Photographs: Sanjay Sawant
They may be approaching middle age, but then age is just a number -- check out these ex-supermodels and let us know whether you think they still rock!
The glamour industry both in India and abroad is known for its ageless beauties, who women everywhere idolise and envy. The years add up, but they seem to have no effect on these catwalk queens, some of whom are still regulars on the ramp. Tell us what you think of each of these 40-plus supermodels by taking the poll at the bottom of each page.
Mehr Jesia Rampal
At 40, this is what the ex-Miss India and original Indian supermodel looks like. She's a mother of two and gave up the limelight to focus on her marriage to Bollywood hunk Arjun Rampal and their children -- but everytime she steps back into it, Mehr still dominates the runway and commands everyone's attention!
Elle MacPherson
Photographs: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
This Aussie looker is closer to 50! But you wouldn't know it to look at Elle who, at 47 years of age, is still taking on modelling assignments and endorsements. She's had two kids, dabbled in acting, set up a business empire of her own and is all set to take over as lead judge and new host of reality contest Britain's Next Top Model. No slowing her down!
Padma Lakshmi
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Padma turns 40 this year, but this dusky Indian-origin beauty only seems to look better as she gets older! She posed in the buff for Allure magazine in April last year and the smokin' hot pics are enough to give women half her age a complex.
Helena Christensen
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
This Danish bombshell is 41 years old and still very much part of the fashion industry. A Victoria's Secret Angel in the '90s, she continues to take on modelling assignments, owns an antiques store and her own clothing line.
Noyonika Chatterjee
Photographs: Rajesh Karkera
She's touching 40, but Noyonika is still a fixture on the ramp at Indian fashion weeks. Her cocoa-smooth complexion and sensual curly locks are what has fuelled her career, which spans a whopping 21 years.
Naomi Campbell
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
She's as well known for her fiery temper as she is for her catwalk presence, but her influence on fashion is undeniable. Naomi, who celebrated her 40th birthday this week, changed the perception of dusky women in the modelling industry. And when she steps out of the wings, it's like she casts a spell on the audience -- ask anyone who attended her Fashion for Relief showing in Mumbai!
Madhu Sapre
Photographs: Dominic Xavier
Madhu may object to being included in this poll, since she's still got a year to go for 40! But this supermodel definitely belongs to the Mehr-Noyonita-Feroze generation of Indian lookers, so we thought she qualified anyway. That and the fact that she still looks so awesome!
Linda Evangelista
Photographs: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters
One of the biggest faces of the '80s and '90s, Linda continues to grace the covers of magazines and fronting luxury brands at the age of 45. She was famously quoted by Vogue in 1990 as saying in an interview that she didn't 'wake up for less than $10,000 a day'. And we're guessing her asking price for assignments today is far more than that!
Feroze Gujral
Photographs: Sanjay Sawant
Feroze was a supermodel at 17 -- younger than her son's age at present -- and every time you see her, you're still reminded of it. When she graced the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week last year, she was wearing a black mini that showed off a still-enviable figure which we can only hope we can hold onto when we're over 40!
Cindy Crawford
Photographs: Fred Prouser/Reuters
She's 44 now and a happily married mom of two, but Cindy Crawford is still very likely a pin-up in teenage boys' bedrooms across the world! She quit modelling in 2000, but red carpet appearances and visits to the beach reveal that this ex-supermodel is still in top shape.
Queenie Dhody
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Queenie would rather give up the ghost than let us in on her magic number, but it's no secret that she's over 40 -- and looking great too. She started modelling at the age of 14 and today, even without the designer gear that she's dressed in from top to toe, we reckon this former Miss India is one hot lady!
Christy Turlington
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
At 41, this American beauty still doesn't look a day over 30. Fresh-faced Christy is a mother of two and although she can still shine like she does on the ramp, she prefers to devote her time to her Ayurvedic skincare line, clothing lines and charity work. And as of last year, she's also gone back to college for a a master's degree in public health!
Zeenat Aman
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
You may be surprised to see this yesteryears Bollywood siren on the list, but the fact of the matter is that before she was an actress, Zeenat was one of the nation's best-known models and a Miss Asia Pacific pageant winner. At 58, she's still a looker and is an example to women everywhere on how one should age gracefully.
Claudia Schiffer
Photographs: Eric Thayer
This leggy looker has just about three months to go before she touches 40 and gave birth to her third child only a fortnight ago. But Claudia is sure to bounce back into shape magically, like she always does. She was once quoted as saying that supermodels like those of her generation (Naomi, Cindy, Eva) 'don't exist any more' -- and we're bound to agree with her!
Christie Brinkley
Fronting campaigns at 56 is no joke, but that's exactly what Christie Brinkley did last year with her Got Milk? advertisements. With a million-dollar smile and a supermodel presence, she continues to reign as one of the glamour industry's eternal nymphs and was voted into third place in an online poll to deternine the 'Top 10 Supermodels Of All Time'.
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