15 Surprising Ways Supermodels Were Discovered

Part of the magic of supermodels is knowing that however many years ago, they were mundane, ordinary people like us, until they were plucked from their hometowns unexpectedly and thrust onto the catwalk. Supermodel discovery stories are the epitome of rags-to-riches tales, and we can never get enough of them. And though stories about how the next It-girls were discovered in supermarkets are now dwindling (largely due to social media), there are still a ton of surprising and entertaining supermodel discovery stories to look back on.

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We rounded up the most unusual places and times supermodels were discovered, from the famous ’90s face who was discovered shucking corn to the iconic cover girl who was found in an airport. Ahead, find out how models such as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Coco Rocha, and Kate Moss made it big, and who knows? Next time you’re at a surf shop, keep an eye out for the modeling agent who might make your career.