Fashion

23 Of The Most Successful Male Models Of All Time

23 Of The Most Successful Male Models Of All Time
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If Zoolander taught us anything, it’s that the modelling industry is no walk in the park, particularly for male models. But while even the most successful male faces don’t enjoy the same supermodel status as their female counterparts, many of them are still instantly recognisable around the world – whether on magazine covers, or plastered on the billboards you see en route to work.

Back in the day, the likes of Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren would often propel new models to superstardom – just ask Tyson Beckford or Lucky Blue Smith. In recent years, though, social media has played a large part in carving out careers, with the new generation of male models, including Leon Dame and Calum Harper, finding viral fame on TikTok and Instagram. Aside from the followers these stars have amassed, modelling remains a lucrative business (although there’s still a gender pay gap – in favour of women), with OG male supermodel David Gandy reportedly earning close to £4million a year at the height of his career, thanks to his deals with Dolce & Gabbana and Marks & Spencer.

While the rest of them may not be so forthcoming about disclosing their finances, we’ve compiled a list of the most famous male models of all time.

David Gandy

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British model David Gandy became one of the most famous male models in the world after being chosen as the face of Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue fragrance in 2006, before going on to front campaigns for – and even design for – Marks & Spencer.

Tyson Beckford

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Having made his name as the face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo line in the 1990s, Tyson Beckford successfully forged a career in showbiz. As well as venturing into acting, he went on to host the TV show Make Me A Supermodel.

Sean O’Pry

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Named Forbes’s highest-paid male model in the world in 2013, Sean O’Pry, who hails from Georgia, US, has starred in countless top campaigns over the past decade, for brands including Calvin Klein and Armani.

Godfrey Gao

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In 2011, Taiwanese-Canadian model Godfrey Gao made history as the first Asian male to front a Louis Vuitton menswear campaign. He’s since gone on to star in Chinese-language TV shows and films.

Jon Kortajarena

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Kortajarena was only 18 when he became the face of Just Cavalli in 2004. Since then, the Spanish model has starred in countless campaigns – Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Hugo Boss among them – as well as landing a role in Tom Ford’s 2009 film A Single Man.

Alex Lundqvist

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Lundqvist got his big break in the 1990s, when he starred alongside Helena Christensen in Versace’s autumn/winter 1997 campaign. The Swedish model has also been tapped by Guess and Hugo Boss.

Alton Mason

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Alton Mason shot to fame in 2019, as the first Black male model to walk for Chanel, having previously appeared on the runway for Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga. He has been named male Model of the Year by models.com for five consecutive years, and was listed on Forbes’s 30 Under 30 list for art and style in 2021.

Leon Dame

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Leon Dame first hit mainstream media when he went viral for his distinctive runway walk in 2019, after closing Maison Margiela’s spring/summer 2020 show. Portraying one of John Galliano’s “broken dolls”, Dame’s intense stomp and androgynous aesthetic has dominated both runways and editorial spreads.

Mark Vanderloo

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Now aged 56, Dutch model Mark Vanderloo is a veteran of the industry, having fallen into it by accident when he was scouted while accompanying his model girlfriend to a photo shoot back in the 1990s. He’s now renowned for his Hugo Boss campaigns.

Evandro Soldati

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Baby-faced Evandro Soldati has his mother to thank for his career, after she entered her then 17-year-old son into a modelling contest in his native Brazil back in 2002. As well as starring in major ads for Armani and Narciso Rodriguez, he also appeared in Lady Gaga’s music video for her hit “Alejandro” in 2010.

Marcus Schenkenberg

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With his trademark long locks, 50-year-old Swedish model Marcus Schenkenberg is best known for his 1990s Calvin Klein adverts, as well as high-profile campaigns for Versace and Armani.

Lucky Blue Smith

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After being scouted at the age of just 10 and modelling for Saint Laurent at 12, Utah-born, LA-based Lucky Blue Smith has soared to fame in recent years. Now 26, with four children and a three-million-strong Instagram following, he’s a regular on the runways and in the front row, working with everyone from Tom Ford and Tommy Hilfiger to Balmain and Calvin Klein.

Calum Harper

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The British model skyrocketed to fame in the most Gen-Z way possible when he turned his lockdown bedroom selfies and TikTok videos into a full-blown modelling career. Since then, he’s walked the runway at Gucci, Diesel and Luar, all while clocking up an impressive 1.6 million Instagram followers.

Jordan Barrett

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Jordan Barrett was scouted at the tender age of 14, before being catapulted into the upper echelons of the fashion industry. With his sun-kissed Australian tan and piercing gaze, Jordan has fronted campaigns for the likes of Balmain, Coach and Versace.

Tobias Sorensen

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During his career as a model, Tobias Sorensen has worked with Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel and Calvin Klein and walked at fashion weeks across the world. Beyond the world of fashion, the Danish model has also turned his hand to investing.

Marlon Teixeira

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Brazilian model Marlon Teixeira got his start in modelling through an unconventional route, after his grandmother introduced him to Anderson Baumgartner, owner of Way Model Management. Since then, he has fronted Diesel fragrance campaigns and walked the runway for Emporio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dior Homme.

Djimon Hounsou

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Although you may recognise him from his roles in Gladiator and Blood Diamond, Djimon Hounsou began his career as a model. Prior to taking over the silver screen, he was the face of Calvin Klein in 2007, after getting discovered by a scout while homeless. Since then, Hounsou has been advocate for change in Hollywood, using his platform to address issues of race and inequality within the industry.

Clément Chabernaud

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The chiselled cheekbones of Clément Chabernaud have made the French model a firm fixture on the runway. After making his debut in 2005 for Dior Homme at just 16 years old, he has walked for brands such as Hermès, Valentino and Prada.

Xu Meen

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Known for his striking features and unique look, Chinese model Xu Meen has been a mainstay on the runway since his debut in 2017, subsequently walking for Balmain, Dries Van Noten, Jil Sander and Vetements. He has also featured in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, H&M, Kenzo and Moncler and was recently immortalised in the role of Jack (GR-74), the main character in the video game, Ghostrunner.

Malick Bodian

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Malick Bodian is no stranger to being both behind and in front of the camera. The Senegalese model has walked for brands such as Givenchy and Versace, as well as shooting for magazines, including Vogue.

Fernando Cabral

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For Fernando Cabral, modelling is a family affair. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Armando, Fernando has made a name for himself beyond his family ties. From walking the runway wearing Haider Ackerman’s first collection for Tom Ford to fronting campaigns for Balmain, H&M or Stone Island, Cabral’s still one of the most in-demand models of the moment.

Kit Butler

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No stranger to the ins and outs of the modelling industry, Kit Butler has been in front of the camera for over a decade. The Brit model was raised in Italy and had plans to be a physiotherapist before a model scout came calling and he made his runway debut opening Stuart Vevers’s first menswear show for Coach, back in 2015, aged only 16. Since then, he’s been nominated for Models.com’s Model of the Year accolade three times, including winning the reader’s choice in 2018. The model was also personally cast by Demna to be part of Balenciaga’s return to couture in 2020.

Sang Woo Kim

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Raised in London, British-Korean model Sang Woo Kim initially began modelling to fund his way through university, going on to be the first Korean model to walk for Burberry during the label’s autumn/winter 2014 show. Since then, he has become a mainstay at Burberry, both on the runway and in campaigns, as well as walking for brands including Dolce & Gabbana and Diesel. Nowadays, Sang is prioritising his career as an artist, showing across the UK, Europe and America.