Linda Evangelista facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Evangelista
Evangelista in 2004
Born	(1965-05-10) May 10, 1965 (age 60) St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Model
Years active	1983–1998 2001–present
Spouse(s)	Gérald Marie ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1993)​
Partner(s)	Kyle MacLachlan (1992–1998) François-Henri Pinault (2005–2006)
Children	1
Relatives	Christine Evangelista (cousin) Luke Evangelista (second cousin)
Modelling information
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Hair colour	Brown
Eye colour	Blue-green
Agency	DNA Model Management (New York) Models 1 (London) View Management (Barcelona) Priscilla's Model Management (Sydney)

Linda Evangelista (born May 10, 1965) is a famous Canadian fashion model. She is known as one of the most important and successful models ever. Linda has appeared on over 700 magazine covers.

She is especially famous for being a "muse" (a source of inspiration) for photographer Steven Meisel. She is also known for her famous quote: "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." This quote showed how much top models were earning.

Linda Evangelista started her modeling career in 1984. She signed with Elite Model Management after moving to New York City. In 1988, she got a very short haircut. This haircut was suggested by photographer Peter Lindbergh.

Linda was called the "chameleon" of the fashion world. This was because she often changed her look. She was also one of the "Big Five" supermodels. This group included Linda, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Cindy Crawford. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Linda was one of the most famous women in the world.

Unlike some other models, Linda focused only on modeling. She took a break from her career in 1998. She returned three years later, working less often. In 2008, viewers of the TV show Fashion File voted her "The Greatest Supermodel of All Time."

Early Life and First Steps

Linda Evangelista was born on May 10, 1965. Her parents were immigrants from Italy. She grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. She was the second of three children in a Roman Catholic family.

When she was 12, Linda took a modeling course. She learned about good posture and manners. This course encouraged her to pursue modeling. As a teenager, she started modeling in her hometown.

In 1981, Linda entered the Miss Teen Niagara beauty pageant. She did not win, but a representative from Elite Model Management noticed her. After this, she went home to Canada. Two years later, she decided to try modeling again.

A Star is Born: Linda's Career

Starting Out: 1984–1987

Linda Evangelista moved to New York City in 1984. She had signed with Elite Model Management. There, she met John Casablancas, a well-known modeling agent. Elite then sent Linda to Paris. At 19, she began her international high-fashion career.

Her first big magazine cover was for L'Officiel in November 1984. After that, she appeared on many covers and in many fashion magazines. These included Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. She has been on more than 700 covers worldwide.

In 1985, she started working with Karl Lagerfeld. He was the head designer for Chanel. Linda became his muse. Lagerfeld once said she was the most professional model in the world. Linda also became one of the first models to succeed on the runway. She walked for designer Gianni Versace and became his muse too.

Linda also modeled for many other famous fashion brands. These included Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Yves Saint Laurent. She also worked for non-fashion companies like Visa and Elizabeth Arden.

In 1986, Linda met photographer Steven Meisel. They became good friends and worked together often. Linda became Meisel's muse. From 1987, she appeared in ads for Revlon's "The Most Unforgettable Women in the World" campaign. Many other famous photographers also took her picture.

Becoming a Supermodel: 1988–1992

In 1988, photographer Peter Lindbergh suggested Linda cut her hair short. She got a short haircut called a "gamine" style. At first, the fashion world did not like it. Linda was even canceled from 16 fashion shows. But by spring 1989, her short haircut became very popular. It was called "The Linda."

Linda became one of the "Big Five" supermodels. These models were incredibly successful in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They were even more famous than many actors and singers. Linda, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell were called "The Trinity." They appeared on the January 1990 cover of British Vogue. This cover helped define the supermodel era.

After seeing the cover, singer George Michael asked them to be in his music video for "Freedom! '90." In May 1990, People magazine named Linda one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World."

We have this expression, Christy and I. We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day.

In October 1990, Linda made her famous statement in Vogue: "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." This is now one of the most famous quotes in modeling history. It showed how much power and influence supermodels had.

Linda also surprised the fashion world by changing her hair color often. She dyed her hair platinum blonde, then a bright "technicolor red." She was known as the fashion industry's "chameleon." Her constant changes in hairstyles and colors set new trends. People compared her looks to classic movie stars like Sophia Loren.

In 1991, it was rumored that a fashion house paid Linda $20,000 for one show. This was a huge amount at the time. Linda also helped models get higher pay rates. She even worked for free for designer Anna Sui's first collection, taking clothes instead of money.

In September 1991, Time magazine featured a cover story on supermodels. A Vogue article called Linda "the world's star model." She also appeared in a documentary called Models: The Film.

In 1991 and 1992, Linda was on billboards in Times Square for the Kenar fashion brand. These billboards were part of a campaign called Ads Against AIDS. One famous billboard showed Linda with seven older Sicilian women. This image was called "Beauty and the Seven Beasts." Limited edition prints of this image were sold to help Ads Against AIDS.

In April 1992, Linda and other supermodels were on the cover of Vogue's 100th anniversary issue. This is still the magazine's best-selling issue. She also appeared in George Michael's "Too Funky" music video. Her cover for the September 1992 Harper's Bazaar is considered "iconic."

Later Career and Retirement: 1993–1998

In 1993, Linda traveled to Australia with Claudia Schiffer. They went for a 5-day tour to open a department store. In 1994, Linda was on the cover of Vogue Italia's 30th anniversary issue. She also appeared in the movie Prêt-à-Porter.

In 1995, her hairstylist gave her a new look: an asymmetrical bob. This was similar to 1960s styles. She also signed a deal with Clairol for over $5 million. Linda was also in the fashion documentary Unzipped.

In 1996, Linda was featured in Peter Lindbergh's book 10 Women. She also appeared in the documentary Catwalk. She was on the first covers of Vogue Taiwan and Vogue Korea. She signed a large contract with Yardley of London. In 1998, Linda decided to retire from modeling. She lived in the French Riviera for two years.

Coming Back: 2001–Present

In 2001, Linda Evangelista made a big return to modeling. She appeared on the cover of Vogue's September issue. She also helped bring back the "What Becomes a Legend Most?" ad campaign for Blackglama furs. The photographer called her "the Maria Callas of modeling."

In 2002, she was in ads for Versace. In 2003, she returned to the high-fashion runways. She walked for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. She also closed Chanel's haute couture show in a wedding gown. In 2004, she appeared in campaigns for NARS Cosmetics and Fendi. She also walked for Jean Paul Gaultier.

In 2006, Linda was on the cover of the book In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine. In August 2006, she was on the cover of Vogue again. Her last runway appearance was in 2007 for Christian Dior. That year, she became a brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris.

In 2008, she attended the Cannes film festival. She was photographed for the Prada campaign. She also appeared in Vanity Fair for a story on supermodels. In 2009, the Metropolitan Museum of Art honored her in an exhibition called The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion.

Linda continued to work with famous designers and brands. She was photographed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel in 2012. She appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia and Fashion magazine. She also represented the fragrance Aura for the Spanish brand Loewe.

In 2013, she presented an award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America show. She was on the cover of Vogue Germany with Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette. She also appeared on Vogue Italia's 25th anniversary issue.

In 2014, Linda was at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. She appeared in campaigns for Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana makeup. She was on the covers of Vogue Japan and Harper's Bazaar. She also became a guest judge on Australia's Next Top Model.

In 2015, Linda was the face of Hudson's Bay's luxury clothing section. She was also a chairwoman for the FiFi Awards. She appeared on the cover of a book about hat designer Philip Treacy.

In 2016, a 1991 photo of Linda was chosen for the cover of the book Vogue 100: A Century of Style. She appeared on the cover of Zoo Magazine and the book Age of the Supermodel. She also worked as a fashion stylist for Harper's Bazaar. Linda reunited with Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell for a campaign for the Elephant Crisis Fund. In November 2016, she became Creative Director for Erasa Skin Care.

In 2023, Linda was featured in The Super Models, a four-part documentary series on Apple TV+. The series also included Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington.

Cultural Influence

Linda Evangelista's famous quote about earning $10,000 a day is still talked about today. She even joked that Brad Pitt used a similar line in a movie. T-shirts and pillows with her quote have been sold. A hotel in Ireland even named a special suite after her.

Her photographs are also very valuable. A picture of Linda and other models by Lindbergh sold for over $118,000 at an auction. Another photo of her was chosen by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum as an example of "androgyny" (having both male and female qualities).

Linda has inspired many famous women. These include Victoria Beckham, Martha Stewart, and models like Kendall Jenner and Rihanna.

Many fashion experts praise Linda. Philip Treacy called her "the ultimate model of the past 50 years." Karl Lagerfeld said she was "the best model in the world." Designer Stefano Gabbana called her "the model." Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani said readers worried about the magazine if Linda got sick, because "it was all about Linda Evangelista."

Steven Meisel, her muse, finds her "extraordinarily photogenic." Fashion designer John Galliano said she greatly influenced photographers and stylists. Makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin said Linda was very involved in every part of her work. Fashion stylist Paul Cavaco called her "the greatest collaborator of all time."

Linda Evangelista was called "the supermodel’s supermodel." She helped make modeling an art form. She also helped increase fees for models. She made the world of top models as glamorous as Hollywood stars.

Helping Others and Awards

Evangelista's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

Linda Evangelista is an activist for important causes. She supports research and awareness for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. She was part of the Viva Glam campaign for the Mac AIDS Fund. In 2013, she hosted a gala for amfAR in Brazil. Linda also supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation and LGBT rights.

In 1996, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the VH1 Fashion Awards. In June 2003, she received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. In 2005, she was named a World Fashion Icon. In 2008, she was voted "The Greatest Supermodel of All Time" by viewers of the TV show Fashion File.

Personal Life

Relationships

In 1987, Linda married Gérald Marie, who worked for Elite Model Management. They divorced in 1993. She then dated actor Kyle MacLachlan. They met in 1992 and were engaged in 1995. They broke up in 1998. After that, she dated French football player Fabien Barthez. They broke up in 2000.

Family Life

In October 2006, Linda gave birth to a son. She appeared on the August 2006 cover of Vogue while pregnant. In 2011, it was revealed that her son's father was François-Henri Pinault. He later married actress Salma Hayek. Linda and Pinault reached an agreement about child support in 2012.

Health and Well-being

In September 2021, Linda explained why she had been out of the public eye. Five years earlier, she had a cosmetic fat removal procedure called cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting). However, it caused a rare side effect called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). This made her fat cells grow larger instead of shrinking. Linda filed a lawsuit against the company and settled the case in July 2022.

In 2023, Linda shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. She had chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. The cancer returned in 2022, and she received more chemotherapy.

Film and Music Video Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Linda Evangelista para niños