While some supermodels got their first casting after painstakingly going through contests and rounds of auditions, there are some who were discovered entirely by chance. They were just right there at the right time and at the right place. So, without further ado, here are some supermodels and how they are discovered by top modelling agencies.
Adriana Lima
This Victoria Secret Angel was spotted shopping in a mall when she’s 13. After 2 years of being scouted, she won the Brazil’s Ford Supermodel of the World event that brought her to fame.
Kate Moss
Then 14, Kate Moss was discovered when she was in line to board a flight at the JFK airport. That was 1988. Moss was returning from her vacation in the Bahamas and she didn’t know that the woman behind her in line was the founder of Storm Model Management, Sarah Doukas. She was recruited on the spot for the agency.
Gisele Bundchen
The most unusual place to spot a supermodel in the making is at a fast food chain. But that happened to Gisele Bundchen when she was eating at a McDonald’s restaurant while on her way to Sao Paulo, Brazil for a modelling class.
Cindy Crawford
She got her big break when a newspaper photographer took a shot at her working in a cornfield in Illinois. Then she started modelling as a side job to help pay for college but eventually committed her full time to the industry.
Naomi Campbell
She was 15 when she got spotted at the mall and landed the cover of Elle just months after she was discovered.
Lily Aldridge
This Los Angeles, California native supermodel has worked with brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Coach and Victoria Secret. Who would guess she was discovered at a school carnival during her 8th grade.
Karlie Kloss
When she was 13 years old, she walked the runway for a charity fashion show. She was then an amateur but a modelling scout spotted her and launched her professional career thereafter.
Coco Rocha
Coco was 14 year old when she was spotted by a scout while competing in an Irish dance contest. Initially hesitant to become a model, she traveled to Taipei, Taiwan to learn the iconic posing she’s known for.
Candice Swanepoel
Discovered at a flea market in Durban, South Africa by a scout who thought she’d make a great model. Before becoming a model, she was always teased for her height and size.
Behati Prinsloo
Behati was shopping while on a vacation in Cape Town, South Africa when a scout approached her. She declined the offer but got another chance on her next trip and is now working for brands like Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Victoria Secret.
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy was discovered while working in a little surf shop in Huntington Beach, California. She had to quit her job at the surf shop because she said her boss wouldn’t give her the day off when she booked a gig as a brochure model.
The list of supermodels and how they’re discovered can go on and on but one thing is certain, these supermodels may have been scouted in the most unusual places but they have worked their way up for a flourishing career.