Was Janice Dickinson the First Supermodel?
Janice Dickinson has publicly described herself as the first supermodel, a claim she popularized through interviews and her memoir. She argues that her career in the late 1970s and early 1980s helped define the term.
Early Modeling History and the Term Supermodel
Before Dickinson, figures such as Lisa Fonssagrives, Dovima, and Twiggy were already internationally famous in the 1950s and 1960s. The word "supermodel" began appearing in fashion media during the 1980s, when models like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Claudia Schiffer gained unprecedented public recognition.
Who Is Widely Considered the First Supermodel?
Fashion historians often point to earlier icons rather than a single individual. While Dickinson played a major role in the 1980s supermodel era, many sources credit earlier stars with establishing the concept. For a detailed timeline, see the history of modeling on Britannica.
