In May of 1961, actress Sophia Loren was one of the first celebrities to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, and this helped usher in a new era of "cover girls." The 1960s and 1970s saw an unforgettable lineup of gorgeous stars and models, like Brigitte Bardot, Beverly Johnson, Cheryl Tiegs, and Twiggy featured on magazine covers around the world. Let's take a look back at the stunning women who graced the front pages of fashion magazines in the '60s and '70s.
Jean Shrimpton Made Miniskirts Popular
The British beauty Jean Shrimpton was one of the original supermodels, with American Vogue using the term to describe her in 1965. After making her modeling debut at the age of 17 she quickly landed some of the most respected magazine covers in the industry.
With her sky-high miniskirts and waifish looks, this stunning "It Girl" helped to define the mod style of the era. Although her career in fashion was short-lived (she quit the industry in her early 30s), Jean remains one of the most iconic models of all time.
A Fishnet Swimsuit Catapulted Cheryl Tiegs To Fame
American beauty Cheryl Tiegs was still in high school when she appeared in an ad for a bathing suit company. The editors at Glamour magazine saw the campaign and immediately booked her. Cheryl graced the covers of Glamour, Seventeen, and Elle magazines that year, when she was just 17, and became one of the most famous faces of the 1970s!
She was also the first model to appear twice on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including a notable appearance in a fishnet bathing suit. With dozens of accolades such as being named on People's 50 Most Beautiful People list for 2008, Cheryl is still active as a spokesmodel, philanthropist, and businesswoman today.
Twiggy Redefined Femininity For A Generation
Twiggy broke all the rules when she hit the modeling scene in the '60s. Unlike the curvy, buxom women in previous years, she was "the anti-woman," as The New York Times described her. With her rail-thin frame and short haircut, she redefined femininity.
Born Lesley Hornby, Twiggy quickly became one of the most famous and iconic models of her generation, gracing the covers of major fashion magazines around the world. The Daily Mail called her "The Face of 1966," and today, her name is synonymous with the swinging sixties.
Margaux Hemingway Was The Highest-Paid Model In The World
The granddaughter of the famed Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, Margaux Hemingway was an American model and actress whose lovely face graced the covers of magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle in the 1970s.
When she was nineteen years old, Margaux had become the highest-paid model in the world with a million-dollar contract as the spokesmodel for Fabergé. Sadly, her later years were marred by depression and addiction, and she tragically passed away in 1996 at the age of 42.
Jerry Hall Has Been Inspiring Artists Since The '70s
American model Jerry Hall was discovered in 1975 while she was sunbathing in Saint Tropez. By 1977, she had appeared on 40 magazine covers including Cosmopolitan and Vogue. Her six-foot-tall frame and long blonde hair helped make her one of the most recognizable models of the decade.
Jerry might be almost as well-known for her famous relationships as for her modeling career. She's been romantically involved with Bryan Ferry, Mick Jagger, and Rupert Murdoch. Jerry has also been a muse to many iconic artists including the late Andy Warhol.
Beverly Johnson Broke Barriers
Beverly Johnson has been a supermodel for more than half a century now and isn't planning to slow down anytime soon. The gorgeous and multi-talented American actress, singer, and businesswoman has been in the limelight since her first Vogue cover in August 1974.
In 2008, The New York Times named her one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion thanks to her dedication to breaking down barriers in the industry.
Sophia Loren Was One Of The First Celebrities To Appear On The Cover Of Vogue
1961 was a very big year for the Italian actress Sophia Loren. Not only was she one of the first celebrities to grace the cover of Vogue magazine, but her performance in the film Two Women earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the first actress to win an Oscar for a foreign-language performance.
Over the years, the sultry beauty has appeared in dozens of other films and magazine features. She also has a slew of awards to her name, including an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievements.
Fiona Lewis Was A Sixties Sex Symbol
Part of London's swinging '60s scene, the British actress and model Fiona Lewis was a sex symbol known to enjoy a good party.
With roles in films such as Dracula, Blue Blood, and the James Bond spoof Casino Royale, Lewis found fame and some very high-profile relationships. In more recent years, she's written two books including an autobiography, and her work has appeared in The Observer, the Los Angeles Times, and The New Yorker.
Christie Brinkley Has Appeared On 500 Magazine Covers
With more than 500 magazine covers to her name, it's safe to say that Christie Brinkley has had a stunningly successful modeling career. First rising to fame in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues during the 1970s, the blonde beauty has been named to many "most attractive" lists over the years.
From 1985 and 1994, she was married to musician Billy Joel and appeared in several of his videos. Christie has also worked as an actress, television personality, photographer, illustrator, designer, and activist.
Marisa Berenson Was "The Girl Of The Seventies"
Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson was practically born to be a model; her christening portrait even ran in Vogue. That's what happens when you're the grandchild of a legendary Italian-born fashion designer.
Officially "discovered" at the age of sixteen, Marisa Berenson (as she went professionally) worked with some of the most influential names in fashion photography and was sought out by top magazines throughout the late '60s and early '70s. She was even dubbed "the girl of the Seventies" by designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Lauren Hutton Is An Irresistibly "Imperfect" Beauty
After being rejected by modeling agents because of the trademark gap in her front teeth, Lauden Hutton then landed the biggest contract in modeling history when she inked a deal with Revlon in 1973. The world soon fell in love with the American beauty and she holds the record for appearing on the most Vogue covers (26 to be exact).
Lauren has continued to work in the fashion industry over the years and has also acted in several films and television shows. To this day, she's still modeling and is just as beautiful as ever.
Sharon Tate Still Fascinates Us Today
Rising to stardom in the 1960s, actress and model Sharon Tate quickly became known as a bright talent. She made her film debut in 1961 as an extra in Barabbas, and her most famous role was in 1967's cult classic film Valley of the Dolls.
Sadly, Sharon Tate and four other people lost their lives on August 9, 1969, at the hands of the notorious cult leader Charles Manson. Only 26 years old, she was pregnant at the time of her death. Gone too soon, she left behind a legacy that still fascinates people.
An "Insult" Launched Iman's Modeling Career
Iman, then known as Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, had a chance encounter with the famous photographer Peter Beard on the streets of Kenya when she was still in college. He asked if she'd ever been photographed and she was offended, assuming that he was hitting on her.
Fortunately, she let him speak -- she ended up with a modeling contract and a ticket to New York. Over the years, Iman has been a muse to designers including Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Gianni Versace, Halston, and Yves Saint Laurent. And she was also married to the legendary rock star David Bowie until his tragic passing in 2016.
And God Created... Brigitte Bardot
The perfectly-tousled Brigitte Bardot is an icon of style and glamour. Also known as "BB," the French actress and singer has captivated people worldwide since she skyrocketed to fame in the 1956 film And God Created Woman.
Bardot once said, "A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you." We're certainly lucky to have so many stunning images of her over the years.
Richard Avedon Called Veruschka The Most Beautiful Woman In The World
The six-foot-tall stunner Veruschka shot to international stardom in the 1960s, first as a world-renowned cover model and then for her role in the 1966 cult film Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni. Even though her part was just a small cameo, the scene she appeared in was voted "the sexiest cinema moment in history."
At her peak, Veruschka was earning as much as $10,000 a day. The German model, actress, and artist still works the catwalks well into her 70s.
Pattie Boyd Is Considered One Of The Greatest Muses Of All Time
With marriages to two of the most influential musicians in rock and roll history, many consider Pattie Boyd to be the most famous muse of all time. First wed to George Harrison and later to Eric Clapton, she inspired the Beatles' "Something," and Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” and "Layla."
She was one of the top models of the 1960s and was described by writer Barry Miles as "by far the most glamorous of all the Beatles' wives and girlfriends," quite a distinction. The multi-talented beauty has also had a successful career in photography, with exhibitions across the globe.
Wilhelmina Cooper Started Her Own Modeling Agency
Dutch-American Wilhelmina Cooper was one of the most famous models of the '50s and '60s. During the course of her career, she graced the covers of 255 magazines! Time magazine wrote, "With her 5 ft. 11 in., 38-24-36 frame, doe eyes, delicate cheekbones, and mane of high-piled dark hair, she epitomized the classical, aristocratic look that she helped to make the style standard of the [era]."
However, she wasn't content to simply pose for gorgeous photos; she and her husband founded Wilhelmina Models in 1967. It went on to become a leading agency alongside Ford Models.
Karen Graham Appeared 20 Times On Vogue's Cover In The 1970s
Even if you don't immediately recall her name, Karen Graham's stunningly gorgeous face will likely be familiar to you. The American model, who had a 15-year contract with the cosmetics company Estee Lauder, graced Vogue's cover an astonishing 20 times between 1970 and 1975!
She was discovered in 1969 by none other than the famous modeling agency owner Eileen Ford and quickly became one of the most sought-after faces of the 1970s.
Raquel Welch Is An Icon Of The 1960s And 1970s
The American bombshell Raquel Welch might have become famous for the doe-skin bikini she wore in 1966's One Million Years B.C., but there's so much more to her than that. The icon of the 1960s and 1970s once famously said "I am living proof that a picture speaks a thousand words," an apt assessment of her influence on pop culture.
Today, the Golden Globe Award-winning star still acts in films and television shows, and she's also a successful businesswoman.
A Modeling Job Got Cybill Shepherd Started In Acting
Some people primarily know Cybill Shepherd as an actress, with acting credits in titles like Moonlighting, Taxi Driver, and The L Word. However, she was first a model -- and a very successful one at that.
When she was 18, Cybill won the title "Model of the Year," leading to fashion modeling jobs through high school and beyond. In fact, it was her photo on a 1970 Glamour magazine that got her started in acting. Director Peter Bogdanovich saw Cybill's face and proclaimed that she would be the star of his film The Last Picture Show. The rest is history!
Pat Cleveland Posed For Salvador Dalí
Pat Cleveland might not be a household name to everyone, but her career as a model was groundbreaking. The stunning American fashion model was one of the most in-demand faces of the 1970s and 1980s, and the former editor of Vogue, André Leon Talley, called Pat "the all-time superstar model."
She was also a muse to the prominent surrealist painter Salvador Dali. When she wasn't posing or working the runway, Pat could often be found on the dance floor of Studio 54 with her famous friends, including fellow models Jerry Hall and Grace Jones, along with pop artist Andy Warhol.
