Prada Fashion Week 2017 Cara Taylor

Breakout Instagirl Kaia Gerber and money-maker Kendall Jenner backstage at Bottega Veneta Spring 2018. Photograph: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Of all the facets of the fashion industry we get to cover hither at Fashionista, peradventure none is and then beloved as that of the modeling business concern. Whether it'due south getting excited about a new face or stanning for our favorite established girls, we're big into model-watching. And while 2017 was, by and large, a giant pile of trash, in that location were more than a few girls who are ending the year on a loftier notation.

With that in listen, we decided to award superlatives to some of the models who had major moments this year. From raking in large paychecks to bringing some much-needed attention to important movements, these are the girls who deserve a nice vacation before continuing to boss in 2018.

Related Articles

FASHIONISTA'S 31 BEST DRESSED CELEBRITIES OF 2017

BREAKING Down THE BIGGEST Manner STORIES OF 2017 BY THE NUMBERS

Multifariousness ON Magazine COVERS SAW A SLIGHT DECLINE IN 2017

The Daughter Who Made the Most Bank: Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner enjoying the many fruits of her labors. Photograph: @kendalljenner/Instagram

Regardless of her Pepsi and Fyre Festival controversies — or, perhaps, because of them? — Kendall Jenner ended 2017 with a fat stack of cash. Forbes placed her number-one on its list of top-paid models this year, cleaning upward with $22 million and rocketing her by longtime champ Gisele Bundchen. Her "Keeping Upwards" paycheck definitely helps, but Jenner was as well bringing dwelling the bacon from contracts with brands similar La Perla, Estée Lauder, Fendi and Adidas, plus her ain line with sis Kylie. Oh, and she gained another 12 million Instagram followers, meaning she'll only have more cash coming in adjacent twelvemonth.

The Girl Who Launched a Thousand Hair Cuts: Cara Taylor

Cara Taylor and her game-irresolute chop. Photo: @cara_taylorrr/Instagram

Model Cara Taylor may have gotten her career-defining chop at Prada's Spring 2017 fashion show all the way in September of 2016, but the momentum clearly carried her through the New Yr. On top of becoming 1 of the year'south most in-demand face, Taylor and her chop quickly became 2017's coolest haircut, inspiring more than 1 Fashionista editor to take a pair of scissors to their hair.

The Girl Who Became an Instant Supermodel: Kaia Gerber

Kaia Gerber and her mom, Cindy Crawford. Conspicuously, there's no resemblance. Photograph: @kaiagerber/Instagram

As the daughter of Cindy Crawford, information technology's not similar Kaia Gerber needed a ton of help becoming an in-demand model. Simply as soon as Gerber turned sixteen — the age at which her parents agreed she could officially beginning modeling — she became one of the industry's nearly in-demand faces, walking everything from Alexander Wang to Chanel. Not that we're complaining; everyone at Fashionista has fallen in love with Gerber's unique rail walk. Here's to seeing her bop effectually more than in 2018.

The Girl Who Had the About Fun: Dilone

Seriously, go follow Dilone on Instagram right now. Photograph: @_dilone/Instagram

If you don't follow Dilone on Instagram, dear God are yous missing out. Whether information technology was a brilliantly-funny announcement that she would exist walking the Victoria'due south Clandestine runway or hilarious candid street manner shots, Dilone was living proof that mode doesn't have to be so damn serious all the time. Nosotros're looking forward to seeing her antics in our feed in 2018.

The Daughter Who Was Unafraid to Speak Upwardly: Teddy Quinlivan

Teddy Quinlivan also invented red pilus this year, for the record. Photo: @teddy_quinlivan/Instagram

Information technology's been one hell of a year for most Americans, merely the LGBTQ+ customs has taken an particularly hard striking nether the Trump administration. That'due south why model Teddy Quinlivan decided that this September was the right time to come up out as transgender and become an activist for her community. She certainly didn't need the boost — discovered by Nicolas Ghesquière in 2015, Quinlivan had steady work in both runway and editorial — merely she had gained the most new followers of any model on Instagram by the end of the Leap 2018 flavour. Hey, if information technology gives her an even bigger audience, we're all the better for it.

The Girl You lot Saw Literally Everywhere: Bella Hadid

The body that defined 2017. Photo: @bellahadid/Instagram

Recommended Manufactures

No, you weren't imagining things: You almost definitely saw Bella Hadid everywhere you went this year. Besides the fact that she became an internet-wide meme later a Circuitous video, Hadid starred in ad campaigns for Dior Beauty, Bvlgari, Alexander Wang, MaxMara, Nars, DKNY and Giuseppe Zanotti, to name a few; walked runways for just about every major label, including Chanel, Versace and Oscar de la Renta; and scored, somewhat incredibly, 30 mag covers in 2017 solitary. She may only be one of the hardest-working models in the business — which is to say, if homegirl ever takes a holiday, so it'due south quiet.

The Girl Who Proved She's Made of Stronger Stuff

Aya Jones on set. Photo: @iamayajones/Instagram

We wondered where model Aya Jones was hiding when nosotros noticed she had been absent from the runways for a few seasons. When she made her comeback during the Spring 2018 season, walking for brands like Fair and Marc Jacobs, nosotros were merely happy to see her around. And then she opened up to Vogue most the terrifying accident that almost killed her; a speedboat collided with her jet ski, landing her in hard recovery for nearly a yr. Jones's inspiring story of personal forcefulness makes her improvement all the sweeter.

The New Girl Who Stole the Show: Duckie Thot

Duckie Thot slaying some Burberry. Photograph: @duckieofficial/Instagram

Officially speaking, Duckie Thot made her debut in the Spring 2017 flavour. In 2017, though, she really hit her step and one-upped even the most established models on the way. She was ane of the standouts in the 2018 Pirelli calendar, kicked donkey on the Fenty Puma runway and virtually upstaged Rihanna in her ain Newspaper Magazine shoot. There's no fashion Thot isn't on her style to superstardom, and we're sure in 2018 she'll prove that this year was only the first.

The Girl Who Got the Coolest Jobs: Slick Woods

Slick Woods with pup Cleo. Photo: @slickwoods/Instagram

Sure, Slick Woods got enough of bluish chip piece of work for brands similar Moschino and Marc Jacobs. But we're envious of Woods because she consistently defenseless the attention of the coolest people in the industry — similar Rihanna, who tapped Woods for both her Fenty Puma evidence and her Fenty Beauty ads. Her covers for Beloved Mag and i-D were besides standouts of 2017. Wherever Woods went, nosotros wanted to follow.

The Daughter Who Became the Confront of a Community: Hanne Gaby Odiele

Hanne Gaby Odiele before receiving the ARN Culture & Pride Alan Turing Color Award. Photo: @hannegabysees/Instagram

Nosotros've been seeing Hanne Gaby Odiele's face on the runway and in editorials for years. But in Jan of this year, the longtime Alexander Wang muse made headlines for revealing that she had been born intersex. Odiele had genetic traits shared by some 1.7 per centum of the population; she was born with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), and had internal testicles for which she underwent surgery at a immature age to remove. Ever since going public with this data, Odiele has served as a face for interact Advocates for Intersex Youth and became perchance the nearly prominent name of the movement.

The Girl Who Scored the Most Coveted Comprehend of the Year: Adwoa Aboah

Adwoa Aboah with "British Vogue" editor-in-principal Edward Enninful. Photograph: @adwoaaboah/Instagram

When information technology was announced that dear manner editor Edward Enninful would exist taking up the reins at British Faddy, the entire industry waited with baited jiff to see what his vision of the heritage sleeky would look like — and who would encompass its first issue. Chosen to usher in the new era of Faddy was fittingly model and activist Adwoa Aboah, who was a breath of encompass star fresh air. It was just 1 more award in a long cord of successes for Aboah, whose winning streak will likely proceed into 2018 and beyond.

The Girl Who Reinvented What a Supermodel Looks Like: Ashley Graham

Ashley Graham on the phone with whomever is standing in her way telling them to get in line. Photo: @theashleygraham/Instagram

Let's see: In that location were the Vogue covers and editorials, the runways of Prabal Gurung and Michael Kors, Time's 100 Well-nigh Influential list and a best-selling volume. Was there anything Ashley Graham didn't conquer in 2017? If at that place is, we're sure she'll handle information technology in 2018. After all, Graham has a body that but won't quit, and an mental attitude to lucifer. She's proving that supermodel doesn't accept to hateful a size 2 — and give thanks God for that.

Desire the latest mode industry news showtime? Sign upward for our daily newsletter.

Share this post