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A supermodel is a highly-paid elite fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term took hold in the popular culture of the 1980s and 1990s. The elite models who are given the appellation of "supermodel" often share similar traits. These models are reputable in the fashion industry. They usually work for top fashion designers and labels. They have multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and campaigns. They have branded themselves as household names and worldwide recognition is associated with their modeling careers. They have been on the covers of various magazines. Claudia Schiffer stated, "In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognise the girls." First-name recognition is a solid indication of supermodel status in the fashion industry.

According to Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women by Michael Gross , the first known use of the term "supermodel" was in the 1940s by an agent named Clyde Matthew Dessner in a 1943 "how-to" book he wrote about modeling. However, a writer named Judith Cass used the term prior to Dessner in October 1942 for her article in the Chicago Tribune , which headlined "Super Models are Signed for Fashion Show" . The term "supermodel" took hold in the popuar culture of the 1980s and 1990s.

Janice Dickinson has frequently but erroneously claimed to be the originator of the term. In an interview with ET , Janice Dickinson claimed to have coined the term "supermodel" in 1979, as a compound of superman and model. According to her, her agent Monique Pilar of Elite Modeling Agency , asked her, "Janice, who do you think you are, Superman?" She replied saying, "No... I'm a supermodel, honey, and you will refer to me as a supermodel and you will start a supermodel division." Dickinson also claims to be the first supermodel.

However, the term "supermodel" had been used several times in the media prior to Dickinson's claim. Some examples can be seen: in May 1967 The Salisbury Daily Times referred to Twiggy as a supermodel; the February 1968 article of Glamour magazine listed all 19 "supermodels"; the Chicago Daily Defender wrote "New York Designer Turns Super Model" in January 1970; the Washington Post and Mansfield News Journal used the term in 1971; and in 1974 both the Chicago Tribune and Advocate also used the term "supermodel" in their articles. American Vogue used the term "supermodel" on the cover page to describe Margaux Hemingway in the September 1 , 1975 edition.

Lisa Fonssagrives is considered by most in the fashion industry as the world's first supermodel. Fonssagrives was in most of the major fashion and general interest magazines from the 1930s to the 1950s, including Town & Country , Life , Vogue , the original Vanity Fair , and Time . The relationship between her image on over 200 Vogue covers and her name recognition led to the future importance of Vogue in shaping future supermodels.

In the early 1980s, fashion designers began advertising on television and billboards. Models became individually familiar to the masses, no longer nameless but beautiful faces. Catwalk regulars like Carol Alt and Paulina Porizkova began to endorse products with their names as well as their faces, getting in front of everything from Diet Pepsi to Ford Trucks. Elle Macpherson , who became known as "The Body," sold more pin-up posters than any actress in Hollywood. As the Models began to embrace old-style glamour, they were starting to replace movie stars as symbols of luxury and wealth. In this regard, many viewed supermodels not so much as individuals but as images.

By the 1990s, the supermodel became increasingly prominent in the media. The title became tantamount to superstar , as her fame arose simply from "personality." She did talk shows, was cited in gossip columns, partied at the trendiest nightspots, landed movie roles, inspired franchises, dated or married a movie star, and earned herself millions. Fame empowered her to take charge of her career, to market herself, to command higher fees.

When Linda Evangelista mentioned to Vogue that "we don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day," she may have been playfully pretending the role of an up-scale union representative, yet that 1990 comment became the most notorious quote in modeling history. In 1991, Christy Turlington signed a contract with Maybelline that paid her $800,000 for twelve days' work each year. Four years later, Claudia Schiffer reportedly earned $12 million for her various modeling assignments. Authorities ranging from Karl Lagerfeld to Time had declared the supermodels more glamorous than movie stars.

Although many models were referred to as supermodels during this time, only the so-called "Big Six" were officially recognized and accepted by the fashion world as supermodels: Claudia Schiffer , Cindy Crawford , Kate Moss , Linda Evangelista , Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington . They were the most heavily in demand, collectively dominating magazine covers, fashion runways, editorial pages, and both print and broadcast advertising. Excluding Moss, they are known as the "original supermodels."