2016 has been a shocking year for the modelling world; where brains over beauty appears to reign supreme, diversity is lacking and age… well it is just a number, isn´t it?! Read our exposé on the year that rocked the catwalk.
BRAINS BEFORE BEAUTY
Cara, Kendall and Gigi are the names that probably most springs to mind when discussing the world´s most popular supermodels. This year they graced all the front covers, landed the most high profile sponsorship deals and led the designer runaways. But the Forbes 2016 Rich List has rocked the fashion world by revealing that 36 year-old Brazilian supermodel Giselle Bundchen earnt a staggering $30.5 million, over $20 million more than her closest rival.
Queen of the Catwalk
Giselle Bundchan – $30.5m
Endorsements: Chanel, Caroline Herrera, Giselle Bundchen Intimates, Sejaa
Minion #1
Kendall Jenner – $10m
Endorsements: Estee Lauder, Marc Jacobs, Chanel
Minion #2
Gigi Hagid – $9m
Endorsements: Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Maybelline
Minion #3
Cara Delevingne – $8.5m
Endorsements: Burberry Fragrance, YSL, Tag Heur
Looking more closely into the financials of the top earners on the list we can see why a model almost twice the age of the others has topped the list.
Forbes Rich List is done on earnings for that year only. While the younger girls scoop the top endorsements, they don´t have their own businesses or lines from which to earn the seriously big bucks. Giselle has triumphed by launching her own label of lingerie, Giselle Bundchen Intimates and eco friendly make-up brand Sejaa. Both brands are now global and net the Brazilian-born model in excess of $17.5m annually.
However, Kendall´s $10m fortune amassed this year is not to be sniffed at. Her stock has risen by 150% from $4m earnings in the 2015 Forbes Rich List to $10m in 2016, primarily to do with her Estee Lauder contract and her huge social media following.
LACK OF DIVERSITY
Unfortunately, this year´s list also reflects the lack of diversity on the catwalks, given that aside from the Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls, American model Jasmine Tookes and Chinese model Liu Wen the majority of the list are all white women.
Natalie Robehmed, a staff writer at Forbes, said: “The majority of the list is overwhelmingly white, which reflects the lack of diversity in campaigns. A recent survey of print ads found 78% of models used were white, compared with just eight per cent Black or four per cent Asian models featured.”
Plus interestingly, despite the rising fame of plus-sized models such as Ashley Graham, no plus-sized model earned the $4 million cut off necessary to make this year’s Forbes ranking.
“While models of colour and models who aren’t ‘straight-sized’ do find work in editorial shoots, they still rarely book the high-paying contracts that lead to a spot on this list,” Robehmed added.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
However, despite ethnic diversity being a problem, age obviously isn´t – and a new reign of elderly models are proving this with gusto.
Bo Gilbert (Aged 100)
2016 marked 100 years of British Vogue Magazine and what better way to celebrate than to feature a model the same age as the magazine itself. Harvey Nichols selected Bo after it´s ad agency Adam & Eve scoured the UK for a suitable star. Bo was discovered in her local paper, The Evesham Journal and modelled in the magazine´s 100th issue and for a Harvey Nichols campaign.
Daphne Selfe (Aged 89)
Daphne´s career began in 1949, aged 20, when she appeared in publications including Vogue, Harper´s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. However, her big break came 10 years ago with an edgy Red or Dead catwalk show where she was propelled into the limelight as the face of the so-called “Granny Chic” movement. Last year she was awarded the Guinness World Record Title as the world´s oldest working supermodel.
Baddie Winkle (Aged 86)
86-year-old Instagram star Baddie Winkle turned up in cult fashion label´s recent DimePiece’s “State of Mind” campaign. The gregarious grandma was shot by Nikko La Mere for DimePiece in their badass streetwear including mesh tunics, oversized jerseys and sexy swimsuits. A caption on one of Baddie’s Instagram photos says the campaign aimed “to prove that you’re never too old to be the baddest bish in the room.” We couldn’t agree more…. let´s just hope designer brands start embracing culturally diverse and plus-sized models more. We´ll be watching with eager eyes for 2017!
