A lot of money, plus a flight on the Concorde: George Michael had to spend a lot to convince five aspiring models to take part in his music video in 1990. They were Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and the late Tatjana Patitz (1966-2023). The quintet was already known in the fashion world; shortly before, the German photographer Peter Lindbergh had photographed them for the cover of British “Vogue”. But the video for “Freedom” finally made her famous. They were celebrated like pop stars all over the world.
“None of us had any idea what impact it would have,” says Campbell in the documentary “The Super Models,” which chronicles the superwomen’s careers. Whether in magazines or on television – unlike many colleagues before them, they were present everywhere. Although there were other big names like Claudia Schiffer and Stephanie Seymour, they weren’t part of the Big Five.
What they wore sold millions of copies
They embodied the glamor of the nineties, women wanted to look as flawless as them, every label wanted to adorn themselves with them. They were sales guarantees. Whatever they wore was bought millions of times, be it lipstick or jeans. She made a fashion house like Versace really big. “We were portrayed as strong women. And at some point we realized that we were too,” says Cindy Crawford. Catwalk appearances? It sometimes cost over $20,000, plus a luxury hotel and bodyguards.
But the four-part series, which unfortunately barely mentions Tatjana Patitz, is not just about glamor and megalomania, but also the shadows of the industry. Campbell talks about discrimination against black models. Evangelista, who once caused a stir with sentences like “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000,” talks about her fateful adventures: A failed cosmetic procedure disfigured her body; She was married to Gérald Marie, the ex-head of the Elite Paris agency, whom many women accused of sexual abuse. She is also suffering from breast cancer again. “I’m a supermodel,” says Linda Evangelista, “but I’m not superhuman.”
The four-part documentary series “The Super Models” will run on Apple TV+ from September 20, 2023.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
