Her features were perfectly symmetrical and sleek: a high brow, chiseled cheekbones, an almond jaw, and that perfectly straight neoclassical nose. By the time the coins bearing her image were taken out of circulation, she was completely forgotten, confined to an insane asylum and then buried in an unmarked grave. Other Occupations: Actress, Businesswoman, and Television Host. From Iman and Anna Bayle to Jerry Hall and Brooke Shields, these are the names that defined the era of excess. We commemorate her life by republishing this article, which first ran in the August 2009 issue of Vogue. Country of Origin: Charleston, South Carolina, USA She can be seen as the nymphs on the James McMillan Memorial Fountain by the reservoir in Washington, D.C. She was the model for Allen George Newmans Monument to Women of the Confederacy in Jacksonville, Florida, and for his Peace Monument in Piedmont Park, in Atlanta, Georgia. Evelyn Nesbit, a willowy, copper-haired beauty from Philadelphia, was the most sought-after artists and fashion model in Americas Gilded Age. Though the ever-so-enterprising Munson was open to the idea, her more conservative mother hesitated to endorse it. Police subsequently discovered Wilkins had become obsessed with Audrey Munson. Country of Origin: Monroe, Michigan, USA Bella Hadid's sister Gigi Hadid has been modeling since she was a teenager. Lisa Fonssagrives is widely considered to have been the world's first supermodel, with a career that began in the 1930s. She was the most famous muse in America, but was unfortunately swept up into a murder case., In 1919, Munsons former landlord, Walter Wilkins, a physician who had become obsessed with Munson, was convicted and executed for murdering his wife, allegedly to free himself to marry Munson. She fell as swiftly and as spectacularly as she rose to fame. I hope to restore her story and open peoples eyes when they go about these great cities, to understand it in new ways. It was an extraordinary opportunity, but it came with a catch: Munson would have to pose nude. Beverly Johnson was the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in 1974, which was a . Audrey Munson (1891-1996), former chorine, artist/sculptor's model, became known as America's first supermodel, having posed for tens of statues still extant around the city of New York to this day. It was another instance of others enjoying and profiting from Munson's image with little regard for the woman behind itan inescapable theme of her career as a model and museand her writing reflected her despondence. A 25-foot gilded copper statue sitting atop the Manhattan Municipal Building is arguably the most striking sculpture that depicts Munson's likeness. She was a fragile and vulnerable woman, placed under an enormous amount of pressure as a nude model, he says. James Carroll Beckwith, whose main patron was John Jacob Astor, took her under his wing, introduced her to artists and illustrators, and Nesbit was soon the most in-demand model in New York. Decades passed when no one came to visit her. March 3, 2015. Sculptor Attilio Piccirilli used metal from the sunken ship for parts of the memorial, which also includes a ship's prow jutting over a fountain and a plaque that lists the victims' names. Munson was open to the idea, but her mother was less receptive to the idea. Today, she's a working mother, finding time to serve as the vice president, creative director, and spokesperson for topical wrinkle-erasing concentrate,Erasa. As a result, they believed he killed his wife to be with her. 8 of the Youngest Victorias Secret Models, 10 Oldest Victorias Secret Models (Updated 2020), Fiona Apples 6 Siblings Ranked Oldest To Youngest, Youngest Hemsworth Brothers Ranked from Oldest to Youngest, 8 of the Youngest People to Give a TED Talk, 6 Oldest Flight Attendants Ever in the World, All You Need To Know About DaBaby and His Brother, Glen Johnson, Angela Bassetts 2 Siblings Ranked Oldest To Youngest, All You Need To Know About Angelina Jolie and Her Brother, James Haven, All You Need To Know About Sandra Bullock and Her Sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, All You Need To Know About Kamala Harris and Her Sister, Maya Harris. In 2002, she married director Matthew Vaughn with whom she has three kids. Klum replaced Macpherson as the face of Bendon's lingerie line in 2014. Lauren Hutton was the very first model to sign an exclusive . Munson came to New York to be a chorus girl, but was pulled from obscurity when photographer Felix Benedict Herzog noticed the great beauty while window-shopping with her mother on Fifth Avenue. She starred in commercial fashion shows and became the first American star to appear fully nude on film. On the 1978 Swimsuit Issue cover, Tiegs wore the now infamous white fishnet swimsuit, that rocketed her to fame. Brinkley has had a prolific career, appearing on over 500 magazine covers, being photographed on six continents in more than 30 countries. Current Age (as of July 2020): 76 years, 8 months, 9 days As Uruburu says, Tragically, almost as quickly as her star rose, Americas first supermodel, sex goddess and bona-fide celebrity fell victim to the very culture that created and consumed her.. Dickinson opened a . Some might argue with Janice Dickinson's legacy as a supermodel, but she claimed in 2006 that she was the first to coin the term "supermodel" so for that, she earns a place on this list. In 2016, New Haven town clerk Debra Allen and town historian Marie Strong decided it was time to honor Munsons legacy with a tombstone of her own. Her father complained she spent money like water. Dickinson has had a life full of ups and downs. The late 19th Century was a glamorous period of rapid economic growth in the US but it was also an era of considerable poverty, as many poor European immigrants poured in. Current Age (as of July 2020): 65 years, 1 day In the 1930s, archeologists found stone spear points among the bones of mammoths near Clovis, New Mexico. Her closest surviving relatives remain reluctant to speak openly about her to this day. Modern cars were first built in 1885 in Germany by Karl Benz, and the first American cars in . She was the first movie star to go naked in an American film. Every decade has their supers, from impish, mini-skirted, swinging-60s icons Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy to quirky Cara Delevingne today. In 2003, she married actor Edward Burns, with whom she has two kids. 1960s Fashion - Models could make the difference in whether a designers' line was successful or a flop. The series was meant to drum up publicity for her new film, Heedless Moths, also based on Munsons life. Audrey remained in the St. Lawrence State Hospital for the Insane in Ogdensburg, N.Y., for 65 years. After a successful modeling career, she became a TV host in the 2000s. Country of Origin: Hertfordshire, England Years Active: 1949 Present Other Occupations: Actress. She survived, but her mother had her committed to an asylum a decade later, citing depression, delusions, and hallucinations. 2016, James Bone. She had to, she said, because he was having an open affair with another woman he later married. Munson became an actress and a model under his tutelage and almost accepted a marriage proposal from Herzog before he died suddenly in 1912. By 1908, a 17-year-old Munson had started performing in small shows like the touring production of the musical Marrying Mary. It's on the house. Evelyn Nesbits legacy lives on and will probably continue to do so who knows, maybe for even longer than that of the supermodels who followed in her footsteps. Towards the end of the decade, Naomi Sims, was was considered the the first black supermodel of her time, was the first African-American model to appear on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal as well as Life Magazine. Kloss, one of America's most beautiful model was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2011 to 2014. It was there, under the tutelage of the Sisters of Mercy, that the young Munson learned how to sing and play the piano, violin, harp, mandolin, and guitar. She was even in mass circulation for decades as the model for the Winged Liberty Head Dime and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. This portrait of her was shot in 1987. Read about our approach to external linking. Most recently, she nabbed a Dior campaign and has even dabbled in philanthropy, partnering with DKMS in 2010 to "create a worldwide DNA database to help find matches for bone marrow transplants." She modeled, as a goddess or allegorical image, for Daniel Chester French, Alexander Stirling Calder, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and Adolph Alexander Weinman. A famous bronze of one of those statues, Descending Night, was acquired by press baron William Randolph Hearst, and now resides at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, on the California coast. However, she hasn't let it hold her back. While Ireland no longer models, she continues to leverage her brand into partnerships with other companies. Here's what the original supermodels look like today. While the gap in her front teeth is now one of her signature features, Hutton was initially dismissed by modeling agents for her gap. "But as a model I want to stop for lunch like an hour into the shoot.". Set like gemstones in her milky skin, she had questioning, slightly impertinent gray-blue eyes. Mia Tyler. Janice Dickinson Net Worth: Janice Dickinson . A former supermodel, Tyra Banks turned her runway success into a multimedia brand and worked at the helm of two successful TV series simultaneously, 'America's Next Top Model,' and 'The Tyra Banks . Bettina died yesterday in France at the age of 90. Tiegs no longer models, but she does sometimes appear on reality TV shows. Related: Inside the Scandalous Life of JFKs Sister, Kick Kennedy. She appeared in two dozen sculptures in New York City alone. Though the film was an overall success, it did stir up some dissent from viewers who balked at the nudity. Nesbit embodied her era in more ways than one. Nude statue of Munson atop the fountain in front of New York Citys Plaza Hotel. Kathy Ireland is another American supermodel whose career is still going strong. You may have passed her on the street many times, unbeknownst. Shes part of American history now, but has been overlooked, he says. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The prominence of the supermodel era continued to grow well into the 1980s and 1990s with models such as Claudia Schiffer, Elle Macpherson, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Country of Origin: Breckenridge, Minnesota, USA Unlike Gigi and Kendall, however, you probably dont know the name Audrey Munson, whose life is chronicled in James Bones new investigative biography The Curse of Beauty. Most Read; Step into a world of glamour at Dublin's most stylish townhouse, Number 31 . But those colossal forms now flank the entrance to the Brooklyn Museum. Her beauty was so beloved that it has been said that The Beatles even named a song after her; albeit an unreleased one. Munson was adored by men. ; Shari Belafonte - model of the 1980s. Fashion photography was just emerging, and when Nesbit ventured into this new medium as a live model posing for early pioneer Joel Federe, she was an instant hit. But despite the hundreds of artworks to which Audrey lent her likeness, her paychecks weren't on par with today's Instagram influencers. Country of Origin: Killara, New South Wales, Australia She denied any relationship and even vouched for his character, but the onslaught of negative publicity certainly didn't help her career. The 20 Top Supermodels That Dominated Fashion in the '80s. And a mere model becomes a super when she becomes not only stratospherically famous, but also when she somehow encapsulates her era. As for those still prominently displayed, perhaps the most striking piece is Civic Fame, a 25-foot gilded copper statue atop the Manhattan Municipal Building that Adolph Alexander Weinman designed in 1913. She listed Oelrichs, Jr. and other well-known German-Americans as co-conspirators in this plot, arguing that they discriminated against her because she was descended from early British settlers. If youve been to New York, youve almost definitely seen at least a few statues bearing Munsons image, even if you didnt realize itmany Manhattan neighborhoods have at least one, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art houses another 30 or so. "But it's about looking great for however old you are, regardless of what that number is. Absolutely tragic.. Audrey spent the next two years caught up in the high society circles of New York and Newport, Rhode Island, and allegedly struck up a relationship with shipping heir Hermann Oelrichs, Jr. In 1931, citing depression, delusions, hallucinations, and more, Kittie committed her daughter to an asylum. In it, she claimed Hermann Oelrichs, Jr., belonged to a pro-German cabal that drove her out of the film industry. Another famous statue of Munson is found atop the USS Maine National Monument in Columbus Circle, which was funded by William Randolph Hearst in 1913 to honor the 260 sailors who died in the sinking of the USS Maine in 1898. American fashion model and entrepreneur; Karlie Kloss with estimated earning of $13 million comes at number 15. In 1921, Munson attempted to reclaim control of her reputation by telling her life story in 20 serialized articles entitled The Queen of the Artists Studios in Hearsts New York American newspaper. 1. Exploring Elvis Presleys Irish roots in County Wicklow, How your Irish ancestors traditionally upheld Lent, True-crime documentary explores mystery of serial fraudster "GPO Girl", Aran sweaters, Claddagh rings, tin whistles: the story behind Irelands beloved artifacts. Tyson Beckford - top male model of the 1990s and 2000s, actor and host of Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel.Beckford was the first African-American model to sign an exclusive contract with Ralph Lauren. 45. Though she did choose a husbandJoseph J. Stevenson, a World War I pilot and wealth contractor from Chicagothey never actually pursued their relationship. Her gilded form stands 25 feet tall, holding a crown aloft as the symbol of the city, atop the vast Municipal Building across the street from City Hall. Munson was born in Rochester, New York, in 1891 to Edgar Munson and Catherine 'Kittie' Munson (ne Mahoney), the daughter of Irish immigrants. During her time as a Florodora Girl Nesbit met the architect and New York socialite Stanford White, whose firms projects included some iconic buildings, among them the second Madison Square Garden, Tiffanys, Washington Square Arch and Cornelius Vanderbilts mansion. In 1974, Lauren Hutton made history when she became the first supermodel to land a million-dollar-a-year contract (with Revlon Cosmetics). Christie Brinkley: USD $100 million. Though still just a slip of a girl, Audrey was already possessed of a limber figure and long bonesshe was to grow to five feet eight inches tall. She frolics in the Pulitzer Fountain outside the Plaza Hotel at the southeast entrance to Central Park, her celebrated dimples on full display to the shoppers at the Apple Store. Evelyn Nesbit achieved great fame more than a century ago as a model. At that point, she and her mother lived in a boarding house in New York. At 74 years young, Grace Jones is still a fashion powerhouse. Required fields are marked *. Like Daphne Selfe, DellOrefice did retire from modeling for some time, but returned to the industry in more recent years. Another gilded version of Munsonbronze, this timedecorates the top of the USS Maine National Monument in Columbus Circle, honoring the 260 sailors who died during the 1898 sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba. A generation of her family even refused to utter her name. 27. Had Munson continued on this path, its possible her name would have faded into anonymity with the hundreds of other Broadway hopefuls whose careers petered out once they aged past their chorus-girl prime. Audrey grew into a tall, striking beauty. In 1997, she received VH1's "Supermodel of the Year" award, and she was a Victoria's Secret . Two years earlier, at the age of 15, she had caught the attention of photographer Felix Benedict Herzog. A model named Donyale Luna was the first woman of color to appear in an editorial in Vogue, but it was Beverly Johnson's 1974 cover that really made an impact in the fashion world. A friend directed his attention to Civic Fame, the 25-foot statue of Munson that sits atop the Municipal Building and is bested in size by only the Statue of Liberty. Her father, Edgar, worked as a trolley car conductor with dreams of hitting it big in real estate. People who saw Audrey Munson everywhere in New York nicknamed her Miss Manhattan.. It was men who lavished her with rich rewards for her beauty; and it was men who made her pay the terrible price she did. She was even in mass circulation for decades as the model for theWalking Liberty Half Dollar. Current Age (as of July 2020): 56 years, 3 months, 28 days Munsons figure can be found in bronze, copper, and marble across New York City, and, in fact, all over the countryMissouri and Wisconsin each have a statue of her atop their State Capitol buildings, for example. Current Age (as of July 2020): 70 years, 10 months, 7 days Harlow was diagnosed with vitiligo at the age of 4. Current Age (as of July 2020): 57 years, 4 months, 6 days Copyright 2023 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. Bones biography of Munson gives us the stunning portrait of an early models colorful and glamorous life, rubbing elbows with great artists and celebrities of her time, set against the backdrop of looming tragedy that awaits her final years. Fashion is always changing, but a handful of famous faces endure. Ethiopian-born model Liya Kebede rose to fame in 2002 when she appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris.In 2003, she was the first black model to ever be awarded an Este Lauder contract. 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