A Brief History of '90s Supermodels in Music Videos

They didn't just walk the runways.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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There isn't anything quite like the supermodels of the '90s, a decade often considered the golden era of models. The industry was led by Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Kate Moss, all of whom gained fame beyond modeling itself, and would go on to be recognized by their first names alone. They were highly-paid (Turlington reportedly was paid $800,000 for twelve days' work each year by Maybelline in 1991) and were recognized all over the world.

Campbell et al. were celebrities and, naturally, did as celebrities did. They walked the runways and fronted ad campaigns, yes, but they also did talk shows, landed movie roles, and had their own TV shows. They also made cameos in music videos from Michael Jackson's "Black or White" to Jay-Z's "Change Clothes." But it wasn't just Campbell and what people considered the "original supermodels" who've shown face in the three-minute clips. We spotted plenty of other supermodels in Jon Bon Jovi, Busta Rhymes, and even Rihanna's videos. Check out this Brief History of '90s Supermodels in Music Videos to find out which one Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, and Rachel Hunter, and more starred in. 

Helena Christensen

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Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz

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Naomi Campbell

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Tyra Banks

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Stephanie Seymour

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Cindy Crawford

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Linda Evangelista, Estelle Lefebure, Emma Sjoberg, Nadja Auermann, and Naomi Campbell

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Alek Wek

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Tyra Banks

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Alek Wek

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Kate Moss

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Alek Wek

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Jaime King

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Claudia Schiffer

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Heidi Klum

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Naomi Campbell

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Rachel Hunter

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Amy Wesson

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Kate Moss

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Laetitia Casta

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