When you think of supermodels, names like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, or Gigi Hadid probably pop up. But who was the very first person to earn that title? The answer isn’t as simple as a Wikipedia entry might suggest. The first supermodel wasn’t crowned by a magazine or signed to a billion-dollar contract. She was quietly reshaping fashion decades before the term even existed.
The Real First Supermodel: Lisa Fonssagrives
The woman most historians agree was the first supermodel is Lisa Fonssagrives. Born in Sweden in 1911, she didn’t start out in fashion-she was a dancer. But when she moved to Paris in the 1930s, her tall, elegant frame caught the eye of photographers like Irving Penn and Man Ray. By the 1940s and 50s, she was everywhere: covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Life magazine. She wasn’t just a model; she was the face of modern fashion.
What made her different? She didn’t just pose. She brought movement, emotion, and personality to the frame. At a time when models were treated like mannequins, Fonssagrives made clothes look alive. She worked with Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Elsa Schiaparelli-not as a background figure, but as a collaborator. Designers trusted her to show their work in the best possible light. That kind of influence? That’s supermodel status.
Why ‘Supermodel’ Didn’t Exist Until Later
The word ‘supermodel’ wasn’t used until the 1980s, when brands started paying models like million-dollar deals. But the concept? It started with Fonssagrives. She earned more than $5,000 a week in the 1950s-that’s over $60,000 today, adjusted for inflation. She was the first model to have a career that lasted beyond a single season. She didn’t just work for one brand; she became a global symbol of elegance.
She also married photographer Fernand Fonssagrives, and together they helped shape how fashion photography was done. Their work laid the foundation for every editorial shoot you see today. She was the prototype: beautiful, professional, and powerful. No one else in her era had that kind of reach, recognition, or financial power.
Who Else Gets Mentioned-and Why They’re Not the First
Some people argue for Jean Patchett or Dovima. Patchett was huge in the 1950s, appearing on more magazine covers than anyone else at the time. Dovima famously posed with elephants for Dior in 1955. Both were iconic. But neither had Fonssagrives’ combination of longevity, global influence, or creative partnership with top designers.
Then there’s Twiggy in the 1960s. She was a cultural phenomenon-teenage, androgynous, and everywhere. But she was the first teen model, not the first supermodel. She represented a shift in fashion, not the origin of it.
And what about the 1980s icons? Cindy, Naomi, Linda, Christy, and Claudia? They were the first to be called ‘supermodels’-but they built on the path Fonssagrives paved. She proved models could be stars, not just mannequins. They turned that idea into a global industry.
The Legacy of the First Supermodel
Lisa Fonssagrives didn’t just walk runways or smile for cameras. She changed how fashion worked. Before her, models were anonymous. After her, they became celebrities. She was the first to be photographed in motion, the first to be named in articles, the first to be paid like a star. She even had her own line of cosmetics.
Her influence is still visible today. When a model today walks a runway with confidence, or when a photographer captures a candid moment that feels real-that’s Fonssagrives’ legacy. She made fashion personal. She made it emotional. She made it matter.
How the Supermodel Title Evolved
The 1980s changed everything. With the rise of global TV, fashion became entertainment. Brands realized models could sell more than clothes-they could sell lifestyles. That’s when the term ‘supermodel’ was coined, and the industry started paying millions. But without Fonssagrives, none of that would have been possible.
She was the bridge between the silent models of the 1930s and the rock-star models of the 1990s. She didn’t need a reality show or a billion-dollar perfume deal to be famous. Her face alone was enough.
Why It Matters Today
Understanding who the first supermodel was isn’t just about history. It’s about recognizing how much power models have always held. Today, influencers and TikTok stars are called the new supermodels. But they’re following a blueprint created by a Swedish dancer in 1945.
Fonssagrives showed that a model could be more than a body in a dress. She was a storyteller, a collaborator, a brand. That’s what makes a supermodel-not the paycheck, but the impact.
Comparison: Early Icons vs. Modern Supermodels
| Feature | Lisa Fonssagrives (1940s-50s) | Modern Supermodel (1990s-2020s) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Medium | Print magazines (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar) | TV, social media, billboards, campaigns |
| Recognition | Known among fashion insiders and elite audiences | Known worldwide, even by non-fashion fans |
| Earnings | $5,000/week (equivalent to ~$60,000 today) | $10M-$30M/year per contract |
| Brand Control | Worked with designers directly | Owns brands, launches lines, negotiates equity |
| Public Persona | Elegant, quiet, mysterious | Outspoken, curated, highly visible |
| Influence | Laid the foundation for modeling as a career | Defined global beauty standards and pop culture |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Lisa Fonssagrives the only model to earn high pay in the 1950s?
Yes, she was the only one. While other models earned good money, Fonssagrives was the first to be paid like a star. She made more than most actors and was featured in major news stories. No other model before her had that level of financial power or public recognition.
Why isn’t Lisa Fonssagrives as famous today as Cindy Crawford?
Because she worked in an era before TV and the internet. Her fame was real but limited to print media and fashion circles. Today’s supermodels are visible 24/7 on social media, which makes them more recognizable to the general public. But in fashion history, she’s the original.
Did Lisa Fonssagrives have any rivals in her time?
She had competitors like Dovima and Jean Patchett, but none matched her consistency or creative influence. Fonssagrives worked with the biggest designers, appeared on the most covers, and was the most photographed model of her decade. She wasn’t just popular-she was essential.
What made her different from models before her?
Before her, models were faceless. They stood still, didn’t smile, and were rarely named. Fonssagrives moved naturally, smiled, and was credited in magazines. She turned modeling from a job into a performance-and made it art.
Is there any footage of Lisa Fonssagrives modeling?
Very little. Most of her work was still photography. But there are rare film clips from fashion shows in Paris in the late 1940s where you can see her walk. Her posture, her grace-it’s unmistakable. You can see why designers adored her.
Final Thought: The First Supermodel Wasn’t Famous-She Was Essential
Lisa Fonssagrives didn’t need a hashtag to be legendary. She didn’t need a TV show or a billion followers. She just showed up, did her job better than anyone else, and changed the game. The supermodel title didn’t exist when she started-but it was born because of her.
Next time you see a model on a billboard, remember: that power, that presence, that star quality-it all started with a Swedish dancer in a Paris studio, turning fabric into feeling. She wasn’t just the first supermodel. She was the reason the title even means something today.