MY TOP 10 FASHION MODELS by Ibhade Arabome

The fashion industry… an industry that is booming and influential; it has been infamous for its promotion of anorexia (and other pretty disgusting eating disorders), stick-thin models and with some brands using mostly Caucasian models on their runways resulting in shouts of racism all over the place. Despite these controversial issues, the industry has had its upsides as they have produced many world-class, unique ladies that have set fashion trends and been the faces of many popular designers. Women want to be them and men want to be with them, making fashion models very hot property.

 

Now, everybody has favourites and I am no exception. What are a few of my favourite things you ask? Well, a lot of things (thanks for asking) but right now, we’ll focus on who are my favourites and why. Enter, my top 10 favourite fashion models.

1. Chanel Iman

This 5’10” Korean/African-American lady was one of the “models to watch” when she burst into the scene and really made her mark in the fashion world in 2009. She has walked for the ever famous Victoria Secret, Banana Republic and DSQUARED² (to name a few). Her impeccably long legs and elegant strut on the catwalk are just a few of her many attributes, making her a designer’s dream and one of my leading ladies.

2. Irina Lazareanu 

She made me really fall in love with the fashion industry and is still one of my style icons. Her quirky, vintage, rocker style makes her a diverse and unique individual which is a major trait that designers adore. It has also been instrumental in her modelling career which has seen her work for Chanel, Balenciaga, Versace and the likes. This Romanian/Canadian will always be one of my favourite models of all time. No joke. Of ALL time.

3. Cara Delevingne

 

The blonde, thick-eyebrowed Englishwoman is the model of the moment and is regularly seen on the runway, in music videos and magazine spreads (her presence knows no bounds). Her tomboy/kooky style and care-free attitude is loved by some yet hated by many. I happen to be in the ‘love’ category which is why she’s on my list.

4. Kate Moss

The queen of grunge who popularised the boho chic and waif trends is on my list for her panache and style. With her style being similar to Irina, this makes it easy to understand why I love her too. She’s famous for being smaller than the statuesque of her time, i.e. the tall and leggy models like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and others.

Her ability to rock a military jacket and boiler suits made me a big fan of the clothing items causing me to want to buy them and buy as many as possible. Again, no joke. She’s incredible and no doubt one of my favourite models. Ever. 

5. Joan Smalls

I love her elegance, beauty, slenderness, milk chocolate complexion and grace. Her cool, calm and collected nature makes her the epitome of a model. She’s one of the few popular black models around, making her a somewhat rare gem. The Puerto Rican stunner is 27 but can easily pass for a lady 7 years her junior. She’s definitely a favourite of mine.

 

6. Jourdan Dunn

Where do I start with Miss D? I remember when she was sprung into the spotlight in 2007 and I was gobsmacked by her elegance (yeah, I think many models are elegant, hence why I’ve used the word again). Her cute, doll-like features, elongated legs and ever-present confidence, make her a model to be reckoned with.

Her career has sky-rocketed since she started out, making her a staple in popular brands’ advertising. By the way, check out her cooking channel on YouTube; she makes delicious dishes and spices up each episode with friends and a lot of comedy. So yeah, she’s definitely top 10 material.

7. Freja Beha Erichsen

A biker chick that rocks the tomboy look too well. She revived my love for jeans and all things guyish (yet feminine). I love how she makes manly styles look so effortlessly flawless. She (in my opinion) started making the short, Kristen Stewart-brunette hairdo fashionable before it became a big hit in recent times.

The Danish model has nailed the I’m-not-bothered look and thus, makes her a top 10 candidate.

 

 

8. Liu Wen

One of China’s finest exports to the world is Miss Wen; her happy-go-lucky personality coupled with her impeccable street style makes her another one of my top models. Whether she’s clad in makeup or completely au naturel, her beauty is transcendent. She’s an incredibly photogenic lady and is sensational in luxurious, high fashion shots as well as simple photographs. She is the bomb.

9. Karlie Kloss

The tallest lady of the gang, standing at 6’1” (to be specific), is also on my list. The American wonder woman has seen non-stop action in her career. She’s known for her poise and “powerful strut”. Yeah, you read that right; “powerful”. Tyra Banks once stated that Karlie is one of her favourite models because of her “unique, atypical beauty” and I completely and totally agree with this statement.

10. Kendall Jenner

Finally! We have reached the last lady of the list; we all know her and her famous/infamous family; she’s credited for doing her own thing and being an independent brand hence why she’s one of the most-talked about models of the moment.

Her personal style is to die for (I literally want everything she owns) and her sashay down the catwalk makes her one cool cat, seeing as she’s a novice compared to the previously mentioned ladies on my list. All the same, she’s one of my favourite models.

Well, there you have it; my top 10 models in the fashion world and my (interesting) reasons why I adore them so.

Ciao!