What Did The World’s Most Famous Supermodels Look Like At The Beginning Of Their Careers?

Inspired by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's throwback pics, here are early test shots from some of the world's most recognisable faces...

Super Model Test Shots Polaroids, Digitals hold, Cara Delevingne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Karlie Kloss, Kendall Jenner, Victoria's Secrets,

by Anna Dewhurst |
Updated on

When Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shared her first (ridiculously flawless) modelling test shots (AKA Polaroids or digitals) on Instagram Stories this week, it got us wondering what all our other favourite supermodels looked like when they started out. Was Gisele born posing? Did Kendall Jenner instantly know how to work her light? Did Cara Delevingne pull crazy faces from the offset? You may be surprised at what we unearthed…

Gallery

SEE: The World's Most Famous Supermodels' First Polaroids

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Model Test shots polaroids digitals1 of 20

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

The Insta #throwback Rosie shared of her first ever modelling Polaroids taken back in 2003 in London, when she was 16 years old and in the process of signing to Profile Model Management.

Karlie Kloss Model Test shots polaroids digitals2 of 20

Karlie Kloss

Proof Karlie has always been this cute. Here she is aged 15 in 2007, two years after she was spotted walking at a mall charity fashion show.

Cara Delevingne Model Test shots polaroids digitals3 of 20

Cara Delevingne

A very blonde Cara's first model card at Storm, aged 15 - five years after her first shoot for Vogue Italia aged just 10.

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Kendall Jenner

A baby-faced Kendall, 6 years ago when she was just 18, at an early casting.

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Lara Stone

A fresh-faced Lara Stone, aged 20 – five years after she signed to Elite and an unbelievable eight years after she was first scouted aged 12 in Paris, while on holiday with her family.

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Jourdan Dunn

British Super, Jourdan, was famously scouted in Primark aged 16 and went on to walk international catwalks within a year. Here she is in 2006, having recently signed to Storm.

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Kaia Gerber

Kaia was destined to be model material, being the daughter of original supermodel, Cindy Crawford, and began early, with a Young Versace gig at just 10 years old. Here she is in her late teens at a casting.

Gisele Bundchen Model Test shots polaroids digitals8 of 20

Gisele Bundchen

Brazilian goddess, Gisele, aged 16, after being signed by Elite. She moved to NYC aged 17 in 1997 and rapidly became the world's highest paid supermodel, after being paid $25 million to join Victoria's Secret in 2000.

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Natalia Vodianova

Russian Natalia, aged 20 in 2002, three years after she moved to Paris and signed to Viva Models. Natalia aka 'Supernova' (for her meteoric rise) is now a mother of 5 and still modelling.

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Miranda Kerr

The first ever Australian Victoria's Secret 'Angel' won her first modelling competition aged 13, was flown to Sydney aged 14 and signed on the spot.

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Irina Shayk

Russian Irina, seen here in 2005, started her modelling career at a relatively late 20, when she was scouted locally and persuaded to move to Paris. Her break came two years later when she relocated from Paris to Barcelona.

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Hailey Baldwin Bieber

Hailey signed with Ford Models in 2014 and made her debut a year later, modelling for French Connection when she was 19.

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Coco Rocha Model Test shots polaroids digitals

Coco (born Mikhaila) back in 2004 aged 16, a year after she was scouted during an Irish dancing competition in Vancouver.

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Taylor Hill

Colorado-born Taylor was instantly signed and placed in the New Faces Division of Ford, after being scouted at aged 14 in 2011.

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Doutzen Kroe

18 year old Doutzen needed some extra cash so sent some photos of herself to Amsterdam-based agency, Paparazzi and was unsurprisingly signed on the spot.

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Stella Maxwell

Bilingual (she speaks fluent French and English) Stella was signed to agency, Ali McD, in 2008, aged 18, after being scouted whilst out shopping in New Zealand. She signed to US agency The Lions soon after – as seen here.

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Adriana Lima

Brazillian-born Adriana entered her first modelling competition aged 13 in 1994. After coming second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest aged 15, she was immediately signed and never looked back.

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Liu Wen

Back in 2005, a 17 year old Liu Wen entered a modelling competition in her native China. She didn't win, but enjoyed the experience so much she carried on modelling. Here she is three years later, aged 20 at an early casting call.

Natasha Poly Model Test shots polaroids digitals19 of 20

Natasha Poly

Natasha began modelling aged 15, in her local Russian town. By age 19 she had made her runway debut for Emanuel Ungaro, and walked her first VS show a year later.

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Candice Swanepoel

South African Candice was scouted aged 15 in a local flea market. Here she is aged 17 in an early agency Polaroid, shortly after she had moved to Europe to pursue her career.

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