Feature: Model Hierarchy

There's been endless debate on how to define a certain model. Can we or can we not just label the next big thing with the title 'supermodel'? What makes a supermodel and what does not? Well, if you'd ask me, there araea whole lot more definitions of models than just the 'supermodel'. I've decided to create a Model Hierarchy: a ranking order that for me answers all the questions as to how we should label models with a title.

Rank 1: Super

The highest category in the modeling industry is the Super. Not the supermodel, no, just the Super. They are the biggest models to ever've reigned the modeling world. There are only a few of these girls around and they are the big names of the nineties. Linda, Naomi, Christy, you name 'em. Above we have Claudia Schiffer, a girl who is definetly one of the Supers. And with these looks, she certainly will stay one for a long time!

Rank 2: Supermodel

Second is the Supermodel. In these days, nobody can get any bigger than the supers, they will always be the highest ranked. So any model who is coming a tad close to the status that they had is defined a Supermodel. The world knows they're name and can put a face to it. Great example is Gisele Bündchen. This Brazilian bombshell is the biggest of the Supermodels if you'd ask me. Other names to add are Tyra Banks - yes, you read that right - and Heidi Klum.

Rank 3: Topmodel

After the supermodel we get the Topmodel. Topmodels are on their way to becoming institutions in the modeling world. Every designers knows them and wants them. Every magazine has had them on the cover and the world is slowly but surely starting to know her name. Topmodels only get the biggest ads and assignments. Ultimate Topmodel is Gemma Ward. Her angelic, alienlike beauty has created her to become an icon in the fashion world. Other names that fit this title are Daria Werbowy and even Angela Lindvall.

Rank 4: Established Model

The Established Models are models that, well, used to be at the sheer top of the modeling world but have now become the exclusive, elite models. These girls don't do castings or whatever. No, they get asked to do a show and they either say yes or no. They are established enough to be able to afford that. Erin O'Connor is my favourite Established Model. Others include Carolyn Murphy and a more recent addition to this rank, Malgosia Bela.

Rank 5: A-Lister

The A-Listers are models that are at the top of the game and do only the best shows and many ad campaigns. They are the girls that you see on the covers of the biggest magazine and of course inside of those mags. They have been around for a few - or many - seasons and have become famous within their own little world. A great example is Hana Soukupova. She's still around and this A-Lister is still doing only the best. More A-Listers are Caroline Trentini, Heather Marks, Eugenia Volodina and Natasha Poly.

Rank 6: It-Girl

The It-Girl is experiencing her second or third season and is being the talk of the town. She gets all the big ads, all the covers and does all the shows. After her second or third season - it depends - she gets promoted to an A-Lister and makes way for a new It-Girl. The number one It-Girl of the Fall-Winter 2006-2007 season has got to be Du Juan. She has got five very high-profile ads, has been on several Vogue covers and is doing many, many ads. More recent It-Girls are Coco Rocha and Hilary Rhoda. Some that have made way for them not to long ago are Freja Beha Erichsen and Sasha Pivovarova.

Rank 7: B-Lister

The B-Lister is a model that does do some or a lot of work and has been doing it for a few seasons, but never really gets to the real top. She does some big shows or work once in a while, but mainly, you'll see her at the medium, or smaller shows and in the smaller magazines. A good example of a B-Lister that does her work great is Asia Pulco. She is beautiful and occasionally does a big couture show or a high profile show, but she never reached the status of A-Lister. More girls to join the ranks of B-Lister are Guisela Rhein and also Sonny Zhou.

Rank 8: Emerging Model

The Emerging Model is the Hot New Face of last season and shows that she can last more than one season and even expands her resumé more. She is getting more shows than last season - some even get all, they are closer to It-Girl - and probably will get a lot of high profile jobs after this fashion week. Eventually she will become an A-lister or perhaps a B-Lister. The may or may not become an It-Girl. Daiane Conterato is a girl that is definetly one of the Emerging Models of this season. Others include Mariya Markina and Bette Franke.

Rank 9: Commercial Model

The Commercial Model is a type of model that hard to rank. Some are having great success by way of salary and high-profile commercial brands, while others just stick to catalogue. Because there are definetly Commercial Models getting the big bank I decided not to put them all the way down at the ladder. Also, some of them might even be just as well known as any Topmodel or Supermodel. Even without doing all the high fashion work. Someone who this might happen to is Selita Ebanks. The newest addition to the Victoria's Secret Angels, without having done any high fashion work.

Rank 10: Hot New Girl

The Hot New Girl is exactly what it says: she's new and she is hot! It's during fashion week when these girls pop up. They are experiencing their first or sometimes second season and are doing every single show. The girls that are the Not New Girl usually are the Emerging Models of the next season. There are a lot of Hot New Faces this fashion week, one of them being Olya Ivanisevic. Opening many high-profile shows in her first season and appearing in even more, she really is hot news. Other Hot New Girls of this season are Iekeliene Stange, Alana Zimmer and Bruna Tenorio.

Rank 11: New Girl

At the bottom, we find the New Girl. They are new and inexperienced and they might or might not eventually break through. The list of New Girls is endless, but if I had to pick one to show you, it will be Truus Hooiveld. She is completely new and has done almost nothing, but yesterday she was suddenly in the Prada show! And we all know what appearing in the Prada show means to your modeling career: only good things. I am guessing she belongs to the type of New Girls that will eventually break through.