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As fashion changes, so does the highest-paid models ranking. This year's list is dominated by Insta-girls, celebrity scions--and features the first curve model to make the cut.
For the first time since 2002, Gisele Bundchen is not the world’s highest-earning model. Kendall Jenner, 22, steals the top spot with a massive $22 million (sh. 22 billion) a year
Thanks to an Instagram account that lets her disseminate advertisements to 85 million followers, Jenner tallied a career-best total in the 12 months to June from favorable deals with Estée Lauder, La Perla and Adidas, among others.
Paychecks from her family's reality TV show, her Kendall + Kylie clothing line with her sister, Kylie Jenner, and numerous social media endorsements juice her modeling money.
She edges Bundchen who came second with $17.5 million (sh. 18 billion) who had a quieter year. The 37-year-old still posed for a Carolina Herrera fragrance and Arezzo shoes and Vivara jewelry in her native Brazil, but fewer campaigns meant her take-home dipped 43% from 2016.
Rounding out the top three is Chrissy Teigen’s $13.5 million (sh.13 billion), who joins the list for the first time. With an outsized social following, the former Sports Illustrated cover girl and foodie mints millions from deals beyond fashion, including adverts with beverage brands such as Vita Coco and Smirnoff.
Take Instagram-famous newcomer Bella Hadid No. 9; $6 million (sh. 620 million), who joins the top earners thanks to a busy year posing for more than a dozen brands including Dior makeup, Nike and Nars cosmetics. Her sister, Gigi Hadid No. 5; $9.5 million (sh. 982 million) out-earns her by $3.5 million (sh. 36 million), marking the first time siblings have ever appeared on the highest-paid models list.
"With social media, there are more opportunities to create your own content and use your voice," said Ivan Bart, President at IMG Models. "The stars are using it."
Full list of Forbes highest paid models in 2017
1. Kendall Jenner – $22 million
2. Gisele Bundchen – $17.5 million
3. Chrissy Teigen – $13.5 million
4. Adriana Lima – $10.5 million
5. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – $9.5 million
6. Gigi Hadid – $9.5 million
7. Karlie Kloss – $9 million
8. Liu Wen – $6.5 million
9. Bella Hadid – $6 million
10. Ashley Graham – $5.5 million
