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Supermodel vs. Model — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
A supermodel is a highly famous and successful fashion model, while a model is an individual who poses for artists, photographers, or designers.
Supermodel vs. Model — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Supermodel and Model

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Key Differences

A supermodel is considered the pinnacle of success in the modeling world, often recognized on a global scale, while a model might not have the same level of fame or recognition.
Supermodels typically command higher salaries and have a more extensive portfolio, securing lucrative contracts and endorsements, whereas models often work job to job and might not have long-term contracts.
In the realm of media and pop culture, supermodels are often seen as celebrities, gracing covers of top magazines and appearing on talk shows, while models might not have that same celebrity status.
The term "supermodel" is not just about looks or skills in modeling; it's about marketability, brand, and influence. In contrast, a model's role is primarily to represent the vision of designers, photographers, or artists.
Both supermodels and models play crucial roles in the fashion industry. While supermodels often set trends and are influential figures, models are the backbone, showcasing designs and bringing creative visions to life.
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Comparison Chart

Fame/Recognition

Widely recognized on a global scale
Might not have widespread recognition

Earnings/Contracts

Higher salaries, lucrative contracts
Paid per job, might not have long-term contracts

Media Presence

Seen as celebrities, frequent media appearances
Less media exposure

Role in Fashion

Influence, trendsetting, marketability
Representing designers' or artists' visions

Volume in Industry

Few in number due to elite status
Many models in the industry of varying success

Compare with Definitions

Supermodel

A top-tier fashion icon with global recognition.
The supermodel was recognized even in remote countries.

Model

An individual posing for art, fashion, or photography.
The model showcased the designer's latest collection.

Supermodel

A model who transcends the fashion world becoming a celebrity.
The supermodel made regular appearances in movies and talk shows.

Model

A person employed to wear and display clothing and accessories.
The model walked the runway with confidence.

Supermodel

A highly marketable and influential figure in the fashion industry.
Brands competed to have the supermodel endorse their products.

Model

A professional working with artists, photographers, or advertisers.
The artist hired a model to pose for his next masterpiece.

Supermodel

The epitome of modeling success with a strong brand identity.
The supermodel launched her own fashion line, leveraging her brand.

Model

A small object, usually built to scale, that represents in detail another, often larger object.

Supermodel

A model achieving wide fame and significant success.
Naomi Campbell is considered a pioneering supermodel.

Model

A preliminary work or construction that serves as a plan from which a final product is to be made
A clay model ready for casting.

Supermodel

A fasion model who has attained the status of a celebrity

Model

Such a work or construction used in testing or perfecting a final product
A test model of a solar-powered vehicle.

Supermodel

A supermodel, also spelled super-model or super model, is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term supermodel became prominent in the popular culture of the 1990s.

Model

A schematic description or representation of something, especially a system or phenomenon, that accounts for its properties and is used to study its characteristics
A model of generative grammar.
A model of an atom.
An economic model.

Supermodel

An extremely successful and internationally famous fashion model.

Model

A style or design of an item
My car is last year's model.

Supermodel

A highly paid, famous fashion model.

Model

One serving as an example to be imitated or compared
A model of decorum.

Supermodel

(dated) A technological improvement over an invention's previous model.

Model

One that serves as the subject for an artist, especially a person employed to pose for a painter, sculptor, or photographer.

Model

One that serves as the basis for a fictional character or place.

Model

A person employed to display merchandise, such as clothing or cosmetics.

Model

(Zoology) An animal whose appearance is copied by a mimic.

Model

Being, serving as, or used as a model.

Model

Worthy of imitation
A model child.

Model

To make or construct a descriptive or representational model of
Computer programs that model climate change.

Model

To plan, construct, or fashion in imitation of a model
Modeled his legal career after that of his mentor.

Model

To make by shaping a plastic substance
Modeled a bust from clay.

Model

To form (clay, for example) into a shape.

Model

To display by wearing or posing in
Model clothes.

Model

In painting, drawing, and photography, to give a three-dimensional appearance to, as by shading or highlighting.

Model

To exhibit (a behavior) in such a way as to promote the establishment of similar patterns of behavior in another
The therapist modeled socially appropriate conversation.

Model

To repeat (a behavior observed in another)
The child was modeling her mother's nurturing behavior.

Model

To make a model.

Model

To work or serve as a model, as in wearing clothes for display or serving as the subject of an artist.

Model

A person who serves as a subject for artwork or fashion, usually in the medium of photography but also for painting or drawing.
The beautiful model had her face on the cover of almost every fashion magazine imaginable.

Model

A person, usually an attractive male or female that is hired to show items or goods to the public, such as items that are given away as prizes on a TV game show.

Model

A representation of a physical object, usually in miniature.
The boy played with a model of a World War II fighter plane.

Model

A simplified representation used to explain the workings of a real world system or event.
The computer weather model did not correctly predict the path of the hurricane.

Model

A style, type, or design.
He decided to buy the turbo engine model of the sports car.
This year's model features four doors instead of two.

Model

The structural design of a complex system.
The team developed a sound business model.

Model

A successful example to be copied, with or without modifications.
He was a model of eloquence and virtue.
British parliamentary democracy was seen as a model for other countries to follow.

Model

(logic) An interpretation function which assigns a truth value to each atomic proposition.

Model

(logic) An interpretation which makes a set of sentences true, in which case that interpretation is called a model of that set.

Model

(medicine) An animal that is used to study a human disease or pathology.

Model

Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact.

Model

(software architecture) In software applications using the model-view-controller design pattern, the part or parts of the application that manage the data.

Model

Worthy of being a model; exemplary.

Model

(transitive) to display for others to see, especially in regard to wearing clothing while performing the role of a fashion model
She modelled the shoes for her friends to see.

Model

(transitive) to use as an object in the creation of a forecast or model
They modelled the data with a computer to analyze the experiment’s results.

Model

(transitive) to make a miniature model of
He takes great pride in his skill at modeling airplanes.

Model

(transitive) to create from a substance such as clay
The sculptor modelled the clay into the form of a dolphin.

Model

(intransitive) to make a model or models

Model

(intransitive) to work as a model in art or fashion
The actress used to model before being discovered by Hollywood.

Model

A miniature representation of a thing, with the several parts in due proportion; sometimes, a facsimile of the same size; as, a
In charts, in maps, and eke in models made.
I had my father's signet in my purse,Which was the model of that Danish seal.
You have the models of several ancient temples, though the temples and the gods are perished.

Model

Something intended to serve, or that may serve, as a pattern of something to be made; a material representation or embodiment of an ideal; sometimes, a drawing; a plan; as, the clay model of a sculpture; the inventor's model of a machine.
[The application for a patent] must be accompanied by a full description of the invention, with drawings and a model where the case admits of it.
When we mean to buildWe first survey the plot, then draw the model.

Model

Anything which serves, or may serve, as an example for imitation; as, a government formed on the model of the American constitution; a model of eloquence, virtue, or behavior.

Model

That by which a thing is to be measured; standard.
He that despairs measures Providence by his own little, contracted model.

Model

Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact.
Thou seest thy wretched brother die,Who was the model of thy father's life.

Model

A person who poses as a pattern for an artist; as, the artist used his daughter as a model for an Indian maiden.

Model

A person who is employed to wear clothing for the purpose of advertising or display, or who poses with a product for the same purpose; a mannequin{1}; as, a fashion model.
A professional model.

Model

A particular version or design of an object that is made in multiple versions; as, the 1993 model of the Honda Accord; the latest model of the HP laserjet printer. For many manufactured products, the model name is encoded as part of the model number.

Model

An abstract and often simplified conceptual representation of the workings of a system of objects in the real world, which often includes mathematical or logical objects and relations representing the objects and relations in the real-world system, and constructed for the purpose of explaining the workings of the system or predicting its behavior under hypothetical conditions; as, the administration's model of the United States economy predicts budget surpluses for the next fifteen years; different models of the universe assume different values for the cosmological constant; models of proton structure have grown progressively more complex in the past century.

Model

Suitable to be taken as a model or pattern; as, a model house; a model husband.

Model

To plan or form after a pattern; to form in model; to form a model or pattern for; to shape; to mold; to fashion; as, to model a house or a government; to model an edifice according to the plan delineated.

Model

To make a copy or a pattern; to design or imitate forms; as, to model in wax.

Model

A simplified description of a complex entity or process;
The computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems

Model

A type of product;
His car was an old model

Model

A person who poses for a photographer or painter or sculptor;
The president didn't have time to be a model so the artist worked from photos

Model

Representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)

Model

Something to be imitated;
An exemplar of success
A model of clarity
He is the very model of a modern major general

Model

Someone worthy of imitation;
Every child needs a role model

Model

A representative form or pattern;
I profited from his example

Model

A woman who wears clothes to display fashions;
She was too fat to be a mannequin

Model

The act of representing something (usually on a smaller scale)

Model

Plan or create according to a model or models

Model

Form in clay, wax, etc;
Model a head with clay

Model

Assume a posture as for artistic purposes;
We don't know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often

Model

Display (clothes) as a mannequin;
Model the latest fashion

Model

Create a representation or model of;
The pilots are trained in conditions simulating high-altitude flights

Model

Construct a model of;
Model an airplane

Model

Worthy of imitation;
Exemplary behavior
Model citizens

Model

Someone representing a product or brand visually.
The new perfume advertisement featured a renowned model.

Model

An individual who embodies a certain look or style for visual mediums.
The model's unique look caught the attention of several agencies.

Common Curiosities

Is a model's job solely about looks?

While looks play a part, modeling also requires professionalism, adaptability, and the ability to embody different visions.

How do supermodels impact the fashion industry?

Supermodels often set trends, influence fashion directions, and have a significant pull in marketing and brand collaborations.

Are there male supermodels?

Yes, there are male supermodels, though the term has historically been more associated with female models.

Is the term "supermodel" official in the fashion industry?

While "supermodel" is widely recognized, it's more of a colloquial term denoting a model's fame and success rather than an official title.

Do supermodels have longer careers than regular models?

Some supermodels have prolonged careers due to their brand and fame, but career longevity varies among individuals in both categories.

What's a typical day for a model during fashion week?

During fashion week, a model's day can be hectic with multiple shows, fittings, makeup sessions, and media appearances.

Are there specific criteria to become a supermodel?

While there's no fixed criteria, widespread recognition, influence, top-tier job bookings, and media presence are common attributes of supermodels.

What makes a supermodel "super"?

A supermodel achieves a high level of fame, has global recognition, and often holds influence beyond the modeling world.

How do models start their careers?

Models often start by getting signed to an agency, attending casting calls, and building their portfolios.

Do all models aim to become supermodels?

While many models aspire for great success, not all aim or achieve the status of a supermodel due to its rarity and elite nature.

Can someone be both a model and a supermodel?

Yes, supermodels start as models and, due to exceptional success and recognition, later achieve the "super" status.

Do models always work in high fashion?

No, models work in various sectors including commercial, print, runway, and more. High fashion is just one segment.

How do models differ from fashion influencers?

Models are primarily visual representatives for brands or artists, while influencers often have a more interactive role with their audience, promoting brands or lifestyles.

Is there a difference between a runway model and a supermodel?

A runway model specializes in catwalk shows, while a supermodel, who might also do runway, is recognized for widespread fame and influence across various modeling domains.

Is the modeling industry competitive?

Yes, the modeling industry is highly competitive, with many aspiring models and limited top-tier opportunities.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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