There is a widespread misconception that you cannot be both beautiful and intelligent. But these 7 models prove everyone wrong with their academic backgrounds. If you are stuck in your classes and fear you will never have a glamorous lifestyle because you chose organic chemistry as your major, let these women inspire you.
Christy Turlington
The Maybelline girl, Christy Turlington, is considered one of the original "supermodels" alongside Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell. But Christy Turlington, who is also Ed Burns’ wife and a serious yogi, had an extremely successful career after becoming one of the famous "$10,000-a-day" models. And although Turlington started modeling at age 14, she returned to her studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy from NYU. At 40, Turlington is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Columbia.
Lily Cole
English model and actress Lily Cole has appeared in Italian Vogue, Numero, French Playboy, and other top fashion magazines. She has also modeled and walked for designers like Chanel, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Rimmel, and more. In 2004, she was named "Model of the Year" at the British Fashion Awards. The red-haired, doll-faced beauty also stars in upcoming films “Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll” and “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” Cole was accepted at King’s College, Cambridge, although she took two breaks to focus on modeling before completing her studies.
Sasha Pivovarova
Russian model Sasha Pivovarova, at 24, was already a top-recognized model. Known for her steel-blue eyes and high cheekbones, she was the face of Prada for six years. Pivovarova has also walked and appeared in campaigns for Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and practically every other major designer. Among photographers’ and Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar editors’ favorites, she is also an artist with her own exhibition in New York. Before modeling, Pivovarova studied art at the St. Petersburg Art Institute.Pétersbourg.
Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford is an American icon and arguably one of the most famous models in the world. In the 1990s, Crawford modeled for Versace, Revlon, Clairol, Maybelline, Pepsi, and appeared on countless magazine covers from Sports Illustrated to Vogue. Crawford is also credited with changing the image of the American woman—from a sugary blonde to a more sensual, curvy, powerful brunette. She studied chemical engineering at Northwestern University before leaving to pursue modeling.
Iman
Somali model Iman is also a globally recognized celebrity, the wife of David Bowie, and a fashion icon. Born in 1955, Iman helped open doors for Black women and minorities wishing to enter the modeling industry. Besides her fashion experience, she studied political science at the University of Nairobi and speaks five languages.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is known today for her acting work in film and television, but she has been in the industry since 11 months old, when she started modeling. Shields signed with Eileen Ford, who claims to have created a children’s modeling division in her agency just to work with her. In the following years, Shields appeared on magazine covers including Vogue and starred in a controversial Calvin Klein campaign as a teenager. Shields later moved to acting, but in the 1980s, she took a break to study at Princeton University, earning a degree in French literature.
Rebecca Romijn
Rebecca Romijn enjoyed a successful career as a blonde bombshell and top model, appearing in Sports Illustrated and Maxim and modeling for Victoria’s Secret. In the 1990s, Romijn also hosted MTV’s House of Style, after Cindy Crawford. She later focused on acting, appearing in films like X-Men and the popular ABC comedy "Ugly Betty." Before her big break, Romijn studied music and voice at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
