At a time when magazines typically reserve covers for celebs, and the modeling world is criticized for its lack of diversity, Elle magazine kicks off 2014 by declaring Joan Smalls the new “it” girl, a supermodel whose time has come. (Mireya Acierto / Getty Images)
“The word ‘supermodel’ is overused, but if there’s any woman of our generation who deserves the title, it’s Joan [Smalls],” says Estee Lauder’s global creative director. (Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images)
Joan Smalls wears a gown adorned with Swarovski crystals at the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images for Swarovski)
“You get a sense of who is going to become an icon,” Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci told Elle. “Since the moment [Joan Smalls] walked into my couture salon, I knew that a star was born.” (Jason Szenes / EPA)
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So, the question is this: Will Joan Smalls, who is the eight-highest paid model in the world, join the pantheon of first-name models like Naomi... (Naomi Campbell, of course.) (Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images)
