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Models in Their First Runway Shows: Photos of Tyra Banks, Kendall Jenner & More

By:
February 9, 2024 12:02PM EST
Tyra Banks
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images

Even our favorite models were rookies once upon a time! Check out supermodels like Gisele and more walking down their first runways.

We all know supermodels are in a league of their own, but even the most elite catwalk queens had to start somewhere. While our favorite models have graced countless magazines and billboards, the runway is really where it all begins.

Many A-list beauties were fresh faces before their first stroll down the catwalk. Stunners like Cindy Crawford, at Michael Kors’ Fall 1991 show during New York Fashion Week, and Gisele Bundchen were almost unknowns before starting to rock the runway, so we had to go and gather the best photos of supermodels during their first runway appearances.

From the legendary Twiggy of the ’60s, to the supers of the ’90s and the current crop of top models like Kendall Jenner and the Hadid sisters, we’re taking a trip down memory lane, ready to relive the runway debuts that put these models on the map. Get ready to be amazed, amused, and perhaps even inspired by the stories of how these gorgeous gals got their start, in our photo gallery here.

1 of 25

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford
(REX/Shutterstock)

Cindy Crawford, pictured here at Michael Kors’ Fall 1991 show during New York Fashion Week.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
2 of 25

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks
REX/Shutterstock

Tyra Banks was an olive green dream during one of her early shows, seen here during Jil Sander’s Milan show in 1992. She teamed the skirt and jacket with a wild hat gathered by a drawstring.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
3 of 25

Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen
(REX/Shutterstock)

Gisele Bundchen looked so fresh-faced during this early catwalk, seen during the Valentino show at Paris Fashion Week in 1998, here. She would mark her final runway in 2015 with an appearance in her native Brazil. For her grand finale, the model walked the Colcci show during Sao Paulo fashion week, as reported by Grazia.

Not long after, the beauty paid tribute to everyone who gave her a chance in the fashion world when she was just a teen. Gisele took to Instagram to tell fans, “I am grateful that at 14, I was given the opportunity to start this journey. Today after 20 years in the industry, it is a privilege to be doing my last fashion show by choice and yet still be working in other facets of the business.”

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
4 of 25

Twiggy

Twiggy
Anonymous/AP/Shutterstock

Twiggy was basically the first It Girl. She showed off her style for one of the first times during this vintage appearance, c. 1960.

February 8, 2023, 12:24PM
5 of 25

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum
(REX/Shutterstock)

Heaven sent! Heidi Klum was one of Victoria’s Secret’s iconic Angels in the 2000s, seen here during the lingerie brand’s 2000 fashion show in Cannes. The German beauty retired from the VS catwalk in 2010, as reported by Reuters back then.

Remarking on her amazing career with the New York Post, she said “All good things have to come to an end. I will always love Victoria’s Secret. It has been an absolutely amazing time.” Heidi has since moved on to TV, working as a judge on America’s Got Talent since 2013, with a brief break during the 14th season in 2019.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
6 of 25

Kate Moss

Kate Moss
(REX/Shutterstock)

Kate Moss looked ready to make a splash during this 1992 Karl Lagerfeld show at Paris Fashion Week. She worked the runway in a black bra top, briefs, and an inflatable skirt.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
7 of 25

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner
(REX/Shutterstock)

Kendall Jenner was a total newbie when she strutted her stuff at designer Sherri Hill’s Spring 2012 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Sep. 14, 2011. She’d go on to walk some of the most respected shows in the world, eventually modeling for houses like Prada, Marc Jacobs and more.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
8 of 25

Kaia Gerber

Kaia Gerber
(REX/Shutterstock)

As Cindy Crawford’s daughter, Kaia Gerber was basically destined for the runway. She started her catwalk career with a bang, working Calvin Klein’s Spring Summer 2018 show during New York Fashion Week on Sep. 7, 2017.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
9 of 25

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid
(REX/Shutterstock)

Gigi Hadid was a California cutie when she walked Chanel during their Spring Summer 2015 fashion show at Paris Fashion Week on Sep. 30, 2014. Since, she’s gone on to cover over 35 issues across Vogue’s international catalog of magazines, as Vogue Arabia reported in 2022.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
10 of 25

Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima
(REX/Shutterstock)

Adriana Lima was one of the hottest Victoria’s Secret models of the 2000s. She certainly sizzled during this 2014 show in New York. She officially hung up her Angel wings in 2018, per People.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
11 of 25

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid
(REX/Shutterstock)

Bella Hadid was a beauty during Diane Von Furstenberg’s Spring Summer 2016 show at New York Fashion Week. Her colorful makeup looked great with big curls and her patterned jumpsuit, but now in 2023, the model has turned into her own trendsetter.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
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Cara Delevigne

Cara Delevigne
(REX/Shutterstock)

Cara Delevigne may be one of fashion’s wild childs nowadays, but back in 2013 she was just another glowing girl ready for the catwalk. The British beauty certainly knew how to work her angles at this fashion show for The Unique during London Fashion Week.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
13 of 25

Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr
(REX/Shutterstock)

Miranda Kerr took the plunge during this early 2004 fashion show, modeling for L’oreal. While she stunned in her plunging pink dress and feathered fascinator, the beauty doesn’t need to work much these days. In 2017, she married Snapchat billionaire Evan Spiegel.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
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Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss
(REX/Shutterstock)

Karlie Kloss’ long, lean figure has been a staple on the runway for years. She’s seen during Emanuel Ungaro’s Paris Fashion Week show in 2011. The STEM enthusiast was actually just 15 when she made her runway debut with Calvin Klein in 2008.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
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Naomi Cambell

Naomi Cambell
(REX/Shutterstock)

Naomi Campbell was the cat’s meow during this 1989 show at Paris Fashion Week. The leopard look became one of her most iconic ensembles. Though she’s not a regular on the runway these days, Naomi has made time to model for elite brands like Balenciaga and Balmain in recent years.

February 15, 2018, 2:27PM
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Christy Turlington

Christy Turlington
Neville Marriner/ANL/Shutterstoc

Christy Turlington was a vision in Vesarce during the brand’s 1985 Paris Fashion Week show. She was just 16 at the time, kicking off a career which would last decades.

February 8, 2023, 12:06PM
17 of 25

Linda Evangelista

Linda Evangelista
Neville Marriner/ANL/Shutterstoc

Linda Evangelista’s face was everywhere during the 90s, seen here during Lanvin’s 1990 Paris Fashion Week catwalk. She retired from her career in 1998 only to make a comeback three years later. She would withdraw from public life not long after.

In 2021, Linda revealed how she stopped working after a cosmetic procedure meant to slim her face resulted in the opposite effect. The model sued the brand CoolSculpting, seeking $50 million in damages for emotional distress and lost income, per CNN.

February 8, 2023, 12:08PM
18 of 25

Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer
ANL/Shutterstock

Claudia Schiffer looked like a dream during this 1991 Chloe show in Paris. She used her platform to brand out into acting, appearing in Richie Rich (1994), Black and White (both 1999), In Pursuit (2001), and Love Actually (2003) in a semi-cameo role.

February 8, 2023, 12:10PM
19 of 25

Helena Christensen

Helena Christensen
Denis Jones/Evening Standard/Shu

Helena Christensen was only 20 when she wowed the runway at this 1989 John Galliano show during London Fashion Week. Making it clear she wasn’t afraid of a daring look, she rocked bold stripes and a big hat.

February 8, 2023, 12:12PM
20 of 25

Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Ambrosio
Jason Szenes/EPA/Shutterstock

Alessandra Ambrosio helped make up Victoria’s Secret’s elite team of Angels in the 2000s. One of her earliest runways was for the Rosa Cha by Amir Slama show in New York on Sep. 13, 2000. After 17 years wearing the world’s sexiest lingerie, she retired from VS in 2017, following 17 years together, as Vogue reported.

February 8, 2023, 12:14PM
21 of 25

Coco Rocha

Coco Rocha
Shutterstock

Coco Rocha has a high fashion look which made designers swoon, seen here during a 2007 catwalk for Missoni. Ready to hand down wisdom from her years in the fashion industry, the beautgy founded Coco Rocha Model Camp in 2018. The four-day intensive focused on runway skills and posing, in addition to offering insight about fashion business at large, a

February 8, 2023, 12:23PM
22 of 25

Candice Swanepoel

Candice Swanepoel
Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shuttersto

Candice Swanepoel sizzled during this appearance at the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. The star admitted working in fashion is more than surface level. In 2013, she told the Huffington Post, “Some of the smartest businesswomen I know are models. There are so many beautiful girls around that you need more than that. It’s really about being smart now and turning it into a business.”

February 8, 2023, 12:23PM
23 of 25

Chanel Iman

Chanel Iman
Shutterstock

Chanel Iman appeared in Alberta Ferretti’s Spring / Summer 2008 show at Milan Fashion Week. It wasn’t long after her big debut during New York Fashion Week spring 2007. There, she walked for Proenza Schouler and other big names.

February 8, 2023, 12:23PM
24 of 25

Ashley Graham

Ashley Graham
Serena Xu-Ning/UPI/Shutterstock

Ashley Graham proved everyone wrong when she strutted down the runway at the Addition Elle fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 11, 2017. Her high fashion debut would come not long after with Michael Kors, as Vogue reported at the time. Talking about how excited she was about the show’s diverse cast, she gushed, “There’s age, there’s size, and there’s ethnicity. I’m so honored to be a part of it.”

February 8, 2023, 12:23PM
25 of 25

Rosie Huntington Whiteley

Rosie Huntington Whiteley
Jane Mingay/AP/Shutterstock

Rosie Huntington Whiteley was totally baby-faced when she walked the Robert Cary-Williams fashion show at London Fashion Week’s Spring-Summer 2005 celebration. She signed on to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2006 and the rest is fashion history! Lucky Rosie even got to branch out into movies, appearing in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011.)

February 8, 2023, 12:23PM