Unfair as it may seem, beautiful supermodel brains prove that sometimes the stereotypes just aren't true.
Models get their share of admiration for their beauty, but aren’t often praised for their intelligence. Surprised? Starting their careers as young as eleven years old, the money, traveling, and glamour are tempting incentives for putting academic pursuits on the backburner. That a tall and skinny model, who is so beautiful it’s her job, could have thoughts as full as her lips, and brains as sexy as her body, is generally considered unrealistic. After all, no one should be allowed to have a high IQ and be exceptionally stunning, right? We may not see many of them go on to be rocket scientists, but models can be much more than just really, really, ridiculously, good-looking. Check out the brains on these beauty icons and you may just rethink the notion that all models are dumb.
The epitome of supermodel, Cindy Crawford has adorned more magazine covers than any other model in history. A job she was undoubtedly cut out for, Michael Kors once said of Cindy Crawford's impact on the modeling industry: "Cindy changed the perception of the ‘sexy American girl' from classic blue eyed blonde to a more sultry brunette with brains, charm, and professionalism to spare". Crawford was discovered by a newspaper photographer while she was working a summer job detasseling corn at the age of 16. It's hard to imagine the industry without her, but before making the decision to pursue a modeling career, Crawford was enrolled at Northwestern University to study chemical engineering on a full academic scholarship. Wonder how the chemicals would have reacted to her in a lab coat? She was also valedictorian of her high school with a 4.0 GPA.
Photo by Jeff Vespa/Wireimage.com
Estonian supermodel Carmen Kass was discovered by an Italian modeling scout in a Tallinn supermarket when she was 14 years old. Kass has been the golden beauty for Dior, modeled for Micheal Kors, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Victoria's Secret. But when she isn't working the runway, Kass is planning her next move - in chess that is. Kass was elected president of the Estonian National Chess League in 2004. Last September, she competed in the Chess Masters Grand Slam in Bilbao, which is considered one of the most important chess tournaments in the world. She joined Estonia's Res Publica Party in 2004 and ran for European Parliament, but despite 2000 votes she did not end up getting elected. Photo by Mychal Watts/Wireimage.com
Before Halle Berry became the face of Revlon, Veronica Webb was the first African-American woman to be offered a contract with the major cosmetics firm. Webb was discovered when she was 18 years old, selling kitchenware in New York's SoHo. Growing up a "highly disciplined childhood with an expensive private education", Webb has gone on to be a writer and spokesperson for black women as well as a journalist, contributing work to magazines such as Details, Esquire, Elle and the New York Times. She runs a consultancy and also writes monthly columns in Interview and American Elle. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Wireimage.com
Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss World in 1994, and her career soon took off as a professional model. She has appeared in dozens of Bollywood films and in 2004, she was chosen as one of Time Magazine's "World's 100 Most Influential People". But before becoming the most widely recognized face of Indian cinema, this gorgeous beauty was an A student at the prestigious Ruparel College in India. She wanted to study medicine or zoology but ended up majoring in architecture. She is fluent in several languages, her native tongue- Tulu, as well as Hindi, Marathi, English and Tamil.
Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Wireimage.com
Beverly Johnson was the first Black woman to ever appear on the cover of American Vogue in 1974, paving the way for prominent supermodels like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. But before making fashion history, Johnson was studying criminal justice at Northeastern University in order to become a lawyer. With so many young girls looking up to these impossibly perfect figures and setting unrealistic expectations of what they should look and be like, it is certainly positive to see models recognized and appreciated for their intelligence. Though the world of professional modeling isn't much the place for boasting smarts, it is refreshing to look at some familair faces and know there's much more below the surface.
Photo by Jordan Strauss/Wireimage.com
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