Remember '80s Model Karen Alexander? Here's What She Looks Like Now
The high-fashion industry of the '80s and '90s gave the world some of the most talented models of all time. When looking at side-by-side pictures of the most legendary '80s models in their heyday and decades later, we can see just how stunning these women have always been. A model less appreciated yet no less influential than global icons like Cindy Crawford (one of the OG supermodels you probably won't recognize today) and Naomi Campbell, Karen Alexander left her mark on the modeling world in a big way. Alexander became one of the most successful models of the late '80s and early '90s, walking the runway for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren as well as gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated and Vogue.
Thanks to perseverance and immense talent, Alexander broke down barriers preventing Black models from appearing on the cover of magazines. Today, Alexander has largely stepped out of the spotlight after being diagnosed with dermatomyositis — a rare autoimmune disease that causes rashes and muscular weakness and degeneration — in 2016. While she's maintained a low-key presence over the past few years, the veteran model is still just as stunning as she was in the '80s.
In an Instagram photo shared by Highbrow Hippie in October 2026, Alexander can be seen posing at the wellness and haircare brand's Los Angeles storefront. Even with her challenging condition, Alexander has continued to find joy in her life, and it shows in her appearance. She is visibly glowing, with the same stunning smile that made fans and casting directors alike fall in love with her in the '80s. Alexander's recent appearance was incredibly chic, with her slicked-back bun complementing her timeless white button-down shirt-and-jeans outfit combo.
Karen Alexander has opened up about balancing her modeling career with parenthood
Karen Alexander is a trailblazer who, through her tenacity and unwavering passion for her craft, paved the way for others in more ways than one. While the stunning model is attributed to carving out space for Black, darker-skinned models to appear on magazine covers and in editorial spreads, she also helped destigmatize working while being a parent — a role she loves, as shown in her September 2019 Instagram dedication to her daughter Ella Rey. The birthday tribute shows a younger Alexander with her gorgeous curls holding her daughter as a baby.
In a 2016 interview with Vogue, Alexander explained that, at the time, it was expected that models retire after starting a family. "I knew that I wanted to continue to work, and I certainly knew I wanted to be a mom who was very much present. I said no to many bookings that I know frustrated my agents throughout the years," Alexander said. "I don't regret any of it, but I do recognize that my choices had consequences."
While Alexander may not struggle as acutely with overwhelming parental guilt, her decision to split her attention between work and parenthood did impact the trajectory of her career. "I was busy mothering and dreaming for my children and it didn't occur to me to dream bigger dreams for myself, like Iman, or Cindy [Crawford], or Christy [Turlington]. I am a student of how they've managed to have full careers and personal lives and have a lasting impact on the lives of others." Balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities is something every parent must grapple with, and it is refreshing to see a model as influential as Alexander share her experience so vulnerably.