fun with a makeup artist and hair stylist 30 years before the strange Murgia family. Still be here defending my supermodel title.
Supermodels we will not say much about why there was such a concentration of beauty and fanaticism. And that is, everyone was in the right place at the right time. Gianni Versace was ready to create the most effective synergy ever. There was George Michael, who, fighting Sony for control of his image, entrusted them with a video Freedom ’90there were haircuts that changed destinies, and photographers-wizards of black and white (Peter Lindbergh) who gave depth to the surface.
“They defined us as strong women, and in the end we believed them.”” says Cindy Crawford. Yes, but they needed someone to tell them, to emphasize this difference to the point of labeling them as “too demanding.” Like things from the past incompatible with grunge and with new recruits following Kate Moss. But the end never came, what a time! What an expansion of the fighting area without even stepping on each other. Without names, but with their own slogans: Black Venus Naomi, chameleon Linda, American girl Cindy and stylish woman Christy. Rejected? Not at all. They are produced for the purpose of generating income, sometimes with the aim of turning them into news and gossip, into mass information. One minute before the Spice Girls managers, by: Project Escape AND America’s Next Top Model.
Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista in 1992. (Getty Images)
Supermodels: memories of Naomi, Linda, Cindy and Christy.
Appearance, Fame, Power, Legacy. Four episodes of roughly an hour each for a sharp reenactment that leaves little out of the picture. perhaps only lovers of each (so a fifth episode would only be needed for Naomi). It is then revealed that the only one who wasn’t stopped by the agent or someone who recommended the agency is Linda. the most fashion obsessed and with the strictest parents. While for Naomi, Cindy and Christy, working in a photography studio at the age of about 16 was just a job.
Cindy remembers Gia, says photographer Francesco Scavullo, a failed model of the 70s (Angelina Jolie played her on TV, winning a Golden Globe); becomes a star in Chicago and then moves to New York. Linda remembers Joan Severens, she was told, struggling for three years. and then starts again with Lindbergh’s famous haircut.which is why he ends up in Vogue Italia. Naomi travels from South London to Azzedine Alaïa’s house., who catches her in the clubs of Paris as she escapes from the window. Christie becomes Arthur Elgort’s favorite.
Linda Evangelista in 1991. (Getty Images)
But it is Steven Meisel who teaches them how to model., the person responsible for their growth, a precise personality. Then fame is cemented on the catwalks, Naomi’s menacing walk, with the black-and-white January 1990 cover of British Vogue (Lindbergh again), George’s videos (“we gave him a discount as a group,” says Cindy), nights pursued by paparazzi.
According to the relationship and in accordance with the market, which is still far from concepts such as diversity, contracts are pouring in with cosmetics brands, but not only. There is no mystery in the series: Cindy collects more by moving from Revlon to Pepsi.and then I do everything: VHS aerobics, presenter MTV Style Housethe makeup line is still on sale.
Christy and Linda follow her. The latest is Naomi, whose additional fashion campaign is not shown., and comparing the female model with today’s model raises the greatest suspicions regarding surgical interventions. His way of speaking is also different. the assertiveness of his position and the history of his sins. In this sense, what is under the heading “abuse” is very smiling you never say “alcohol” or “drugs”, but let the faded old newspaper headlines do the talking. Who knows, perhaps this is an Ayurvedic method of internal protection, or maybe specific instructions to directors Roger Ross Williams (Oscar winner) and Larisa Bliss.
This also resolves Linda’s argument over the infamous phrase. “I won’t get out of bed for less than 10 thousand dollars.”. That is, with an excerpt from Models: Movie (Lindbergh’s documentary – again his – made in 1991) where he says that his compensation is a minimal percentage compared to what he charges brands. Incredibly, however how almost 35 years later it is still causing a scandal; and how everyone, in the meantime, has become a gigantic economy of himself, who does not even get out of bed, bills directly with the help of a self-timer between the sheets.
Colleagues Evangelista do not add details on this matter. Because François Nars, make-up artist and photographer, sums up this period well: “Supermodels it was a dream”. The miniseries touches on the critique of ideal beauty, the dictatorship of heels, the model as an object, and the four of them working against noose contracts and stolen backstage photos. but what is interesting is to see again the little Athens of professionals and individuals created. And every month it made us sigh over the miracle on the cover, over the next rethinking.
And finally, the miracle of consistency. Just like the show’s cast was called upon to reunite and extend the series, there have been mini-revivals of Naomi, Linda, Cindy and Christie since the late ’90s. In the absence of real substitutes from time to time we wondered where they ended up. But without even asking, here are reports from the post-peak period, with still tense faces, beautiful children, charities and industrial enterprises.
No overlap. Cindy’s battle with leukemia (his brother died when he was young), Christy’s battle with lung cancer (her father died from it and she was a heavy smoker), and the organization Every woman matters (about the right to give birth anywhere without risking death), as well as volumes (and shirts) on Yoga. Naomi has been Africa’s savior since Mandela he made her an ambassador for his Children’s Foundationand a local Fashion Week feat. Finally, Linda has to fight breast cancer, which she suffered from twice. And, unfortunately, not only that.
Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista at a recent Vogue World event. (Getty Images)
Linda: Cancer, CoolSculpting and Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.
Indeed, except for Cindy and Christy, the most decisive and joyful in the system and simply outside the systemand Naomi, the sphinx, proudly clinging to her personality with all the strength of her jaws and body, it is Linda voyeuristic narrative center.
She, the most perfect model, the most elusive and least commercialized, remains disfigured due to “magic” treatment, a kind of divine punishment for promoting the idea of waking up Sleeping Beauty with money. Those who come are diagnosed with cancer and, we learn in Supermodelssuffering from Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, characterized by skin lesions, kidney tumors and lung cysts (hence continuous operations).
This is a tragedy and a very sad irony.for a thousand human reasons, and also – since this is a documentary about the physical and photogenic exceptionalism of four women – for being wasted.
“Naomi, Christy, Cindy, they will work forever. I don’t see anyone who would like to dress me” he says of the fat deposits resulting from the unexpected effects of CoolSculpting. After the photos on People, the fashion world has united. He modeled for Fendi in 2022, was on the cover of English Vogue and just unveiled an album of photographs: Linda Evangelista photographed by Steven Meisel. Without a doubt, this is the most profitable collaboration between model and photographer. Better than Grace Kelly with Hitchcock, DiCaprio with Scorsese, Sophia Loren with De Sica.
Yes, dear Francois, it was indeed a dream. And thank God we have documents, not just Instagram stories.
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