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“People are always happy to revisit that moment their whole life changed,” says Caroline Leaper, who is the fashion director at The Telegraph and the author of “Supermodels Discovered.”
That’s exactly what you’ll be privy to in this 2025 release (which is 87 percent off at Amazon for a limited time): never-before-told stories of how the world’s biggest supermodels were discovered and rose to fame. Thanks to Leaper’s keen investigative abilities and interviewing know-how, the fashion journalist is able to take readers on intimate journeys inside the origin stories of 53 models-slash-celebrities, who were able to shape their industry from 1911 to the present day.
‘Supermodels Discovered’ by Caroline Leaper
Price upon publish date of this article: $3.80
If you’ve always wondered how Bella Hadid found her footing in modeling and became fashion’s favorite It-girl, the tastemaker’s story is captured within the book’s 216 pages. Curious about how Coco Rocha and Claudia Schiffer earned their stripes? Leaper sat down with these A-listers for exclusive Q&As (along with seven other models), and you can read what each one said about her career, upbringing, overnight fame, or, on the other hand, arduous rise to star status. Every last quote here is candid, and the popular title doles out no shortage of insights on the hardships that come with becoming a household name; the effect of internal comparisons celebrities often make to unattainable beauty ideals; and the sheer impact strangers can make in one’s life, providing a kind of launchpad for success. All this is complemented by glossy, high-quality visuals of each featured model.
The fact that Leaper doesn’t pigeonhole her stories into any one decade or era of modeling means readers can witness just how much has changed in this field of work — for better or for worse. 75-year-old Pat Cleveland, for instance, crafted her own clothes and was scouted by Vogue while riding the NYC subway and wearing said creations. She practiced her catwalk by walking on top of tables, while Coco Rocha’s runway coach made her walk on tar. Claudia Schiffer was spotted at a German disco and recalls to Leaper the exact sweatshirt and eyeshadow she had on at the moment everything changed.
The recollections in “Supermodels Discovered” vary from the funny to the heartfelt, but absolutely every last one of them is equipped with an important lesson: on how to persevere under pressure, as the whole world watches on.
Get inspired while getting to know your favorite stars (from Kendall Jenner to Kate Moss to Gisele Bündchen) on a more intimate level and spending less than $4 in the process.
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‘Supermodels Discovered’ by Caroline Leaper
Price upon publish date of this article: $3.80
More Amazon Bestselling Books About Modeling
‘Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women’ by Michael Gross
Price upon publish date of this article: $22
‘Kate: The Kate Moss Book’ by Kate Moss
Price upon publish date of this article: $145.99
‘Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion’ by Marcellas Reynolds
Price upon publish date of this article: $50
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on buzzy book releases in the fashion category.