Who should take the crown?
1.Joan Smalls
To say Joan Smalls has had a fantastic year would be a gross understatement. In case you couldn’t keep track: The model has appeared in campaigns for Fendi, Gucci, Givenchy, and Chanel— to name a few. Smalls was also ranked the #1 model in the world by models.com, landed a gig hosting MTV’s House of Style, and graced more than ten major magazine covers, (Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar UK,) collecting her Estée Lauder contract coins all the while.
Let’s not forget, Smalls walked the runway for top names like Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, Missoni, and countless others.
Can’t be mad at that!
2.Jourdan Dunn
Jourdan’s proven herself another campaign mainstay this year, with her face plastered on ads for Banana Republic, Burberry, John Galliano, and more. The i-D and Sunday Times Style covergirl also walked in the famed Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the first (and hopefully not last!) time, and snagged herself a cooking show on Jay-Z‘s Life and Times YouTube channel.
The model mom was spied on the runways for Burberry, Issa London, Emilio Pucci, Marchesa, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, and more designers than you can shake a stick at.
The model is beloved in her native U.K., but I think it’s safe to say that the rest of the world is also digging her!
3.Chanel Iman
Chanel Iman kept it cute in 2012. As she continued to stockpile cash from her Victoria’s Secret contract, she shot for major retailers like Target and Forever 21.
We saw her on the runway for Kanye West‘s sophomore collection. Aside from work, the model soaked in her hard-earned notoriety, attending the Met Gala on the arm of Tom Ford, ki-kiing at AmFar Milan with Heidi Klum, and snatching a ticket to Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker‘s uber-exclusive Barack Obama fundraiser.
Sure, she took it a easy this year. But hey– if you’re going to the Met Gala with Tom, scoring campaigns, and stacking bread at the same damn time: you’re having a good year…!
4.Cara Delevingne
Much like her homegirl Jourdan, Cara cleaned up in 2012. In her downtime, we know she’s not timid about making a goofy face or two, but she brings it in her modeling work. She’s certainly kept busy this year: she’s appeared in editorials for several iterations of Vogue (UK, US, Italia, and Russia), She landed herself a spot in Chanel’s Resort 2013 campaign, scored covers for Vogue Korea, i-D, and Style.com/Print (amongst others).
She stormed the catwalk for Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Mary Katrantzou, Burberry, and Oscar de la Renta— to name a few.
She’s also made friends with Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, Cassie, and Rihanna this year.
Cara’s been doin’ it, kids!
5.Nyasha Matonhodze
Oh, Nyasha! The ethereal Zimbabwean beauty took it a little easy this year (likely to focus on school,) but managed to churn out some major work at the same time. She appeared in editorials for W, Vogue, V, and more, walked for Altuzarra, Burberry, Rodarte, Donna Karan, and several others. And I could only barely manage my schedule in high school!
Did I forget to mention she’s a total sweetheart?
At any rate, who takes the crown for 2012?
(We already you will) let us know in the comments!
~Jihan
