Search
Log-in

A Day in the Life of 3 of Today's Most Successful Models

Photo Courtesy of iStockphoto/Thinkstock
There’s an infatuation with super models that extends far beyond the luxury fashion world and consumes people from all walks of life with different interests. Much like society’s obsession with celebrities and their doings, we’re just as interested— if not more— with supermodels, possibly due to the lack of inside information we have on them. Unlike celebrities, who have paparazzi and gossip magazines devoted solely to their whereabouts, we know little-to-nothing about the people behind the statuesque figures that stomp with blank stares down the runways. To satisfy your need to know, we dug up some dirt on three of today’s hottest models, all of which are at different points in their careers in the biz.  Lara Stone
Lara Stone

One of today’s most prominent and popular figures on both runways and the pages of magazines is Lara Stone, a Dutch model who was first discovered at the age of 15 on a Paris metro. Her career was catapulted after signing with IMG Models worldwide in 2006 and has made several runway appearances each season since her first catwalk for Givenchy couture in January of that year. Photo Credit: Heidi Slimane

The now-28-year-old wife of British comedian David Walliams is best known for her stunned expression, gapped front teeth, and large bust. Standing at 5’10, the model has a mere size 7 foot— an attribute that results in a “lurch” walk since most runway shoes are at least one size larger. Unsurprisingly, it’s for this reason that Stone prefers print modeling to runway. Regardless, she has received notable top honors on the catwalk, including being a prestigious “semi-exclusive” runway model for Prada in 2007— a title that prohibited her from walking in any other shows during New York Fashion Week or any shows in Milan before the Prada show that season.  Lara Stone
If Stone’s name still doesn’t ring a bell, our loyal readers will recognize her from coverage of the campaign for “Encounter” by Calvin Klein, as well as our “Best Runway Models” page. Additionally, in the fall of 2010, she made fashion history by signing a deal with Calvin Klein Inc., that made her the first time in years that the fashion house chose one model for its three brands: Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein Jeans. Other record breaking gigs? Landing one of the three May 2011 covers for Vogue UK that celebrated the Royal Wedding, which marked the publication’s first multi-cover series in its 95 years of existence. Most recently, Stone was featured in both the 2011 and 2012 Pirelli Calendars. Photo Courtesy of Calvin Klein

In just the last six months, Stone appeared on the covers of six international Vogue magazines, as well as covers of 032C, Photo, and Sunday Times Style Magazine. She can be seen in editorials for the same publications, as well as CR Fashion Book, The Last Magazine, The Gentlewoman, and others. She shot advertising campaigns for Tom Ford, DKNY, and many Calvin Klein products. Needless to say, Stone is busy as ever, resulting in a rank of the No. 7 spot on Forbes’ World’s Top-Earning Models list, with estimated earnings of $4.5 million since May of 2011.  Lindsey Wixson
Lindsey Wixson

If there’s any trend in the world of long-legged, fair-skinned beauties, it’s a move away from the girl-next-door look of the ‘90s supermodel era, and a refocus instead on the unexpected. Enter Lindsey Wixson, a young model with a face that is immediately identifiable on the runway. The 18-year-old Wichita, Kansas native was rejected by several agencies due to her unique looks. Her “bee-stung lips,” “rosebud pout,” and gapped front teeth stood in the way of her career at first, but once signed by Vision Models in Los Angeles in 2009, those characteristics almost immediately caught the eye of Steven Meisel, who promptly booked her for Vogue Italia. Photo Courtesy of Versace  Lindsey Wixson Mulberry Ad
Her runway debut was made just the next season, Spring 2010, during which she walked for Cynthia Steffe at New York Fashion Week. Shortly thereafter, she was swept off to Europe to open for Prada in Milan and close for Miu Miu in Paris, both as exclusives. And by the end of that year, she had booked the fall/winter campaigns for Miu Miu, Jill Stuart Beauty, Barney’s, a Versace fragrance, and Galliano— as well as a cover for the i-D Magazine fall issue. Not a shabby start for a 15-year-old. Photo Courtesy of Mulberry Lindsey Wixson
These days, Wixson is past the “rising star” status and is in full-fledged “It Girl” mode. For Fall 2012, she shot campaigns for Mulberry and Chanel, took the covers of Numero, Flare, and Vogue China, and had editorial shoots for CR Fashion Book, Love Magazine, British Vogue, and Vogue Japan. But it’s safe to say that Wixson’s passion and expertise can be found on the runway, because this season she traveled to New York, Paris, and Milan to walk for names like Anna Sui, Oscar de la Renta, Rodarte, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Stella McCartney — among many others, solidifying her number 11 spot on models.com’s Top 50 Models ranking. Photo Courtesy of Versace Anna Speckhart
Anna Speckhart

Experiencing success on a different level is Anna Speckhart, a 23-year-old from Pittsfield, Illinois. The blue-eyed brunette beauty may be best known for her campaigns with retail brands like Abercombie & Fitch and Forever 21, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t hit it big yet. Photo Courtesy of Anna Speckhart

Scouted at the age of 17, Speckhart began taking modeling seriously when she needed a way to pay the out-of-state tuition that her college demanded. She moved to Los Angeles from the small farm town (pop.: 4,000) that she grew up in between her freshman and sophomore years at university, and when she realized she had a knack for the job, she put off school to give modeling a legitimate shot.  Anna Speckhart
After working several catalogue gigs that summer in L.A., Speckhart spent a year in Paris integrating herself in the high-end market. However, unlike Wixson who thrives on the runway, we see the 5’8 Speckhart strictly in print— both in editorial shoots and campaigns. Since hitting it big in 2010, we’ve seen Speckhart in glossies like Flair Magazine, Elle France, Black Book Magazine, Vogue Japan, Allure Magazine, L’Officiel, Russh, i-D Magazine, and Elle Italia. Her campaign work includes ads for brands like Laura Mercier, BCBG Max Azria, Urban Outfitters and Kate Spade. Photo Courtesy of Anna Speckhart

Some may have the belief that models working solely in print aren’t as successful as the familiar faces we see on the runway, but that is simply not true. Steady editorial models actually get paid substantially, especially when signed to a campaign or another contracted deal. From the looks of it, Anna Speckhart is a spectacular print model, and the fashion world seems to love her. With the success she has experienced in the short time she has been active in the industry, we expect to see a lot more from her in the future.

Nicolle Keogh

Nicolle graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX in 2011 with degrees in Journalism and French. Originally from the East Coast, she is a recent San Diego transplant who is trying to take advantage of all that this sunny city has to offer. She was a contributor to her campus newspapers at SMU and was previously the Editor of San Diego-based start-up DailyCrowdsource....(Read More)

Related Articles

Around the web