While exact figures vary, Anok Yai, a South Sudanese-American supermodel, is frequently cited as one of the highest-paid Black female models, known for commanding around $15,000 per hour and breaking barriers at prestigious shows like Prada. Other top earners include veterans like Naomi Campbell and rising stars like Nyakim Gatwech, though specific, consistent data for "most expensive" is elusive, with Forbes focusing on overall earnings rather than hourly rates.
Who is the Highest-Paid Black Model? Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks are thought to be the richest black female supermodels . Their careers have spanned decades and they have branched out into other industries including music and TV.
1️⃣1️⃣ Tyra Banks – $90 Million The supermodel turned business mogul created America's Next Top Model and expanded into multiple industries. Tyra's empire has kept her among the richest Black female celebrities.
Here's a glam look at the richest supermodels of all time, ranked by their estimated net worth. 1️⃣ Kathy Ireland – ~$500 Million A Sports Illustrated cover star turned business mogul, Kathy Ireland built Kathy Ireland Worldwide, a global licensing empire.
The Wealthiest Models in the World, Ranked (1 Is Worth Over $1.2 Billion!)
Nyakim Gatwech (born January 27, 1993) is an Ethiopian-American model of South Sudanese descent. She has attracted attention for her dark skin color and has achieved significant popularity on Instagram.
Scientific formula proves why these 10 supermodels are the most beautiful in the world
🎉 Angela Bassett becomes the highest-paid African American actress of all time. Historic. Well-deserved. Black excellence.
Oprah Winfrey continues to reign as the richest black woman with an estimated net worth of $3 billion.
She became one of America's first Black female millionaires at just 11 years old! Learn the incredibly powerful and little-known story of Sarah Rector, the richest Black Girl in America.
Model Salary Statistics 2025 #1.
Kendall Jenner continues to dominate the modeling world in 2025, earning an estimated $40 million. Her brand partnerships with luxury fashion houses and global campaigns for makeup and skincare lines have reinforced her position at the top.
10 Influential Black Women Who Shaped History and Continue to Inspire
The "Big Five" supermodels, who defined the 90s era, are Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer, though some sources initially included Tatjana Patitz (the original British Vogue cover group) before Schiffer became a more permanent fixture, often expanding the group to the "Big Six" with Kate Moss. These iconic women transcended modeling to become global celebrities, known for high fees, music video appearances (like George Michael's "Freedom! '90"), and dominating magazine covers, shifting power in the fashion industry.
Curvy Models Influencers
The Big Six, as they were dubbed, were the queens of the '90s: Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, and Christy Turlington. While today's generation has Kaia Gerber, Kendall Jenner, Bella, and Gigi Hadid, the supermodels of the '90s were their own breed.
There's no single "world's #1 beautiful girl" as beauty is subjective, but recent lists often name Jodie Comer (based on scientific facial symmetry), Bella Hadid (also via the Golden Ratio), and BLACKPINK's Rosé (from a fan-voted list) as top contenders in late 2025/early 2026. Other frequently cited beauties include Zendaya, Beyoncé, and Scarlett Johansson, showing a mix of talent, influence, and classic features.
In 1988 British model Naomi Campbell made history when she became the first Black model to secure the cover of Vogue Paris (now Vogue France) – aged just 18.
According to a study called “Shades of beauty,” light brown skin tones are often the most physically attractive skin color (Frisby et al., 2006). They used four models for that study. They did not change the skin tone, but they imaged each model to three different skin tones: light, medium, and dark.
Top 20 Hottest Supermodels of All Time
From there, she skyrocketed to become one of the most in-demand faces in fashion—gracing Vogue covers worldwide and even winning Model of the Year in 2023. Anok Yai is now one of the highest-paid and most in- demand models on the planet, typically charges between $10,000 to $20,000 per show 💎✨
Yes, as of late 2025/early 2026, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are still dating and their relationship appears strong, with reports indicating they are serious, see a future together, and are navigating life with their young daughters, even making their relationship Instagram official in May 2025.
In 2018, Teigen's net worth was $11.5 million, according to Forbes' ranking of highest paid models last year. The 33-year-old was ranked one of the highest-paid models in the world by Forbes in 2017 and 2018, and appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition in 2014.