There are some models however that are breaking free of stereotypes and proving that they are the complete package; beauty and brains. It’s becoming more and more common to see models transition from a life on the runway into other business ventures with a lot taking helm of their own brands.
Gisele Bundchen
Named one of the richest models in the world, licenses her name to Brazilian footwear maker Grendene and collects a percentage of sales on Ipanema sandals.
The company slaps the model’s name and likeness on every box of sandals it sells, and in exchange Bundchen pockets around 7 percent of the wholesale revenue. Since the sandals sell approximately 20 million pair per year, a conservative estimate on her annual sandal windfall would be $6 million.
Elle McPherson
The super has always been the picture of the quintessential Aussie bombshell even garnering her infamous nickname ‘The Body’, so her choices of business ventures didn’t come as much of a surprise. In addition to her own intimates range, McPherson also heads up WelleCo, a health and wellness product company with the shining star of the range being ‘The Body’s’ secret answer to her flawless appearance, The Super Elixir.
Miranda Kerr
After disappointing loving fans the world over when she retired from her role as a Victoria’s Secret angel, Kerr launched her own skincare line, Kora Organics in 2010. The brand is 100% Australian made and is giving women world-wide the hope of one day having a complexion that rivals Kerr’s flawless skin.
Jessica Gomes
Maybe Australian models just know good skincare? Gomes scored big time when she signed on to be the face of David Jones and it has propelled her into the business world with her recent release of skincare line, Equal Beauty.
It’s not such as stretch for a model to move into designing fashion rather than marketing it. We’re seeing more and more collaborations (umm, Gigi X Tommy, Bella X Chrome Hearts, Jourdan Dunn X Missguided to name a few from this year alone) but one modelpreneur has had particular success in creating a fashion line since retiring…
Kathy Ireland
One of the most successful model-turned-entrepreneurs is Kathy Ireland, she hit the big time by creating her own fashion line -- for which she still models -- and licensing her name and image to 16 manufacturers that sell her products at 50,000 locations in 15 countries. In 2005, she generated an estimated $1.4 billion in retail sales, netting at least $10 million of that.
Karlie Kloss
Doing a complete 180 from her days as a VS angel and a prominent feature on high fashion catwalks, Kloss had ventured into the tech world to encourage young women to pursue careers in the heavily male dominated industry with her Kode With Klossy courses.
Anja Rubik
Another VS veteran, after leaving the lingerie giant, Rubik started her own magazine, ‘25’. The publication is an artistic blend of femininity, sexuality and fashion proving that there’s more to learn from the fashion industry as a model than how to walk in heels and pose for a camera.
It just goes to show that some models are a lot more than a pretty face.