Supermodels of the 90s

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, I was a correspondent for Welt am Sonntag in Paris and photographed the most famous fashion models of their time, who became known as „supermodels.“
Never before and never since have fashion models achieved a similar status in society and the media – almost like Hollywood movie stars.
Here is a small selection of the „most beautiful among the beautiful“:

KAREN MULDER was born on June 1, 1970, in the Netherlands.
She won the Elite Model Look in 1986 and was one of the top models of the 1990s for many years.
Italian Vogue published an entire issue dedicated to her.
Today, she is the mother of a daughter and a singer of French chansons. #karenmulder

Karen Mulder, Mila Schön Haute-Couture, Januar 1992, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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LINDA EVANGELISTA was born on May 10, 1965, in Canada.
She was considered the most versatile fashion model, which has ensured her continued success to this day. In 2006, she gave birth to a son. The father is FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT (Yves Saint-Laurent, Gucci), one of France’s richest men. She formed a supermodel triumvirate with models CHRISTY TURLINGTON and NAOMI CAMPBELL.
Linda’s motto: „I won’t even get out of bed for less than $10,000!“ #lindaevangelista

Linda Evangelista, Claude Montana Prêt-à-Porter, Carussel du Louvre, Paris, März 1992, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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CHRISTY TURLUNGTON was born on January 2, 1969, in California, USA.
She was discovered at the age of 13 and was for a long time the figurehead of the FORD modeling agency in New York.
In 1993, she was named one of PEOPLE magazine’s „50 Most Beautiful People.“
In 1999, she graduated with a degree in literature and philosophy.
Even today, at over 50 years old, CHRISTY TURLINGTON is still booked by major fashion magazines.
She has appeared in over 1,000 covers to date.
In 2010, she founded the non-profit organization „Every Mother Counts“, which promotes better healthcare for pregnant women.
CHRISTY has been married to American actor EDWARD BURNS since 2003.
They have two children. #christyturlington

Christy Turlington, Lanvin Haute-Couture, École des Beaux Arts, Paris, Juli 1991, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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HELENA CHRISTENSEN was born on December 25, 1968, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1986, she was crowned Miss Denmark and went to Paris to work for the ELITE modeling agency. GIANNI VERSACE claimed she had the most beautiful body in the world, and KARL LAGERFELD said she had the most beautiful and longest legs he had ever seen.
In the 1990s, HELENA CHRISTENSEN had a wild and intense affair with INXS singer MICHAEL HUTSCHENSON.
Her appearance in the 1991 music video for the song „Wicked Game“ by CHRIS ISAAK, filmed by star photographer HERB RITTS, is famous.
The video is considered one of the „Sexiest Video of All Time.“ #helenachristensen

Helena Christensen, Gianni Versace Haute-Couture, Hotel Ritz, Paris, Januar 1991, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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Claudia Schiffer was born on August 25, 1970, in Düsseldorf.
When she became KARL LAGERFELD’s new muse in Paris in 1989, and thus also internationally known, a veritable hype erupted in Germany.
After VERUSCHKA VON LEHNDORFF in the 1960s, she was the first German fashion model to achieve international fame.
Since 2002 she is married to English director Matthew Vaughn. The couple lives in London and has three children.
In fall 2021, CLAUDIA SCHIFFER curated the exhibition „Fashion Photography of the 1990s“ at the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf. #claudiaschiffer

Claudia Schiffer, Christian Dior Prêt-à-Porter, Carrusel du Louvre, Paris, Oktober 1995, Photo; Holger Jacobs

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SHALOM HARLOW was born on December 5, 1973, in Ontario, Canada.
She was the first model to win the „Model of the Year Award“ in 1995.
In 1998, she became one of the models in the famous Pirelli calendar. Following her modeling career, she starred in several international film productions, including „Vanilla Sky“ with Tom Cruise. #shalomharlow

Shalom Harlow, Gianni Versace Haute-Couture, Hotel Ritz, Paris, Januar 1996, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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NADJA AUERMANN was born on March 19, 1971, in Berlin.
She rose to international fame when German photographer ELLEN VON UMWERTH photographed her for British Vogue in 1991.
Two years later, she appeared on the cover of American Vogue. For a long time, she was the model with the longest legs (112 cm) in the world.
Along with CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, TATJANA PATITZ, and HEIDI KLUM, she is one of the most famous German fashion models.
NADJA AUERMANN was particularly popular as a muse for photographers. She has worked with some of the best, from HELMUT NEWTON and PETER LINDBERGH to MARIO TESTINO, HERB RITTS, and RICHARD AVEDON.
Her daughter COSIMA also works as a model today. #nadjaauermann

Nadja Auermann, Valentino Haute-Couture, Grand Hotel Paris, Juli 1994, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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KATE MOSS is born on January 16, 1974 in Croydon, London.
She was discovered at JFK Airport in New York in 1988 and signed a contract with CALVIN KLEIN that same year.
She modeled in underwear in an advertising campaign alongside rapper and actor MARKY MARK, aka MARK WAHLBERG („Departed“).
In the early 1990s, KATE MOSS became the figurehead of the new „grunge“ fashion, which looked rather ragged and a bit rundown.
With her height of just 1.70 meters and extremely thin body, she was often referred to as „heroin chic,“ making her the anti-model to curvy, tall supermodels like CINDY CRAWFORD or ELLE MCPHERSON.
When she was caught with cocaine in 2005, most fashion brands terminated their contracts with MOSS, but just one year later, they all returned, and she was making more money than ever.
As a young woman, she dated JOHNNY DEPP for four years, and later had an excessive relationship with Babyshambles lead singer PETE DOHERTY.
KATE MOSS has a daughter, LILY GRACE, with DAZED & CONFUSED editor Jefferson Hack, who is now a model herself.
Kate’s current boyfriend is photographer NIKOLAI VON BISMARCKk, 12 years her junior and the great-great-grandson of German Chancellor OTTO VON BISMARCK.

Kate Moss, Gianni Versace Haute-Couture, Hotel Ritz, Paris, 1996, Photo: Holger Jacobs

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NAOMI CAMPBELL was born on May 22, 1970, in London.
CAMPBELL was discovered in Covent Garden in 1985 by a British ELLE staffer.
Just one year later, she posed nude for the Pirelli calendar.
Her big breakthrough came when she became the first model of color to appear on the cover of French Vogue in 1988.
Three years later, she appeared on the cover of The Times with the title „Supermodels.“
A new era in the modeling business had begun.
NAOMI remains perhaps the most recognizable face of that era to this day. #naomicampbell

Naomi Campbell, Thierry Mugler, Paris, Oktober 1993, Photo: Holger Jacobs