Modeling is a tough industry to break into. The best supermodels have to have the right look, the right face, and the right attitude. Not everyone can make it big, but some stars shine through. Whether they were discovered while walking around a mall or through a lifetime of beauty pageants, these are the stories of how your favorite supermodels got their start on the runway.
Gisele Bündchen
The highest-paid model in the world, Gisele had some humble beginnings. She was shopping in São Paolo, Brazil, when she was spotted for her high cheekbones and model-like features. She was on her first runway as early as age 14, which propelled her into the limelight. She spent the 90s and early 2000s in the spotlight, especially after her 1998 Alexander McQueen show.
Cindy Crawford
Before she was on the cover of several fashion magazines and catwalks, she could be found wandering the streets of DeKalb, Illinois. She has stated in interviews that she was lying beside a pool when a photographer was struck by her beauty. The interest she generated promoted her to consider a career in modeling. She moved to Chicago shortly after to sign with an agency.
Naomi Campbell
When Naomi was 15 years old, she was wandering the mall when a woman name Beth Boldt spotted her. Beth worked for Pennington Models and wanted Naomi to sign with her. "My mum wanted me to stay on at school and finish my exams. But I wanted things my way, so a few weeks later I went to see Beth on my own," said Naomi, "Eventually, Mum decided I could model, so long as it didn't interfere with my school work or exams."
Kate Moss
Kate Moss was 14 when she got her big break. A scout named Sarah Doukas saw the soon-to-be star arguing with her father at the JFK Airport in New York City. They were on the same flight to London, which is when Doukas approached the pair about signing Moss. She is often credited with introducing a "heroin chic" style to runways, editorials, and campaigns.
Christy Turlington
When she was riding horses on a vacation to Florida at age 14, Turlington was spotted by a modeling photographer. Only a short while later, she was on a flight to Paris to become the next big name in modeling. Since then, she's appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Versace, and more. She also is considered to be one of the Big Five Supermodels in the world during the 1990s.
Linda Evangelista
Linda Evangelista found herself in a sticky situation when she was signed to a scam agency in Japan to work. " I got there and it was a catastrophe," said Evangelista, "They wanted me to take my clothes off and shoot me naked. It was a nightmare and I panicked and basically the Canadian Embassy helped me out." After the scare, she competed in Miss Teen Niagara Pagent which got her discovered by real agencies...
Gigi Hadid
Since her mother was model Yolanda Hadid, Gigi always had modeling in her genes. She was a baby model at age 2 and shot with Guess co-founder Paul Marciano when she was only a toddler. She appeared in Baby Guess campaigns but returned to her career in her teenage years. She signed to IMG in 2013 and skyrocketed after her December 2014 cover for Harper's BAZAAR.
Winnie Harlow
Tyra Banks, the godmother of modeling, found Winnie Harlow on Instagram and cast her on the popular reality series America's Next Top Model. She came in sixth place overall, but this didn't stop her career. The model has walked for Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, and most recently, Victoria's Secret. She is also a spokesperson for her skin condition, known as vitiligo.
Cara Delevinge
Cara is the younger sister of socialite and singer Poppy, which helped jumpstart her modeling career. According to the starlet, "I've been best-friends with Genevieve Garner, daughter of Sarah Doukas [of Storm Model Management] since I was 5. Sarah saw me when Gen introduced us. I had never thought about modeling before, and it just sort of happened..."
Christie Brinkley
This celebrity got pretty dog-gone lucky with her discovery. She was at the vet with her sick dog while in Paris when she got into a conversation with a photographer. The man saw her potential, and it all happened in the front lobby of a vet clinic. He asked if he could shoot her photos for a project he was working on, and the rest is history. She became an instant success.
Karlie Kloss
Before she was featured at Fashion Week, she was hosting fashion shows in her hometown. "I was discovered at 13 in a mall in St. Louis. I had never been on an airplane, actually," said Kloss. At age 15, she was debuted at New York Fashion Week with the brand Calvin Klein. Since then, she has started a scholarship foundation that teaches girls how to code, called Kode with Klossy.
Joan Smalls
While living in Puerto Rico, Joan Smalls struggled to win pageants and competitions as a young woman. It was only after moving to New York City that she found success with IMG Models, signing with the company in 2009. She began working with Givenchy Haute Couture in 2010 and then walked in the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. Now, she runways all over the world...
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Profile Model Management was the first agency to discover Rosie Huntington-Whiteley when she was only 15 years old, joining the New Faces division. Since then, she's made appearances in Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and Balmain campaigns, as well as becoming a Victoria Secret Angel in 2010. She debuted on the Viviebbe Tam New York Fashion Week runway.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily, sometimes abbreviated to EmRata signed with Ford Models when she was 14 years old. While she had a face for modeling, she had a heart for acting and has appeared in a few small roles. Her biggest break came when she appeared nude in the music video for Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. She's acted in roles for Gone Girl, Entourage, and I Feel Pretty.
Jourdan Dunn
When she was "mucking about" (she noted she was definitely not shopping) in a Primark store, she was approached by an agent from the Storm Management modeling agency, who also represents Kate Moss. The 15-year-old was signed, and only a year later she was walking for Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs. She was named the 2013 Model of the Year.
Lily Aldridge
At age 16, Lily Aldrige was at her high school carnival when she was spotted by a modeling agent. She was quickly signed to a campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch. After that, she got jobs easily. She appeared with brands like Rag & Bone, Bobbi Brown, Coach, and more. Furthermore, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel and has walked the iconic runway show...
Miranda Kerr
The model, known for her innocent facial features, was first discovered at the youthful age of 13. She won a modeling contest for Dolly magazine and moved to Brisbane, Australia to finish her education. She started modeling with Billabong and in 2004, signed with NEXT Model Management. She eventually went on to sign a deal with Maybelline and became the first Aussie VS Angel.
Candice Swanepoel
This South African beauty started off her career in a local flea market, where she was spotted by the right people. By only age 16, she was already on the runway in Paris. She became a part of the iconic group of models, the Victoria's Secret Angels. She also modeled for designers such as Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors, and even Chanel. She also has developed her own swimwear line.
Chanel Iman
According to this supermodel, she wanted to be on the runway her whole life. After just turning 13, her aunt brought her to various agencies around her hometown city, Los Angeles, California. Within a few weeks, she signed with Ford Models. Throughout the years she's worked with brands and designers from Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Bottega Veneta, Ralph Lauren, and several others.
Chrissy Teigen
Probably best known today for her marriage to music legend John Legend and her hilarious Twitter presence, Chrissy Teigen didn't start at the top. She was scouted at her normal job in a surf shop in Huntington Beach, California. She wasn't instantly sold on the idea, saying: "For someone as insecure as I was, it didn't seem possible." Nevertheless, she now has written cookbooks, hosted shows, and more.
Liu Wen
The beautiful Liu Wen started her modeling career thanks to her prodding mother. Her mother encouraged her daughter to sign up for a modeling contest when Liu was only 17 years old. Thankfully, Liu listened to her parent's advice, because the contest jumpstarted her career. She lost that one but went on to win many others. They always say that mother knows best!
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks is one of the most famous supermodels in fashion, partially for her hugely popular show, America's Next Top Model. Before she was judging though, she was the one being unfairly judged. She reports many agencies turning her away due to her race. Eventually, though, she found a place at Elite Model Management in her high school years. Today, she hosts America's Got Talent in addition to her own show.
Kimora Lee Simmons
At an early age, Kimora knew she was beautiful. She won a modeling contract after a contest and signed with Karl Lagerfeld. With this, she was able to sign a contract with the luxury fashion house brand Chanel. After that, she skyrocketed to the top of the modeling hierarchy. She has worked in business, music, writing, philanthropy, fashion design, and much more.
Doutzen Kroes
This Holland native needed some extra cash when she turned 18, so she took a chance and sent some photos of herself to a modeling agency. She was signed immediately. "I felt super-young coming from the north of Holland," she later said in an interview, "I went to Amsterdam only once before I went to New York. It was a really big adventure to go there."
Lais Ribeiro
Before she was walking in the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, Lais received rejections left and right. She was criticized for not being curvy enough for major runways and campaigns. However, after landing a coveted spot in a national competition, the model caught worldwide attention. She moved to New York City to further her career path and found international fame.
Malaika Firth
After watching the show The Model Agency on Channel 4, Malaika's mother signed her up for a meeting with Premier Models. Carole White, the founder of the Premier Models agency, signed her immediately. She became the first black model since Naomi Campbell to score a Prada campaign, with 19 years separating their projects. She has since walked for Jean Paul Gaultier, Bottega Veneta, and Marc Jacobs.
Fernanda Ly
Known for her signature pink bubblegum hair, Ly attributes her whole modeling career to the bold statement look. She was scouted when at the mall with her mother. The scout liked her bright hair and bubbly personality and invited her in for a meeting. A famous casting director gave Fernanda the final stamp of approval, and this Australian beauty became a supermodel overnight.
Behati Prinsloo
Behati describes her discovery very simply. "I was in Cape Town on vacation with my grandmother and grandfather," she said, "We went to the grocery store after church and this guy came up to me and asked if I was a model and wrote his number on a piece of paper and my grandfather was like this is so shady." They agreed to call though, and she was soon signed with Sarah Doukas.
Adriana Lima
The model has been persuing the industry since she was just a teenager. At age 13, she was entering dozens of modeling competitions in Brazil. By the time she was 15, she had become a runner-up in the Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition. Coming in second place was good enough for several agencies, and the Brazilian beauty eventually signed with Elite.
Coco Rocha
Coco's start came rather creepily. "I was discovered at an Irish dance competition when I was 14," she recalled, "I was sitting with my friends and this older man came up to me and said, 'Have you ever thought of modeling?'" What seemed unsettling was actually a meeting with a model scout. She has since done shoots with brands such as Versace, Chanel, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana.
Iman
At her first-ever modeling shoot in Kenya, Iman shot her photos with a photographer named Peter Beard. Beard returned to New York City and grew into a very famous industry photographer. His stellar reputation gave Iman some credibility in the industry and exposed her to some other big names that helped her make the right connections to become a worldwide success.
Bella Hadid
Originally, though she is the sister of supermodel, Gigi Hadid, and daughter of model, Yolanda Hadid, Bella originally wanted to separate herself from this line of work and instead studied photography at Parsons School of Design. She ended up dropping after one term and joined her family business. She was signed to IMG and debuted in 2014 at New York Fashion Week.
Alek Wek
Alek Wek did not expect to get a career in modeling, but one fateful day, the soon-to-be starlet was strolling around an outdoor farmers market in London. A Models 1 scout saw her and was immediately struck by her presence. She appeared in a 1995 Tina Turner music video, which propelled her into the spotlight. She was signed to Ford Models shortly after this appearance.
Barbara Palvin
Barbara Palvin was out with her family when she was spotted on the street. "I was walking on the street with my mother in Budapest, near where I live," described the model, "Balazs, who’s now my manager [from Icon Model Management], saw me. He asked me if I could go to their office and took some test photos. Then I started modeling..." A dream come true!
Grace Jones
Known for her striking physical features, Grace Jones had an unusual story. She was a rebellious teen who lived in New York City, living a fast and wild life. She was a go-go dancer and a student of theater. Eventually, she was spotted by a scout for a modeling agency and found herself on the cover of magazines and in runway shows. She really changed her story...
Jennifer Lawrence
Though today she's best known for her acting roles, Jennifer Lawrence actually started out as a model. She was vacationing in New York City with her parents when a talent agent saw 14-year-old Jennifer walking around Union Square. She was quickly signed to a modeling agency and worked for a Hollister campaign before refocusing her career on the big screen.
Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher has made a name in the acting world, but he started off in modeling. He was first an engineering student at the University of Iowa circa 1996. He was hanging out with friends at a bar when he was scouted by a talent agent who entered him in a modeling competition. Kutcher won first place and dropped out to pursue modeling full time. Fun fact: he once lost a modeling competition to Josh Duhamel.
Pamela Anderson
In the late 1980s, Pamela Anderson was just a fitness instructor in British Columbia. She was at a B. C Lions football game one day and wore a Labatt blue tee shirt. Her face was put up on the Jumbotron, which earned several cheers from the crowd. Labatt hired the beauty to become a "Blue Zone Girl" for Playboy. After this, she was able to get some roles in television and film.
Charlize Theron
When Charlize turned 18, she packed her bags in South Africa and moved to Hollywood to make it big. She was living paycheck to paycheck and got into a fight with a bank teller who said her check could not be cashed. Well, that fight worked in her favor, because a talent agent also in the bank liked her spunk and helped her land her first big role in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp had dreams of becoming not a movie star, but a rock star. His friend, Nicholas Cage, convinced him to audition for Nightmare on Elm Street. Wes Craven, the creator, had his daughter watch the auditions, and she voted Depp as the best for the part. His character of Glen is now one of the most famous death scenes in film history, and all thanks to Nicholas Cage.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was first discovered eating a slice of pizza. She was just doing normal 11-year-old things when a Revlon representative saw her eating dinner. She said she had no interest in the modeling offer but was intrigued by acting. She auditioned for the part in Léon: The Professional. She was rejected for being too young, but eventually found her way into the role anyway...
Ellen Pompeo
In SoHo circa the 1990s, Ellen Pompeo was working behind the scenes as a bartender. A casting agent loved her charisma and tried to offer her acting advice, which she misinterpreted as flirting. Once it was all cleared up though, she took the advice and landed roles in Friends and Law & Order: SVU, leading to her best-known role to date, Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy.
Rosario Dawson
It was just a nice day outside when Rosario Dawson was hanging out on her front porch. Director Larry Clark walked by and spotted the child actress, then only 15, and asked her to audition for his new movie. With no prior experience, Rosario landed the role of Ruby in the film Kids, playing a promiscuous and rebellious teenage girl. The film received widespread praise.
Mel Gibson
Talk about doing someone a favor. Mel Gibson agreed to give his friend a ride to an audition. By chance, Gibson was covered in bruises and scars after a bad barfight the night prior. This look was perfect for the director's vision, and Gibson was given a role as a background villain in Mad Max. When he returned a few weeks later, his now scar-free face landed the lead role!
Harrison Ford
After giving up on his acting dreams, Harrison Ford turned to carpentry to pay the bills and support his family. He had only gotten one role in his career, so carpentry was pretty much his day-to-day. Luckily, George Lucas noticed Ford doing woodwork for a movie studio and asked him to audition for his new film. That film was Star Wars, and the rest is history...
Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds had no interest in acting. In fact, his heart was set on a football career, and he earned a scholarship to play for Florida State University. However, after a career-ending injury, he took a shot at acting. He got another scholarship, this one for acting in the Hyde Park Playhouse in New York City. He soon landed the role of Deliverance and made his mark.
Katherine Heigl
At age nine, Katherine was posing for hair care products created by her aunt. Those pictures found their way to modeling agencies and Katherine found herself as a child model with Wilhelmina Models. This became commercials, singing contracts, TV and film roles, and a cover on Seventeen magazine. Her breakout came in 1999 when she appeared in the sci-fi show, Roswell.
Peter Mayhew
You might not know the name Peter Mayhew, but you probably know his character, Chewbacca from Star Wars. The actor previously appeared in a news article about men with huge feet (which makes sense, since he stands at 7'3"). Producers saw the article and knew he would be the perfect fit for playing the giant Wookie. He has appeared as Chewie in five of the films, though he also auditioned for Darth Vader.
Tippi Hedren
Before she became Alfred Hitchcock's muse, she was just a normal city girl. In fact, she was spotted getting out of a taxi cab in Minneapolis when she was discovered by a talent scout. She started off doing advertisements and a commercial for diet drinks. Hitchcock saw the ads and demanded she be added to the cast. She signed a seven-year-deal with the iconic director...
John Wayne
Originally, John Wayne played football for the University of Southern California on scholarship starting in 1925. After a dramatic injury, he was forced to give up the sport and the scholarship along with it. He got work as a prop boy and background character in movies, where he met director John Ford. This led to some big movies in his career, like iconic film Stagecoach.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
At just four years old, a talent scout knew Gellar had what it takes to become a breakout star, She was at a restaurant when a scout pleaded with her parents to let the kid audition. She had a variety of small TV roles and movie gigs, but she got her real big start when she auditioned for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was a household name for the remainder of the 1990s era.
Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey wanted no part in his father's traditional Texan oil business, so he headed to Hollywood to become a famous actor. He worked small roles and student films before hanging in a bar in Austin, Texas. A producer in the bar introduced him to Richard Linklater, who was wary to let the young man audition for a movie but allowed him anyway. That movie was his big hit, Dazed and Confused.
Marilyn Monroe
The bombshell blonde was actually born a brunette, believe it or not. Her real name was Norma Jeane Mortenson and she was an orphan, spending her time in foster homes. One day a photographer snapped her photo while she was working in a factory for the US military. He put it in a magazine, and from there, Norma Jeane dyed her hair and changed her name to pursue modeling and acting.
Eva Mendes
Though she was never a model, Eva Mendes could have been one. She was working at a marketing agency when a talent agent got a look at her picture by accident. He was looking for a specific portfolio and came across a photo of her with her friend, Eva Mendes. The agent loved her look and asked for a meeting. That meeting brought her to roles for Ghost Rider and 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage struggled to make it as an actor in the big city, partially because he refused to take roles that belittled the experience of people with dwarfism. He turned down roles for "elves or leprechauns." However, he was minorly successful in the theater circuit. He got his break on the big screen when he was cast with Steve Buscemi in the lead role of Living in Oblivion.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep might seem like she stepped right onto the silver screen, but once upon a time, she was just a normal teenager. It wasn't until her Miss Julie performance at Vassar College in 1969 that she started seriously started considering life in the limelight. Her acting professor once said "I don’t think anyone ever taught Meryl acting. She really taught herself."
Jason Statham
Did you know that before he was acting, Jason Statham was a high diver who sold jewelry on the streets of London to pay his rent? He was living a lackluster life when a talent agent asked him to come into an audition for director Guy Ritchie. Ritchie was working on Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and though Jason was a perfect fit for the role of a street jewelry vendor!
Estella Warren
Best known for starring in Planet of the Apes and Kangaroo Jack, Warren actually started her career in the open waters. She was planning on becoming a professional swimmer, training with the Canadian National Team since she was twelve years old. However, after a high school fashion show led to a modeling contract, her acting career started from there.
Alden Ehrenreich
Networking really is everything, as proven by Alden Ehrenreich. He recently starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Han Solo. The actor got the audition because his father happened to be Steven Spielberg's accountant. He saw his own daughter acting in a comedy sketch with a boy at a neighborhood Bat Mitzvah. The video made Spielberg laugh out loud and asked him to come read for the part.
Chris Pratt
Before he played the lovable Andy Dwyer on Parks & Rec, or the heroic lead in Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt was working as a waiter in Maui, Hawaii at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. He met director Rae Dawn Chong while serving and she cast him in her new horror movie. Pratt decided to move to LA and pursue this new career path and has since become a very in-demand actor.
Evangeline Lilly
It's obviously pretty common for a talent agent to approach a beautiful woman and ask her to audition, and that's exactly how Evangeline Lilly got her start in the industry. She was walking around British Columbia when a Ford Models agent saw her. She thought it would be a good way to pay for college, and agreed to a photo shoot. The rest, as they say, is history!
Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig wasn't very sure where she wanted to go after college, or what she wanted to pursue, but someone else certainly did. Her professor begged for her to go to Chicago and try to make a name for herself in the improvised comedy scene. Wiig took a chance and joined the improv group known as The Groundlings. This group later led her to an audition for SNL in 2006.
Morgan Freeman
Freeman is one of the most famous actors alive, and yet, he once turned down acting in favor of the U.S. Air Force. He had gotten a scholarship in drama but thought he'd be better in the military. However, in 1959, Freeman returned to his acting dreams and moved to Hollywood to follow his heart. He worked some TV gigs before landing a role in the new movie, Driving Miss Daisy!
Bill Hader
Bill Hader might be known for his SNL impressions, but the actor is actually very anxious and has a lot of stage fright. He was performing a stand-up set at a friend's house in his backyard, and the whole crowd was enjoying the set. What he didn't realize is that a Saturday Night Live writer was in attendance and recommended Hader to go in for an audition. The casting directors loved him!
Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel got her big break when she was spotted at the mall by a talent scout. He encouraged her to attend modeling classes, which she did. She took lessons at Page Parkes modeling school in Houston, Texas. This led to some small commercial gigs, which made her realize she preferred the acting to the modeling aspects of her new career.