Linda Evangelista

Evangelista's rise began when her mother enrolled her in modeling school at age 12, and at 16 she was scouted during the Miss Teen Niagara pageant. After graduating high school, she moved to New York, facing initial challenges before breaking through in Paris. She signed with Elite Model Management and later DNA Model Management, working with agencies in London and internationally. In 1988, she cut her hair into a bob, sparking a global trend. She has been a muse for Steven Meisel, appearing on numerous Vogue Italia covers, and in 2009 was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's The Model as Muse exhibition. She also appeared in George Michael's Freedom! '90 music video and had cameos in films like Prêt-à-Porter and documentaries like Unzipped.

Beyond modeling, Evangelista has been an activist and influencer. She has faced controversies, including a 2021 lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics after complications from CoolSculpting, which she described as leaving her "brutally disfigured." She also navigated a high-profile custody battle with François-Henri Pinault, with whom she has a son, Augustin James, born in 2006. Her advocacy for cosmetic procedure transparency and her health awareness efforts have added to her impact. As of 2025, she remains semi-retired but active in fashion, appearing in campaigns like Fendi's 2022 show and Vogue's September 2022 issue. She is also the first cousin of actress Christine Evangelista. At 61, she maintains a slim build with brown hair and green eyes, standing 5'10" tall. Her estimated net worth is $40 million.