1. Benedetta Barzini
A lot of models start from the bottom and work their way up (if they’re lucky), but not Benedetta Barzini. The Italian secured her first modelling gig via Vogue’s then editor (in 1963).
Three years later, she was on the ‘100 Great Beauties of the World’ list compiled by US fashion mag, Harper’s Bazaar.
Benedetta continued to drum up quite a name for herself in the modelling world until 1973 when she packed it all in to pursue other passions (feminism and Marxism).
2. Marisa Berenson
With her maternal grandmother having been a famous fashion designer, fashion already ran through Marisa’s blood by the time she decided to become a model. Elevating to the status of being “one of the highest paid models in the world”, her face was on the covers of almost every (if not all) ‘cream of the crop’ fashion mags out there at the time.
One of the more unforgettable shoots the American model took part in was the recreation of the great Josephine Baker’s famous ‘Jungle Woman’ photo. In it, Marisa wore a belt to hide her modesty and little else.
3. Wilhelmina Cooper
Dutch-born Wilhelmina moved to America in her early teens. She became a very prolific and sought-after internationally-recognised model in the 50s and 60s. Over the span of her career, she graced the covers of 255 magazines (27 of which were for American Vogue – a record for any model at the time).
At the height of her career (in 1967), she set up her own school of modelling in New York called Wilhelmina Models which to this day, continues to go from strength to strength.
Sadly, Wilhelmina died young - in 1980 - aged 40 - of lung cancer.
4. Twiggy
British-born Twiggy (real name: Lesley Hornby) got her nickname from her boyfriend’s brother for having super-slim legs. If she was mad-ugly AND super-slim, then her direction in life would have been totally different, but ‘Pretty’ and ‘Skinny As A Twig’ got her the thumbs-up in the world of modelling, along with her tomboy haircuts and unbelievably big eyes.
So, blonde hair, waif-like and prettiness in tow, Twiggy stepped onto the scene at the tender age of 16, causing a storm on both sides of the Atlantic (you go, you beautiful toothpick, you). It’s quite remarkable the impact she had in just 4 years (she quit after that).
Now in her late 50s, her modelling career has been revived through a series of Marks and Spencer campaigns and the popular US program - America’s Next Top Model.
5. Jean Shrimpton
Like Twiggy, trendsetting Jean Shrimpton had achieved international success by the time she was 18, gracing the front covers of well-known high fashion mags - Vanity Fair, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, to name a few.
As incredibly famous as the English supermodel became, she was generally quite uncomfortable with what it meant and what it involved.
Nicknamed ‘The Shrimp’, a name which she disliked, she stepped down from modelling and now runs a hotel in Cornwall with her photographer husband.
6. Paulene Stone
Nowadays, Stone seems to be known more for having a child with the then famous actor, Laurence Harvey (and her subsequent marriages), than for anything else. However back in the 60s, she was a success in her own right, having been one of the top fashion models in London at the time, encapsulating the spirit of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ with aplomb.
Vogue knew when they saw a good thing and snapped her up to be their cover girl. It was also her image that gave the photographer, David Bailey, the all-important push forward very early on in his career.
7. Penelope Tree
Penelope was an extremely unique model – unusual. Years before models with similar features to hers came along (such as Sasha Pivovarova and Lily Cole), she was the only model with the round features, the doll-like face – making her very intriguing.
No one had what the American model had – an aspect that further contributed towards the level of success she achieved.
If ever there was an ‘It girl’ of the 60s, Penelope was it. And then some.
8. Veruschka
Oh how fickle the fashion world can be. Prussian-born Vera von Lehndorff initially ventured to New York in 1961 in the hopes of getting signed up, but unfortunately didn’t get a look in. So back to the drawing board she went.
When she hit the Big Apple again, she was all decked out in black, her name was now Veruschka originally “from the border between Russia, Germany and Poland”.
The fashion world lapped her up and she quickly went from no bookings to as many bookings as her 6ft 1inch frame could cope with, becoming one of the most expensive models in the business.
9. Patti Boyd
Similar to Veruschka’s experience (and I doubt, many models like her), British-born Patti was initially turned away by a number of photographers. One of them remarked that “models don’t look like rabbits”.
Oh dear.
It’s a good thing she paid them no mind as she went on to grace the covers of Mary Quant as well as the UK and Italian versions of Vogue. She was also shot by famous photographers such as Terence Donovan and David Bailey.
10. Peggy Moffitt
Peggy originally started in film, but moved into modelling via her photographer boyfriend and later on husband (William Claxton) who knew the famous fashion designer, Rudi Gernreich.
Her modelling image was a combination of theatre and styles that were current at the time. She was essentially an artist. Having Gernreich was a match made in heaven as he was no shrinking violet himself.
The Californian-born model made an impact with her ‘Five Point’ bowl cut hairdo and her modelling of Gernreich’s infamous ‘monokini’ – a daringly-designed topless bathing piece.
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