That recent British BusinessAge article ranking the world's wealthiest models could have used a little remodeling. Given that the careers of Claudia Schiffer (No. 3, with $31.2 million) and Linda Evangelista (No. 4, with $25.9 million) are as crusty as year-old mascara, it was more of a guide to the world's wealthiest ex-models. So who are today's most in-demand faces? After talking to fashion magazine editors and factoring in covers, big contracts, and industry buzz, here's our list of the models who could have Cindy Crawford (No. 2, with $32.8 million) clamoring for a makeover.
1 KATE MOSS
THE WAIF Age: 23. Lucrative ad contracts (Calvin Klein, L'Oreal)
and fashion mag covers (six in last 12 months) make Moss boss.
Also gets points for famous ex-beau (Johnny Depp) and rumored
fling (Leonardo DiCaprio).
2 CHRISTY TURLINGTON
THE MODEL'S MODEL Age: 29. The only member of the
Linda-Naomi-Christy troika who still tracks like a supermodel.
But she's got issues these days: This full-time NYU liberal arts
major now prefers Milton to Milan.
3 AMBER VALLETTA/SHALOM HARLOW
THE GIRLFRIENDS Ages: 24; 23. Love 'em or hate 'em (many do),
Valletta vamps for Elizabeth Arden; Harlow, a high-fashion
darling, could become a Hollywood fave thanks to In & Out. But
RuPaul is still more of a household name than they are.
4 ANGELA LINDVALL
NEXT BIG THING Age: 19. Racking up covers (W,Vogue) and ads
(Missoni, Prada) as quickly as Christie Brinkley gets married.
Fear is she could suffer a sophomore slump like Bridget Hall
(though Hall's back with Gucci's fall ads).
5 CAROLYN MURPHY
THE PRO Age: 23. Adored by editors for her chameleon-like looks
and unflagging dependability, even if beaming's not her strong
suit. ''Cover Girl was dying to use her, but her smile is a bit
of a problem,'' says WWD's Michel Botbol.
6 TYRA BANKS/REBECCA ROMIJN
THE BOMBSHELLS Ages: 23; 25. Being in the upright and locked
position means no respect from the fashionistas, but who cares
when there are GQ covers to shoot? Drawback: Romijn hasn't made
her mark on House of Style yet.
7 CINDY CRAWFORD
THE GRANDE DAME Age: 32. Trying to figure out life after
supermodeldom, Crawford hopes to make a home at ABC. Though a
Revlon mainstay, she faces competition from
actresses-turned-models Halle Berry and Salma Hayek.
8 STELLA TENNANT
THE BLUE BLOOD Age: 25. Hard to say what's more regal, her
lineage (her family's Burke's Peerage all the way) or her
fashion ads (Chanel). Currently on maternity leave, will likely
maintain her silver spoon sheen.
9 NAOMI CAMPBELL
THE DIVA Age: 26. Roving ambassador model, thanks to photo ops
with Castro and Mandela. Has her 'tude worn thin? ''I'm sure in
Naomi's world, Naomi thinks she's big,'' says MTV's Alisa
Bellettini. Still, she's the subject of a VH1 special in July.
10 KAREN ELSON/MAGGIE RIZER/SUNNIVA
THE REDHEADS Ages: 19; 20; 17. When you want quirky looks and
flaming manes, they are who you're gonna call. ''I like them a
lot,'' says Paper's Mickey Boardman, ''though Maggie and Karen
[shown left] can't walk.''
11 ESTHER CANADAS
THE LIPS Age: 21. She claims they're collagen-free (see right),
but the guessing game goes on while she graces such magazine
covers as Elle and Mademoiselle. ''Her whole vibe is sex,
complete 100% sex,'' says Bellettini. ''It's great.''
12 ERIN O'CONNOR
THE THROWBACK Age: 20. Her androgynous '60s-meets-punk vibe fits
right in with edgy Versace and Dolce & Gabbana stylings. But
she'll be a full-on supermodel only when Siouxsie & the Banshees
make a comeback.
13 ELLE MACPHERSON
THE BODY Age: 34. More of a capitalist than a clotheshorse.
(No. 1, with $35.1 million on the BusinessAge list, thanks to
her lingerie line.) She did ads for milk while pregnant and is
considered one of the few models who can act.
14 NIKI TAYLOR
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR Age: 22. Despite a tumultuous personal life
(she's now a divorced mom with twins; her sister Krissy died of
asthma in 1995), she's always in demand. ''She's been on our
best-selling covers,'' says Allure's Linda Wells.
15 VICTORIA'S SECRET VIXENS
THE VIXENS Though Stephanie Seymour, 29, Laetitia Casta, 20, and
Helena Christensen, 29, are snubbed by elitists for their undie
work, they are among the best-paid posers ever. (Not to mention
the most lusted after.)
BUBBLING UNDER
ALEK WEK, 20 Sudanese stunner who made a splash at the fall show]
LING, 23 Asian star of Prescriptives ads
AUDREY MARNAY, 17 Dead ringer for that other Audrey
KIARA, 22 Only black model to get a Vogue cover (July 1997)
since Naomi did it two years ago
GISELE BUNDCHEN, 19 Coming to a Ralph Lauren ad near you
