Unearth The Voyage
The 1970s were a golden era for fashion, and the women who walked its runways and graced its magazine covers became legends in their own right. These supermodels were more than just pretty faces; they were trendsetters, barrier-breakers, and cultural icons who shaped the way the world looked at beauty.
From New York to Paris, their influence stretched far beyond the catwalk and into music, film, and everyday life. Get ready to revisit the unforgettable women who defined an entire decade of style.
1. Lauren Hutton
Few smiles in fashion history are as recognizable as Lauren Hutton’s gap-toothed grin. Rather than hiding it, she turned it into her trademark, proving that so-called imperfections can become your greatest strength.
Her natural confidence set her apart in an industry that often demanded perfection.
Hutton became one of the most sought-after models of the decade, landing major campaigns and magazine covers with ease. She also signed one of the first major modeling contracts in history, a deal with Revlon that changed how the industry valued models financially.
Beyond the ’70s, she transitioned into acting and continued to appear in fashion campaigns well into her later years. Her commitment to embracing natural aging made her a role model for women everywhere.
Lauren Hutton showed the world that real beauty has no expiration date.
2. Beverly Johnson
When Beverly Johnson appeared on the cover of American Vogue in August 1974, she made history as the first Black woman ever featured there. That single moment sent a powerful message to the fashion world: beauty comes in every shade.
It was a turning point that the industry could never undo.
Johnson’s poise, elegance, and undeniable talent made her one of the most in-demand models of the decade. She worked with top photographers and designers, proving her place at the very top of the fashion world was earned, not given.
Her influence extended well beyond modeling. She became a vocal advocate for diversity and representation in fashion long before those conversations became mainstream.
Today, Beverly Johnson is celebrated not just as a groundbreaking model but as a trailblazer whose courage helped reshape an entire industry for the better.
3. Twiggy
Twiggy arrived on the fashion scene like a bolt of lightning in the late 1960s, and her star power only grew stronger as the ’70s rolled in. With her enormous eyes, cropped hair, and slender frame, she looked unlike anyone the fashion world had ever seen before.
Photographers simply could not get enough of her.
Born Lesley Hornby in London, she became one of the most photographed women of her generation. Her look inspired countless imitations, but nobody could truly capture the original magic she brought to every shoot and runway appearance.
As the decade progressed, Twiggy expanded her talents into acting, singing, and eventually television. She never stopped reinventing herself, which is exactly why her legacy has lasted so long.
Twiggy remains proof that true star quality transcends any single era of fashion or pop culture.
4. Jerry Hall
Standing nearly six feet tall with cascading blonde hair, Jerry Hall was impossible to overlook on any runway or magazine page. The Texas-born beauty brought a bold, larger-than-life energy to high fashion that was entirely her own.
Designers loved her confidence, and cameras loved her even more.
Hall’s relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger put her at the center of rock-and-roll glamour, blending the worlds of music and fashion in a way that few models had done before. She appeared in countless campaigns and became a fixture on the international social scene throughout the decade.
After her modeling career wound down, Jerry Hall successfully moved into acting and stage work, appearing in West End theater productions and television projects. Her career path showed that a model could evolve far beyond the runway.
She remains one of the most glamorous figures the ’70s ever produced.
5. Iman
Discovered in Kenya in 1975, Iman arrived in New York and immediately captivated the fashion world with her breathtaking elegance and striking bone structure. Designer Yves Saint Laurent famously called her his dream woman, and it was easy to see why.
Her presence on a runway was nothing short of commanding.
Iman quickly became one of the highest-paid models of the era, working with the top photographers and designers of the day. She also opened doors for models of African descent at a time when the industry was still learning how to embrace diversity in meaningful ways.
Beyond her modeling achievements, Iman built a lasting business empire. She founded a successful cosmetics line specifically designed for women of color, filling a gap the beauty industry had long ignored.
Her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic work have made her one of fashion’s most respected and beloved figures.
6. Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley burst onto the scene in the late 1970s with a smile so bright it could light up an entire magazine spread. Her all-American look and bubbly personality made her instantly lovable, and the public responded with enormous enthusiasm.
She was not just a pretty face; she radiated genuine warmth.
Her three consecutive appearances on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover from 1979 to 1981 set a record and cemented her status as one of the most recognized models in the world. She also became the face of CoverGirl cosmetics for an astonishing 25-year run, a record in the beauty industry.
Decades later, Brinkley continues to model, run wellness businesses, and advocate for healthy living. Her enduring career is a testament to her professionalism and adaptability.
Christie Brinkley remains one of the most beloved and recognizable faces in American fashion history.
7. Janice Dickinson
Nobody in the modeling world was quite like Janice Dickinson. She arrived in New York in the 1970s with fierce determination, unforgettable features, and an attitude that refused to be ignored.
Her look was edgy and dramatic at a time when fashion was hungry for exactly that kind of energy.
Dickinson famously claimed the title of the world’s first supermodel, a statement that sparked debate but also highlighted just how significant her influence on the industry truly was. She worked with legendary photographers including Helmut Newton and Francesco Scavullo, producing some of the decade’s most talked-about images.
After her modeling days, she became a well-known television personality, appearing as a judge on reality shows and writing candid memoirs about her experiences in fashion. Love her or challenge her claims, Janice Dickinson left an undeniable mark on the modeling world that still sparks conversation today.
8. Patti Hansen
Patti Hansen had a refreshingly natural beauty that stood out in an era often dominated by more polished, glamorous looks. She brought an earthy, approachable quality to high fashion that resonated with audiences who wanted to see something real.
Photographers adored the authenticity she brought to every shoot.
Rising to prominence in the late 1970s, Hansen appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines and became one of the decade’s most requested editorial models. Her work with top photographers helped define the relaxed yet stylish aesthetic that became increasingly popular as the decade closed.
Her personal life became equally newsworthy when she married Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in 1983, forming one of rock music’s most enduring couples. After stepping back from the spotlight, Hansen focused on raising her family.
She occasionally returns to fashion, always welcomed back with the same warmth her career first inspired.
9. Grace Jones
Grace Jones was not simply a model; she was a force of nature that the fashion world had never encountered before. Her angular features, shaved head, and fearless attitude created an entirely new visual language for what fashion could look and feel like.
She challenged every norm the industry held dear.
Born in Jamaica and raised partly in the United States, Jones brought a multicultural perspective that gave her work a unique global energy. She collaborated with designers like Azzedine Alaia and photographers like Jean-Paul Goude, producing images that felt more like art installations than fashion photographs.
Music was another arena where Jones excelled, releasing albums that blended disco, new wave, and funk into something entirely her own. Her influence on artists ranging from Rihanna to Lady Gaga is well documented.
Grace Jones remains one of the most original and fearless creative personalities fashion has ever seen.
10. Margaux Hemingway
Carrying one of the most famous last names in American literature, Margaux Hemingway stepped into the fashion world and quickly made a name entirely her own. Tall, athletic, and strikingly beautiful, she commanded attention the moment she walked into any room.
Her presence was magnetic and impossible to ignore.
In 1975, she became one of the first models to sign a million-dollar contract, landing a massive deal with Faberge perfume that changed the financial landscape of the modeling industry forever. That deal signaled to the world that models were valuable brand assets, not just pretty faces in photographs.
Her life was marked by personal struggles, and she passed away in 1996, leaving behind a legacy that mixed triumph with tragedy. Despite the difficulties she faced, her impact on fashion and the business of modeling remains significant.
Margaux Hemingway helped transform modeling into the high-stakes, high-value industry it is today.
11. Veruschka
Standing at an extraordinary six feet tall, Veruschka was unlike any model the fashion world had seen when she first emerged in the 1960s and continued to captivate throughout the 1970s. Born Vera von Lehndorff in Germany, she brought an otherworldly quality to every image she appeared in.
Her height, once considered a drawback, became her most powerful asset.
She became famous for her collaborations with photographer Franco Rubartelli, producing surreal, artistic images that blurred the line between fashion photography and fine art. Her body-paint work, in which she would virtually disappear into natural landscapes, was particularly groundbreaking and widely imitated.
Veruschka eventually stepped away from mainstream modeling to focus on artistic pursuits, but her influence on editorial and conceptual fashion photography never faded. She remains a towering figure in fashion history, both literally and creatively.
Her work continues to inspire photographers and models who push creative boundaries.
