Doesn't it seem "Supermodels" are a dime a dozen these days? What with Insta-famous fashion faces who've barely been around for a few seasons taking the industry by storm, one could almost forget about the originals who paved the way for their whole scene: Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Cindy Crawford. As for the latter, Crawford shifted tides away from wholesome blonde, blue-eyed girls next door, to make way for a brunette glamazon on the cover of every magazine under the sun. And she did so by working with some of the most renowned names in fashion. Today, Crawford announced (in an interview in United Airlines' in-flight magazine, Rhapsody, of all places) that she plans to retire this year as she celebrates her 50th birthday.
"I'm sure I'll have my picture taken for 10 more years, but not as a model anymore," Crawford told Rhapsody. "And that's Okay. I've done it. I've worked with all these incredible photographers. What else do I need to do? I can't keep reinventing myself. I shouldn't have to keep proving myself. I don't want to."
Crawford kicked off her career over three decades ago at the age of 17 and was named the highest paid model on the planet by Forbes in 1995 (and has the world's most famous beauty mark). She told the publication that the next chapter of her life is not one she plans to spend in front of the camera.
However, this afternoon Crawford took to Instagram to clarify that she's not, in fact, full-on retiring: "Every year, I tell my kids I'm retiring. It's a running joke in our family. And yet every year, opportunities pop up that really excite me. While it's true that I'm eager to shift my focus a bit to concentrate on my businesses, friends, and family — I'm not making any final statements (not all headlines tell the whole story!). I have loved being part of the fashion industry for the past 30 years — and if that time has taught me anything, it's this: never say never. Thanks for all the support, I'm so excited for what 2016 holds! xo Cindy"
So even though she's not completely calling it quits (phew!), in celebration of Crawford's prolific career, let's take a look back at 10 of the model's standout moments over the years...
Playboy, July 1988
In July 1988, Cindy posed nude at the age of 22 for Playboy magazine in a cover shoot with photographer Herb Ritts. A decade later, in October 1998, Crawford returned to the pages of Playboy for a second nude shoot, once again shot by Ritts, explaining: "10 years after my first Playboy appearance, I was asked to do it again. As long as I could do it with Herb, it was a no brainer. Because we had done the first shoot in black-and-white, we decided to do the second in color and chose colorful Careyes, Mexico as a location."
Hosting MTV House Of Style, 1989 - 1995
House of Style was broadcast on MTV during the zenith of the supermodel era. The fashion-focused show gave us rare insights into the lives of supermodels, as well as the designers dressing these beauties on the catwalk. The program brought the world of luxury fashion straight into our living rooms, diminishing its elitism and making it light and fun, complete with accessible style tips and candid celebrity interviews.
When Crawford left her coveted hosting gig in 1995, she was succeeded by models like Molly Sims, Amber Valletta, and Shalom Harlow. But Cawford is the one we all remember, adored for her sense of humor, charm, and willingness to be silly on national TV. One highlight: when she visited Will Smith on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and attempted to beatbox.
Singing "Freedom" At The Versace Show, 1991
In 1990, Peter Lindbergh shot Evangelista, Crawford, Campbell, and Turlington for the cover of Vogue, inspiring George Michael to have the gorgeous quartet star in his music video for "Freedom! '90."
Following their cameos in that unforgettable video, Gianni Versace sent all four supers down the catwalk at his 1991 show, arm-in-arm, as "Freedom" blasted out on the soundtrack: a truly seminal moment in fashion history.
That Versace dress at the 1991 Oscars
In 1991, Cindy Crawford made her first public appearance with new boyfriend Richard Gere at the 63rd Academy Awards, wearing a show-stopping red Versace dress. Crawford presented the Oscar for Best Set Design alongside Susan Sarandon, and the plunging, scarlet dress she donned for the occasion is probably one of the sexiest, most memorable red carpet gowns of all time.
The dress had a significant trickle-down effect: many imitations cropped up shortly after, from high street items to luxury labels. The fame Crawford garnered following the appearance also boosted Gere's profile. The two were married from 1991 to 1995 — one of our favorite celebrity unions of the '90s.
BritishVogue Cover, June 1991
For BritishVogue's 75th anniversary issue, Turlington, Evangelista, and Crawford came together for the cover shoot captured by Herb Ritts, appearing topless and cheek-to-cheek. It doesn't get more glamorous than this powerful triumvirate of style icons.
Her Super Bowl Pepsi Ad, 1992
Super Bowl ads are the most valuable real estate on the small screen, and Pepsi's commercials have had a significant impact for many years. Arguably the most iconic of the soda brand's ads? That 1992 spot starring Cindy Crawford in an oh-so-'90s uniform of high-waisted blue jeans and a white tank top as she stops at a vending machine to buy a can of Pepsi. Rather than swooning over the stunning supermodel, two kids in the vicinity of the vending machine marvel at the brand-new Pepsi can.
Chanel Couture, Spring 1993
At the"Girls of Summer"-themed Chanel couture show in 1993, Crawford brought along her beau Richard Gere, much to the delight of the paparazzi. For his bow, Karl Lagerfeld stepped out with his cast of supermodels including Helena Christensen, Schiffer, and Crawford.
Hervé Léger Spring/Summer 1995
Before ultra-waifish models dominated the runways of the late '90s and early aughts, the supers were celebrated for their athletic bodies and sultry curves. No one looked better in Hervé Léger's signature body-con silhouettes than Crawford, seen here alongside Eva Herzigova and Karen Mulder.
Chanel Spring/Summer 1996
Cindy, clad in nothing but a powder-blue velour Chanel bikini and shirt? That works.
Duran Duran's "Girl Panic" Video, 2011
An impressive supermodel posse regrouped in 2011 for Duran Duran's epic 9-minute-long music video, "Girl Panic." Yasmin Le Bon, Christensen, Campbell, Herzigova and, of course, Crawford cavort in hotel rooms and race through the streets of London in a Rolls Royce.
Balmain Campaign, Spring '16
Swan songs don't get better than this. Crawford recently appeared in this season's Balmain campaign, alongside fellow supermodels Campbell and Schiffer.
"They made fashion relevant," Balmain's designer Olivier Rousteing explained of the powerhouse trio. "As relevant to pop culture as music, cinema, and sport… These women are powerful, sexy, confident, glamorous. They have a unique attitude, they know how to wear my designs, how to move, they really own the clothes. They are much more than models; they are strong businesswomen, and at the same time they have families, kids, lovers — I find this very inspiring. They have always been very modern. They are icons, living legends, superheroes."
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