Who Is the Number 1 Female Model? | Top Supermodels, Rankings, & The Ever-Changing Face of Fashion

Ask ten different people the burning question—who is the number 1 female model?—and you’ll probably get ten different answers. This isn’t just about walking runways or popping up on magazine covers. It’s about change, influence, and the crazy mix of art and commerce that keeps fashion alive. Remember that year Kendall Jenner's walk at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show broke the internet? Or the first time Gisele Bündchen changed what advertisers thought a body should look like? Now, with social media, millions of fans, and power-players like Bella Hadid, the answer flips faster than Zorro, my cat, jumps for his dinner. Let’s unravel why naming the world’s top female model is never as simple as you’d think—they never just trade places, they redefine the entire game.

Redefining the Top Spot: What Makes the Number 1 Female Model?

Most of us picture the 'number one' as the person everyone in the industry wants to book. But the truth is, this label changes as quickly as trends. Sometimes it’s about runway skills—a Naomi Campbell strut that makes designers weak in the knees. Sometimes it’s bank accounts—Forbes loves putting out those lists, ranking models by pure cash pulled in. Then there’s cultural sway—think Kate Moss’s grunge cool, Gigi Hadid’s instant it-girl status, or Tyra Banks turning modeling into household conversation. Is it Instagram followers? Magazine covers? Or something that just feels bigger, like the time Claudia Schiffer’s face was everywhere a camera could flash?

Let’s get real: fashion houses, agencies, and fans all see ‘top’ differently. For designers, walking for Chanel or Dior can make a model number one, at least for one glittering Paris season. Editors might argue it’s the face in the coveted September issue of Vogue. Brands go bonkers for models who not only sell products but create trends. When ‘The Money Girls’ ranking comes out from Models.com, it’s part cold hard cash, part secret sauce that makes the world stop and look. And if you’re wondering, the site regularly crowns Kendall Jenner as the world’s highest-paid model, thanks to a combo punch of high-fashion jobs, massive social media reach, and deals with mega-brands like Calvin Klein and Estée Lauder.

But hang on: sometimes the number 1 slot goes to names who changed the rules, not just followed them. Gisele Bündchen famously reinvented body expectations at a time when ultra-skinny reigned, leading to what insiders called the “Brazilian bombshell revival.” Tyra Banks? She broke down barriers for women of color. Cara Delevingne made eyebrows matter! Even the legendary Audrey Hepburn—yes, she was a model long before she danced across Breakfast at Tiffany’s—proved lasting impact means more than just catwalk stats. And now, with TikTok and Instagram tipping the balance, faces like Bella Hadid or Adut Akech gain millions of eyes overnight.

Who really sets the rules? Sometimes, it’s a headline-grabbing moment. In 2023, Vogue's 'Model of the Year' went to Paloma Elsesser, stunning for a plus-size model in a notoriously size-biased industry. In 2024, Models.com’s Industry vote crowned Anok Yai, the South Sudanese-American beauty who went viral for a college pic and now closes shows for Prada. The market shifts with every season, every viral post, and every shocking campaign. So next time you ask who’s number one, the answer might change before fashion week is even over.

If you're dreaming of hitting the same heights, don't get discouraged by all these shifting markers. What matters is putting your own spin on the industry. Build a strong portfolio, network like crazy, and treat every photo shoot and runway as your main stage. The leaders of today were hustling backstage before they went global. Oh, and keep an eye on Zorro-level self-confidence—it's essential.

The Current Top Female Models: Rankings, Stats & Standout Stories

The leaderboard for female models is as wild as a New York Fashion Week after-party. Names swap places by the day, but a few always hover around the top. As of May 2025, here's how the giants stack up, according to a mix of Models.com’s rankings, Forbes lists, and fashion insiders.

Scroll through those names and it’s no mystery why Kendall Jenner usually takes the crown. She’s banked the biggest fashion contracts, dominates *social media*, and has the celebrity reach others can only dream of. But if we’re talking pure high-fashion impact, Bella Hadid grabs headlines for her walk and her fearlessness—remember her painted-on dress at Coperni’s 2022 show? That became an instant meme, and suddenly every brand wanted her.

Don't leave out Gigi Hadid, who turned from Instagram sensation to runway royalty. After giving birth in 2021, she bounced right back, landing major campaigns for Versace, Moschino, and now leads her own line. Anok Yai has a viral start—her photo at Howard University's homecoming exploded online—and now she closes big shows like Prada. Adut Akech’s story couldn’t be more inspiring: born in a refugee camp, she became Karl Lagerfeld’s muse and has been hailed as one of the world's most influential models today.

A few legends still loom large, with Gisele Bündchen topping cash rankings—even after supposed “retirement.” When her 2024 Chanel campaign broke, sales jumped 15% almost overnight, proving the old guard keeps flexing serious influence. The real surprise is the rise of plus-size and multicultural icons. Paloma Elsesser rocked the Vogue cover and landed beauty contracts that once seemed off-limits for anyone who didn’t fit the industry mold. She recently helped Fendi launch their curve-inclusive line, and sales numbers reportedly doubled their initial projections in the U.S. market.

Behind the scenes, the path is anything but glamorous. Most top models work crazy schedules, flying across continents for shows and campaigns, and juggling side hustles in design, business, or beauty. Bella Hadid once said in an interview, "I haven’t had a holiday in four years. I’m always on a plane." If that sounds tough, remember the payoff: those at the very top become style icons, business moguls, and sometimes even launch their own brands. For every girl on the above list, there are a thousand hustling behind the curtain, hoping to break through next season.

If you ever plan on chasing this dream, understanding the formulas—earnings, clout, and that wow factor—is your cheat code. And who knows? In a world this wild, someone new might be sitting at the top this time next year. My tip? Stay agile, watch every industry list, and keep both eyes open for rising stars. Success in modeling is a dash of luck, a lot of hustle, and a knack for making everyone remember your face long after the show ends.

Secrets of Staying on Top: Lessons from Supermodels & Industry Tips

Standing at the top of the modeling world is a dizzying spot—staying there? That’s the real game. The runway queens and the social-media mavens all share something: relentless drive, resilience, and a bit of chaos-tackling smarts. If you want to know the secret sauce, just look at the routines and decisions behind the magazine covers. Karlie Kloss codes apps between shoots, Gisele Bündchen meditates and eats strictly organic, while Kendall Jenner builds brands and leverages her number 1 female model status to score contracts far outside of fashion (Pepsi, Moon Toothpaste, you name it).

One thing the top women have mastered? Reinventing themselves. Take Naomi Campbell—even in her fifties, she’s walking runways and curating projects with up-and-coming African designers. Tyra Banks went from top model to media mogul, proving that you can flip runway stardom into talk shows and business empires. No surprise, the digital era amplified this hustle. Models now double as influencers, activists, or designers. Paloma Elsesser speaks out on body positivity and lands partnerships that reward outspoken authenticity instead of just “the look.”

Inside tip: a killer work ethic trumps almost everything. Remember that most models started hustling in their teens. Bella and Gigi Hadid trained under their mom, Yolanda, a Dutch supermodel. Gisele Bündchen was discovered in a São Paulo McDonald’s at 14 and almost gave up after hearing 'no' dozens of times before The Elite Model Look changed her life. Learning how to take rejection without losing your balance gives an edge over the competition.

Instead of copying what’s working for today’s stars, think about your own twist. Gigi did it by championing her “real” body and talking openly about motherhood in interviews. Anok Yai's story inspired legions of girls who never saw themselves in fashion before. If you’re building a modeling career now, nail a portfolio that pops, build solid agency relationships, and always—always—deliver more than you promise on a set. Pro tip: many of the industry’s veterans suggest picking up a second language (Paris, Milan, anyone?) and getting comfortable with public speaking. These extras can help turn a short run of popularity into a lifelong brand.

Your best resource? Learn from the wild stories and even wilder mistakes of those who came before. There are days it’s glamor, front-row seats, and VIP parties. Plenty that go unseen: late-night flights, heavy bags, steep rejection, and brutal competition. Kendall Jenner may be the number 1 now, but she's also spoken out about anxiety and burnout. Staying at the top comes down to stamina almost as much as style.

Never forget: every supermodel has a team. Agents, photographers, stylists, and family keep them grounded and organized. Even Zorro needs backup when he goes after that bird on the balcony (true story, ask my curtains). If you’re plotting your own runway rise, surround yourself with people who challenge you, teach you, and help you roll with the changes this bonkers industry throws at you. Your next step could redefine the whole list—for you and maybe even the world watching.