1. Cindy Crawford:
This established model has appeared as the cover girl for more than 600 different magazines over the years. She has also been estimated to be worth over $6.9 million thanks to her assignments and contracts. Cindy started modelling at the age of 19 years and since then has never looked back. Apart from all this Cindy was the first model to pose for the now popular magazine Playboy. Like most high-profile stars, Cindy too has that Hollywood connection; she owns a part of the famed Hollywood Planet.
In her earlier days Cindy dated the actor Val Kilmer but their relationship never got far… later in ’91 she married the famous actor Richard Gere at the Little Church of the West, Las Vegas.
Cindy was touted as one of the biggest models with modelling contracts for Tag Heure and other big brands. She continues to remain as their brand ambassador after so many years. Truly a great sign of beauty.
2. Naomi Campbell:
She has made men over the globe swoon… editors, photographers cry and other fellow models fume… she is Naomi Campbell. Naomi was the first ever black model to enter the fashion industry that was predominantly white. Apart from this she was also the first on the cover of French Vogue, British Vogue, and Time Magazine.
Like many others Cindy too has her own line of accessories like her successful line of perfumes and colognes. Then in May ’06 she was featured on a 75 eurocent postage stamp issued by the Austrian Post Office.
3. Kate Moss:
The lass who made most of the controversies in the world of modelling Kate shot to the top thanks to her attitude …of effortlessly posing n*de. She was at one point of time engaged to actor Jonny Depp. Prior to that she was dating another actor, Billy Zane. However neither of the relationships clicked and Kate remained single.
Kate may just be the only other model to rival the covers that Cindy has amassed. She is also a good friend of actor\designer Sadie Frost and later became the godmother to Sadie’s and Jude law’s daughter Iris. In ’05 Kate was worth a net estimate of $50 million.
She's no mere model anymore, or for that matter, simply an icon. Kate Moss is an industry now and quite a money machine at that. The impressive thing about this achievement is that she's managed to become a financial powerhouse while remaining the absolute epitome of editorial cool.
4. Heidi Klum:
More than a model she is a whole enterprise by nature. Heidi can have an article written about her in the past two years and nothing will be different save for the developments. She has been the Victoria Secret’s spokesperson for quite a few years and still has an iron grip over the position.
Besides this she has her own line shoes, jewellery and candy. This leggy lass has insured her legs to the tune of two million dollars. While on the personal front she is the long-time companion of singer Seal, from the Batman sound track fame. Klum and Seal got engaged on December 23, 2004, at a mountain resort in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, and married on a beach in Mexico on May 10, 2005.
5. Tyra Banks:
The first African American model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition, Tyra comes in close second to her foe turned friend Naomi Campbell. Like most models she dated John Singleton from films like 2Fast 2Furious, Shaft and many more. Later on she also dated the Sacramento Kings player Chris Webber for over three years.
As a model, Tyra has some pretty strict rules she following rigidly: - No Frontal Nudity - No Birds - No Cats - No Fish - No Cigarettes - No Alcohol. Despite all this she has still been elected as the sexiest woman by a plethora of magazines. In 2007, the Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $18 million.
7. Adriana Lima:
Entering into a modelling competition at the age of 13, Adriana won second place and later moved to New York to pursue her [passion for modelling.
At that time she was just 16 years. Adriana was chosen as the most desirable woman by AskMen.com.
With this new title she left behind stars such as Angelina Jolie (#9), Halle Berry (#10), Monica Bellucci (#2) and Charlize Theron (#3).
8. Gisele:
This beauty wanted to be a professional volleyball player and had even thought of becoming a member of the Brazilian team, Sogipa. However she entered the world of fashion and soon rose to the top. Today she is the spokesmodel of Dolce & Gabbana, Bvlgari, Christian Dior, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, and Strenesse.
For some time she dated the Hollywood star, Leonardo DiCaprio, made famous with films like Titanic, The Beach and many more. They couple were chosen by People Magazine as the "Most Beatiful Couple in the World", in 2004. However three years later she announced that their relationship was done with, in November ’05. Unlike other models that wait for a break into the film industry Gisele turned down a role in Charlie's Angels, because of her busy agenda.
9. Claudia Schiffer:
The model that holds the record of most magazine covers, which graces a number over 900, Claudia Schiffer may just be the biggest name in the industry today. Claudia was one of those models who made the transition from modelling to acting and since then has appeared in various films and TV serials. The most noted was her appearance in the film Zoolander.
On the personal front Claudia was engaged to the magician David Copperfield. However this engagement never hampered her career as a model or an actress.
10. Bridget Hall:
Besides being a top leading model Bridget is also an expert snow boarder, and spends a lot of time in Vermont and Telluride. She has appeared on over 200 top fashion magazines.
Like most models she moved to New York to start off her career in fashion. This move was at the tender age of 14 years, she enlisted in the Ford Agency there. Then at the age of 16 she posed for her first swimsuit calendar.
Bridget like many other models owns her own Company: Bridget Hall Inc.
Linda Evangelista:
Linda was ranked #2 on MTV's "House of Style" (1989) list of the top models of the 1990's close on the heels of Cindy Crawford. Linda met actor Kyle MacLachlan on the set of an ad for Barney's New York in 1992 and they began dating that year and became engaged in 1994, but separated in early 1998. Besides him she also dated French soccer player Fabien Barthez (1998–2000), Italian oil mogul Ugo Brachetti Peretti (2003–2004), and Formula One driver Paolo Barilla (2005).
Prior to her fling with Kyle, Evangelista was married to Elite executive Gerald Marie from 1987 to 1993. Throughout her career, Evangelista has expressed her desire to have children. In 1999, she suffered a miscarriage after six months of pregnancy (the father was French soccer player, Barthez).
To her delight, on October 11, 2006, she gave birth to a boy, Augustin James. The father is an unnamed New York architect. While pregnant, Evangelista appeared on the August 2006 issue of Vogue magazine. She was the first non-actress/singer model to appear on Vogue in over a year. In the issue, Evangelista said she was "pro-cosmetic-procedure" and admitted the use of Botox, but said she had stopped during her pregnancy.
