Joan Smalls
At a young age, Smalls tried modeling in her hometown of Puerto Rico, entering competitions she didn’t win. "I was told I was too tall, too thin, and too dark," she recalled (Harper's Bazaar UK).
At 17, she visited models.com and made a list of top New York agencies. Her father agreed to fund her trip only if she continued her studies. She agreed and flew to New York. Once there, a scout who had seen her at a previous competition noticed her.
The scout was impressed by her looks but advised her, “if you want to model, you should fix your front teeth—they’re crooked—and come back” (Arogundade). Smalls returned to Puerto Rico, fixed her teeth, finished her psychology studies, and returned to New York at 19.
She signed with Elite Model Management in 2007 but remained a frustrated catalog model until signing with IMG in 2009. IMG VP Ivan Bart encouraged her to wear more dresses rather than her usual tomboyish style. Things took off, and she was sent to Paris that same year.
In Paris, Smalls faced challenges: clients and bookers told her she wasn’t needed since they already booked a Black model. Recalling her struggles to Harper's Bazaar UK, she said: "I remember calling my father after a tough time in Paris, noticing they wouldn’t even look at my set card. I sat on a bench on the Champs-Elysées and started crying."
Her big break came when Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci (now a close friend) booked her exclusively for his 2010 Haute Couture show. Campaigns followed for Gucci, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Lacoste, and Chanel. Smalls says returning to Givenchy’s runway changed her life: "It was like: This is my time. This is my moment to shine" (Harper's Bazaar UK).
Her persistence, resilience, and good management defined her success. As Derek Blasberg put it: "She still shines" (Harper's Bazaar UK).
Bianca Balti
One of the most classic faces in the industry, Bianca Balti was rejected by almost every Milan agency, including Elite. Elite agents told her she would never succeed because she looked “too average and ordinary.” Less than a year later, top scout Bruno Paulette discovered her in a supermarket, and she was immediately booked for the cover of L'Officiel by Alexi Lubomirski (IFDB). Since then, she has worked with top brands like Victoria’s Secret, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Cavalli, Blumarine, and more. If she looks “too average and ordinary,” we’re all hiding in our closets because Bianca was born to be a supermodel.
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks’ rise to the top defines a success story. She visited six agencies in Los Angeles and was rejected by all before signing with L.A. Models on her seventh try. After a year with little success, she joined Elite Model Management and launched her European career. She “booked an unprecedented 25 shows and campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, and Ralph Lauren” (TDB).
As her body changed, she couldn’t fit into sample sizes, and designers in Milan called her “grosso” (Italian for fat). Returning to the U.S., she pursued commercial work. She insisted her agency contact Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated, knowing her body would work for these campaigns (Supermodels.nl).
After initially being rejected for her hair, Tyra persisted, eventually becoming the first African-American woman on the Victoria’s Secret catalog cover (1996) and posing for Sports Illustrated and GQ (Feb 1996) (People). She also became a successful entrepreneur, creating America’s Next Top Model and The Tyra Show. Tyra is undoubtedly one of the greatest supermodels of all time.
Other models who overcame numerous obstacles include Agyness Deyn, Bambi, Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, and many more.
