Linda Evangelista, the Canadian supermodel who captivated the world with her striking looks and unparalleled versatility, celebrated her 60th birthday on May 10 in New York City.
As one of the original “supers” who dominated runways and magazine covers in the late ’80s and ’90s, Evangelista’s milestone birthday offers a moment to reflect on her enduring impact on fashion and her recent journey of strength and survival.
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Alongside contemporaries like Naomi Campbell and Gianni Versace—forming the famed “Trinity”—Evangelista redefined what it meant to be a model. She wasn’t just a face; she was a collaborator, a muse to designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace, and a favorite subject for legendary photographers such as Steven Meisel.
Famously dubbed “the chameleon” for her constant, fearless reinvention through different haircuts and colors, she proved that models could possess distinct personalities and exert a powerful influence. Her infamous 1990 quote to Vogue, “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day,” became synonymous with the supermodel era’s glamour and perceived power.
Evangelista graced countless covers of Vogue and other major fashion publications, starred in iconic campaigns for brands like Chanel, Versace, and Revlon, and walked the most prestigious runways globally. Her ability to transform, from androgynous chic to high-glamour goddess, made her a unique and unforgettable figure in an industry built on image.
However, recent years brought unforeseen challenges. Evangelista went public in 2021 about her devastating experience with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a rare side effect of a CoolSculpting fat-freezing procedure she underwent years prior. She described being left “permanently deformed” and “brutally disfigured,” leading to a period of deep depression and withdrawal from public life. Compounding this, she later revealed she had battled breast cancer twice between 2018 and 2022.
In 2022, she made a celebrated return to the fashion spotlight, appearing in a Fendi campaign and on the cover of British Vogue. She has spoken openly about her health struggles, advocating for transparency and self-acceptance. Since then, the supermodel has roared back onto the fashion scene, appearing in international campaigns and editorials.
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As Evangelista marks this personal milestone, many of her renowned contemporaries from the supermodel era continue to evolve their careers and influence. Campbell remains a commanding presence in high fashion, appearing in major campaigns and recently celebrated with a V&A exhibition dedicated to her career, alongside ongoing activism.
Christy Turlington Burns channels her efforts primarily into global maternal health advocacy through her Every Mother Counts foundation, while still occasionally modeling. Cindy Crawford successfully manages her beauty and home furnishing brands and supports her children’s careers, while Kate Moss runs her own talent agency and wellness line, alongside starring in recent high-profile campaigns. Similarly, Claudia Schiffer makes select modeling appearances and has expanded into areas like film production. This iconic cohort demonstrates sustained relevance, diversifying their impact across fashion, business, and philanthropy decades after collectively defining an era.
