Side-By-Side Pics Of The Most Legendary '70s Models In Their Heyday & Decades Later

As much as the 1970s might be remembered for disco, glitz, and some very questionable attire, the era also gave birth to the concept of the supermodel. While the 1960s certainly had their fair share of models, like Twiggy and her beloved '60s signature hairstyle, the 1970s brought in a new crop of women who embodied another type of energy. Or at least that's what 1970s model Janice Dickinson would have you believe.

"I stand by it because I coined the word," Dickinson told Queerty, regarding her invention of the term "supermodel" (via Yahoo! Life). Although Dickinson admitted that there were supermodels before her, she believes that she came up with the term during a conversation with her agent in 1982. "She said, 'You are working night and day, day and night, who do you think you are? Superman?' And I said, 'No honey, I'm Supermodel. And you'll refer to me as Supermodel,'" Dickinson explained.

While the origin of the term is still up for debate, some of the most legendary '70s models (who wore some of the most iconic '70s outfits that defined the era), are still around and looking fabulous. While some have retired and others have changed careers, these women continue to impact our culture. From Jerry Hall and her million-dollar smile to Grace Jones' androgynous style, side-by-side pictures of these models will have you realizing age really is but a number.

In August 1974, Beverly Johnson shattered racial barriers by becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Vogue. On the left, we have Johnson during a photoshoot for Vogue in 1976, with her hair up and wearing some very '70s-looking makeup. On the right, Johnson is attending the 37th Annual Palm Springs International Film Awards in January 2026, with her hair down and minimal makeup. Rocking a strapless red gown, she looks like she hasn't aged a day.

In 1978, Jerry Hall was photographed in New York City wearing a strapless yellow dress and showing off her famous features: her long blond hair, megawatt smile, and rocking the always-a-good-idea red lipstick. Nearly five decades later, Hall attended the Chloe womenswear fall/winter show during Paris Fashion Week in March 2025, still radiant and wearing that iconic bold red lip. In June 2026, Hall told British Vogue that she'll never let her hair go gray, planning to stay blond forever — she doesn't care to fit into society's stereotypes. 

In March 1978, Cheryl Tiegs graced the cover of Time. Dressed in a red top with feathered hair, a hairstyle straight from the '70s that's coming back, the headline read, "The All-American Model," because that's exactly what Tiegs was. With blond hair, blue eyes, and the perfect California tan, Tiegs embodied what Americans considered the girl next door. On the left is Tiegs' Glamour cover from January 1971, while on the right is Tiegs at the Project Angel Food 2025 Angel Awards in September 2025. Decades later, Tiegs still looks like the girl next door.

In October 1976, Iman did a photoshoot for Vogue from which the photo on the left was taken. As we can see, her complexion is flawless and her very 1970s makeup is a testament to the color palette of the time. On the right and 50 years later, we have Iman when she attended the King's Trust 5th Annual Gala at Christie's in April 2026. Although her makeup colors are softer now, the general shades haven't changed much, proving that when you find what works for you, you stick to it. 

Although it's hard to imagine Lauren Hutton without her gap, when she first started modeling in the 1970s, some in the industry advised her to ditch it. Wanting to model so badly, she came up with a solution. "It was called mortician's wax," Hutton told Vogue in December 2020, explaining she'd stick it between her teeth and make a line with a butter knife. Here, Hutton appears in a 1971 photoshoot, not showing her teeth, and here she is at a Saint Laurent show in September 2024, proving that she made her gap her signature look.

Although Janice Dickinson was turned down by Ford Models, that didn't stop her from becoming a success during the late '70s and early '80s, as we can see in this photo of her from 1978. However, Dickinson was only 32 when plastic surgery started calling her name, and she's been outspoken about her procedures ever since. In October 2025, Dickinson attended the Hollywood premiere of "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," looking fantastic and even wearing almost identical lipstick and eye makeup shades as she did in 1978. The only difference now is her more-controlled eyebrows.

Karen Bjornson had only been in New York City for a month when she became a muse to the famous designer Halston, working as an in-house model throughout the 1970s. Although she left the modeling world in 1989 to raise her family, she made a comeback in the early 2000s. As evidenced by this runway photo from Ralph Lauren's Fall 1976 collection and Bjornson in April 2019 at a "Halston" screening, she's remained timeless in her looks and casually chic style. 

Grace Jones was 18 when she signed with Wilhelmina Models, and headed to Paris to make a name for herself in the industry during the 1970s. Known for toeing the line between genders with her personal style, Jones always had a striking appearance. In 1977, she posed for the photo on the left, then while performing at the Rosendal Garden Party in June 2024, Jones showed she had no interest in changing up her iconic look.