Here’s a picture of ‘America’s First Supermodel,” Cheryl Tiegs, today, 60 years after she started modeling.
Cheryl Tiegs, the world’s first supermodel, created waves 45 years ago with her iconic pink bikini billboard image that captured the attention of millions of men all over the world.
She has appeared on the covers of countless magazines since then, including Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Glamour, and Time. In addition to her successful modeling career, Tiegs has utilized her celebrity to fight for environmental problems while putting her personal health and happiness first.
Despite her charitable activities, Tiegs has received criticism for several statements, including her claim that Sports Illustrated was “glamorizing” a “full-figured model.” Tiegs, 75, reflects on her path from growing up in Alhambra, near Pasadena, to becoming a model.
She initially saw models as aliens from another world, but she progressively pursued modeling while still in school. She began by doing free parking lot fashion presentations for department stores, eventually making $5 an hour, which was a considerable amount for her at the time.
Tiegs’ big break came when the magazine saw her in a swimsuit issue and quickly recruited her for a shoot in St. Thomas, despite having never seen her before. This resulted in frequent work with Glamour and international recognition.
She went on to appear on three Time magazine covers, including the All-American Model issue in 1978 and three Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions in 1970, 1975, and 1983. Men’s health named her one of the 100 Sexiest Women Ever in 2012.
Tiegs acknowledges the tremendous changes in the profession as she reflects on her early modeling days. She observes that today’s modeling industry is considerably more focused on the models, with more attention and recognition.
