THEN AND NOW: What today's biggest supermodels looked like at their first catwalk

Caroline Fox,Lydia WarrenAug 27, 2020, 02:05 IST

Cara Delevingne pictured in 2011 during her first catwalk, left, and in 2019, right.Dave M. Benett/Getty Images, Peter White/Getty Images

Regardless of how they started, the world's most famous supermodels have all been working hard from a young age to make it to the runway.
Gigi Hadid began modeling for Baby Guess at the age of 2, while Candice Swanepoel was discovered at a flea market in her hometown and dropped out of school to pursue a career in modeling.
Imaan Hammam made her runway debut for the Givenchy show when she was only 16 years old.
Photos of the world's most famous models walking their first runways show just how far they've come.

The fashion industry has a reputation for being cutthroat, but a select number of models are able to make it to the top.

With September's New York Fashion Week getting the green light from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, models will soon head to the Big Apple to make their debuts, each no doubt hoping this is their moment to break through. Fashion Week is a place every supermodel once found themselves, from Karlie Kloss to Naomi Campbell, before the world knew their face.

Insider took a look back at the first runway shows of some of the biggest names in the modeling world to see just how far they've come.

In 1985, a 20-year-old Linda Evangelista was not the internationally known supermodel she is today.

Linda Evangelista walks the runway in Paris in 1985. Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

Now Evangelista only makes rare runway appearances, like this Dior couture show in 2008.

Evangelista in Dior in Versailles, France. Tony Barson/Getty Images

Heidi Klum walked her first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1997, several years after winning a modeling contest.

Heidi Klum is photographed before walking her first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1997. Dave Allocca/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

Klum went on to host "Project Runway" for 16 seasons and is now back with a new fashion show.

Klum appeared on "America's Got Talent" as a host for Season 15. Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Naomi Campbell rose to fame after strutting the runway in 1987 for Yves Saint Laurent.

Naomi Campbell walking ofr Yves Saint Laurent at his autumn-winter 1987-1988 fashion show in Paris. Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma/Getty Images

Now 50 years old, Naomi Campbell continues to model, defying the notion that a model's career has to end in their 20s.

Naomi Campbell walks during Paris Fashion Week in 2019. Peter White/Getty Images

Gisele Bündchen made a splash at an Alexander McQueen show in London in 1997.

Gisele Bündchen in 1997. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Bündchen was the highest-earning supermodel for 15 years, but now focuses her attention on the environment and charity work.

Gisele Bündchen attends the 2019 Hollywood for Science Gala on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, in Los Angeles. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Adriana Lima is pictured walking the runway in Sao Paulo in 2000 — the year she became a Victoria's Angel.

Adriana Lima in 2000. Fernanda Calfat/WireImage

While no longer modeling for Victoria's Secret, Lima continues to walk other runways, like this Maybelline show during Berlin's Fashion Week in 2019.

Adriana Lima during the Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2019 in January 2019. Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images

Miranda Kerr, pictured at Australian Fashion Week in 2004, also rose to prominence after becoming a Victoria's Secret Angel.

Miranda Kerr wears an outfit from the Morrissey range at the Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in May 2004, aged 21. Jon Buckle/Getty Images

Miranda Kerr, pictured in 2017, now owns her own skincare business.

Miranda Kerr walks the runway at Moschino Spring/Summer 18 Menswear and Women's Resort Collection in 2017. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Moschino

Tyra Banks worked tirelessly to get her name out there, and in 1992, she dropped out of school to grace 25 different runways during Paris Fashion Week.

Tyra Banks walked in 25 shows during her runway debut in Paris. Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Today Banks is best known for her work on "America's Next Top Model."

Tyra Banks in March 2020. Amy Sussman/Getty Images for ABA

Karlie Kloss, then a teenager, walked dozens of shows at New York Fashion Week in 2008.

Kloss at the Doo.ri Spring 2009 show in New York City in September 2008. Randy Brooke/WireImage

Today, modeling is far from the only string to her bow.

Kloss in New York City in early 2020. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Andreja Pejic walked both the men's and women's show for Jean Paul Gaultier at Paris in 2011.

Pejic wears Jean Paul Gaultier in March 2011 in Paris. PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty Images

Pejic, pictured in 2019, continues to break down barriers as a model.

Pejic at the NGV Gala at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images for NGV

After making her runway debut at London Fashion Week in 2011, Cara Delevingne was considered the hottest model to come out of Britain since Kate Moss.

Delevingne walks a Burberry show in September 2011 in London. Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Still modeling today, Delevingne has a string of movie credits under her belt, too.

Cara Delevingne during Chanel's show at Paris Fashion Week in March 2019. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Kendall Jenner was already a household name when she walked her first show in 2011, age 15.

Kendall Jenner models the Sherri Hill Spring 2012 Collection in 2011. Thomas Concordia/WireImage

Jenner, pictured in 2019, is now one of the most in-demand models in the world.

Jenner during the Alexander Wang Collection 1 fashion show in New York in 2019. Steven Ferdman/WireImage/Getty Images

Ashley Graham, pictured walking the runway in 2016, is both a supermodel and a role model.

Ashley Graham during the Christian Siriano x Lane Bryant Runway Show in 2016. Randy Brooke/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Graham, pictured during New York Fashion Week in 2018, continues to work as a model and a designer.

Graham walks the runway during the TOMMYNOW New York Fall 2019 fashion show. Gotham/WireImage

Twiggy rose to fame after a fashion photographer saw an image of her iconic short haircut in 1966.

English fashion model Twiggy on a catwalk during a fashion show in Osaka, Japan, in 1967. Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images

More recently, Twiggy has designed a fashion line inspired by her style and even recorded an album.

Twiggy attends a screening on October 23, 2019 in London, England. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Everyman

Chanel Iman turned heads when she walked her first runway in 2007 at New York Fashion Week.

Chanel Iman walking for the first time in 2007 during New York Fashion Week. Carlo Buscemi/WireImage

While Iman has begun to settle down with her new family, she still continues to strut the runway and appear in music videos.

Chanel Iman is photographed in New York City in 2019. Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images

In 2003, Candice Swanepoel was scouted at a flea market in South Africa, and three years later she walked her first runway show for Tommy Hilfiger.

Candice Swanepoel walking the runway for the first time for Tommy Hilfiger. Thomas Concordia/WireImage

Today Swanepoel continues to model for high-fashion brands while also working on her own luxury swimwear line.

Candice Swanepoel walks the runway at Milan Fashion Week on September 20, 2019. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Imaan Hammam opened the Givenchy show at only 16 years old.

lmaan Hammam opens the Givenchy Spring Summer 2014 fashion show in Paris. Catwalking/Getty Images

Hammam, a role model for other aspiring models of Arab descent, graces the covers of Vogue all over the world.

Imaan Hammam walks in the Alexander McQueen Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020 show in Paris on September 30, 2019. Peter White/Getty Images

In 2007, aged 22, Lily Aldridge walked her first runway during New York Fashion Week.

Lily Aldridge makes her runway debut at the Yigal Azrouel Fall 2007 fashion show in New York City. Donna Ward/Getty Images

Aldridge retired from Victoria's Secret in 2018 and has now moved away from the runway, focusing on her family and her new perfume line.

Lily Aldridge walks the runway while pregnant at New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2018. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

While Gigi Hadid started modeling when she was 2, she didn't walk the runway until she was 18.

Gigi Hadid walks the runway at Desigual fashion show in New York City in 2014. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images For Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Now one of the world's biggest supermodels, Hadid walked in Paris Fashion Week and is expecting her first child soon.

Gigi Hadid walks the runway at the Miu Miu Ready to Wear fashion show in Paris in 2020. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Her sister, Bella Hadid, followed in her footsteps, also landing her first runway show at 18 years old.

Bella Hadid models Desigual spring 2015. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Bella Hadid continues to model during fashion weeks across the world. She is pictured walking the runway in Paris earlier this year.

Bella Hadid during the Lacoste Ready to Wear fashion show in Paris in 2020. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

At only 19, Joan Smalls launched her modeling career after representing Tory Burch on the runway in 2007.

Joan Smalls (third from left) models on the runway for the first time with Tory Burch. David X Prutting/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Today Smalls continues to work runway shows as well as design clothing and makeup lines.

Joan Smalls walks the runway in February 2020. Jacopo Raule/WireImage/Getty Images

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