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From Carla Bruni to Kate Moss Supermodels Then and Now
Carla Bruni wearing Blumarine in 1996. Reuters

They rule the ramp and it was through them that the term "supermodel" came into existence. These women, including Kate Moss and France's first lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy, have time and again set new standards of beauty for the different generations through their glamorous looks.

English model Kate Moss, known for her heroin-chic looks, had captured the fashion industry when she was discovered at the age of 14 by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Model Management, New York.

With her arrival, Moss set new standards within the industry in contrast to the "supermodels" of the moment such as Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell, who were known for their curvaceous and tall figures.

German model Claudia Schiffer, on the other hand, rose to popularity and became a household name during the early 1990s as one of the world's most successful models. In her early career, there were many comparisons drawn to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. She has appeared on over 700 magazine covers and continues to front global campaigns for luxury fashion and fragrance houses.

Gisele Bündchen, a Brazilian model, was credited with ending the "heroin chic" era of modelling. A goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme, Bündchen was one of Victoria's Secret Angels from 2000 till 2006. Since 2004, she has been the highest-paid model in the world and the sixteenth richest woman in the entertainment industry with an estimated $570 million fortune.

, Models Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell have stated that Bündchen is the only true remaining "supermodel "and, according to Forbes, she may become the world's first ever billionaire supermodel.

Although Carla Bruni Sarkozy has deviated from the modelling industry, she was a popular name working for many high-end fashion labels like Christian Dior, Givenchy, Paco Rabanne and Sonia Rykiel among others.

Start the slideshow and take a look at the stunning models through the years and their fashion evolution:

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