Janice Dickinson

[lady grey]

time

heres the best way to look at the phrase supermodel' and try to choose who was the first.
lexus/nexus search shows that the word 'supermodel' was first used on carol alt in 1983. so by that evidence carol alt is the 1st supe.
but if you know models in 1983, carol was NOT the top model.
its entirely possible to say that janice WAS the #1 high fashion girl in 1983.
ergo janice WAS the 1st supe.
now, if you want to rewrite history, and call PAST girls 'supes' then there are other first supes:
lisa fonsagreeves penn, suzy parker, twiggy, pene tree, ali macgraw, lauren hutton marisa berenson. and maybe 30 other famous girls from 1940s-80s.
but if you say the term 'supe' started in 1983, then its janice, she is right.
after her you cld call christioe brinkley, cindy c, kim alexis, kelly emberg & a lot of other 80s+ girls supes. but if you say the term 'supe' started in 1983, janice and not carol alt, is the best choice.
so shes not lying.

 

[cocomonkey4]

heres the best way to look at the phrase supermodel' and try to choose who was the first.
lexus/nexus search shows that the word 'supermodel' was first used on carol alt in 1983. so by that evidence carol alt is the 1st supe.
but if you know models in 1983, carol was NOT the top model.
its entirely possible to say that janice WAS the #1 high fashion girl in 1983.
ergo janice WAS the 1st supe.
now, if you want to rewrite history, and call PAST girls 'supes' then there are other first supes:
lisa fonsagreeves penn, suzy parker, twiggy, pene tree, ali macgraw, lauren hutton marisa berenson. and maybe 30 other famous girls from 1940s-80s.
but if you say the term 'supe' started in 1983, then its janice, she is right.
after her you cld call christioe brinkley, cindy c, kim alexis, kelly emberg & a lot of other 80s+ girls supes. but if you say the term 'supe' started in 1983, janice and not carol alt, is the best choice.
so shes not lying.

i agree, from the interviews i've seen with Janice, she never claims to be the first huge model, she just says she coined the terms and thus should be the first. I agree, there were definately well known models before Janice but none that matched her level and the term was never used prior to Janice so i don't find it being bigheaded of her to say she was the first supermodel either.

 

[iluvjeisa]

Actually, I heard the word supermodel used last night when I was watching Gia's 20/20 interview. She was asked how she felt about being a supermodel. And this was in 1982. It was apparently starting to be used on television and in the media in general around 1982/83. At this time the huge models were Carol Alt, Isabella Rossilini, Kim Alexis, Jackie Adams, Jerry Hall, Iman, Janice, Gia, Christie Brinkley and above all Brooke Shields.

To me it was rather a sad time really....after all that decadent devil-may-care attitude of the likes of Patti Hansen, Janice and Gia comes the perfectoid broilers like Isabella and Brooke. Absolutely divinely beautiful but so middle class, so perfect and so so boring.....not my cup of tea, let's just put it that way! And fashion itself took a terrible turn for the worse! From disco inspired dark popper fun to some sort of grey, beige boring state of normality, broad faces, short hair and chunky silhouettes. B)

Basically, once the term was in use the people who truly deserved it were history. So, I'm glad Janice has come back to reclaim her title

 

[Rob]

I like her, and shes hot

 

[lady grey]

janice is lewis & clark of supedom

Actually, I heard the word supermodel used last night when I was watching Gia's 20/20 interview. She was asked how she felt about being a supermodel. And this was in 1982. were Carol Alt, Isabella Rossilini, Kim Alexis, Jackie Adams, Jerry Hall, Iman, Janice, Gia, Christie Brinkley and above all Brooke Shields.

To me it was rather a sad time really....after all that decadent devil-may-care attitude of the likes of Patti Hansen, Janice and Gia comes the perfectoid broilers like Isabella and Brooke. Absolutely divinely beautiful but so middle class, so perfect and so so boring.....not my cup of tea, let's just put it that way! And fashion itself took a terrible turn for the worse! From disco inspired dark popper fun to some sort of grey, beige boring state of normality, broad faces, short hair and chunky silhouettes. B)

Basically, once the term was in use the people who truly deserved it were history. So, I'm glad Janice has come back to reclaim her title

I agree it actually could have been used circa 1981-82 somebody should find out exactly when carol alt got big cos she definitely got the first usage of that term- not that she was the #1 girl or anything. all your examples are valid- brooke, christie b, patti h, alexis, iman, all legit, rosselllini was a celeb first cos of her mom but agree I saw her in the 80s she is among the 5 most beautiful women Ive ever seen. brooke may have been the most mass-famous cos of calvin controversy but you cant forget that cheryl tiegs was also a mass-celeb so shes another commercial model that was at the top long time. even farrah fawcett was a model first but got famous on TV. but the bottom line is, janice is as valid as anyone to claim the title of '1st supe' so she is not exaggerating in the least in fact she was so true to the high-fashion thing [not commercial like alt brinkley otr tiegs] that jan is closer to todays highest high-fashion supes- and that means that every model that has come after her owes something to janice. I think a lot of models respect her immensely [for high fashion, best selling author & second career in 50s] but the few that try to cut her down should check her resume first & see that they dont stack up next to a real pioneering model superstar like hottie jan.

 

[morgan38]

Janice is one of my favorite models of all time. She did high fashion so well, and was, in my opinion, way bigger than Tyra ever was.

Janice Vogue covers= 7
Tyra Vogue covers= 0

 

[lady grey]

j vs t

oh theres no comparison.
janice was far bigger a model than ty cld ever dream of.
ty's biggie is VS & her SI cover. janice's high fashion superstardom & shows is so far beyond that level its a joke.

also in '2nd careers' janice is just as impressive with 2 best-selling books [#3 just out] and 2 kids. its a lot harder on a 50 yr old ex model.

ty has done well on UPN [whatever you think of her shows- I dont rate them]. no family yet that i know of.

 

[Ho-Coture]

Janice is one of my favorite models of all time. She did high fashion so well, and was, in my opinion, way bigger than Tyra ever was.

Janice Vogue covers= 7
Tyra Vogue covers= 0

There haven't been a lot of Black models on Vogue Covers, how many black models/blacks in general have you seen on a vogue cover, I bet you can't even fill it on one hand, it's a lot harder for a minority to get on a vogue cover than it is for a white person.

That's being said Janice was bigger than Tyra during her prime, I adore them both equally. I think the reason that Janice claims the first supermodel title was because she broke the stereotype of Blonde hair blue eyes, and paved the way for the rest of the brunnetts. She was also the biggest brunnette model of her time.

 

[lady grey]

of color

since you mention the race issue lets just note that naomi campbell was & is so much better & more successful a model than tyra ever was or cld dream of.
and since you mention the race issue lets note that beverly johnson & Iman were also far better & more successul models than tyra ever was. they are real pioneers for africans & african-americans.
tyra is only a pioneer in model-turned-TV producer & lets see if her talk show will be an oprah-level success as she hopes?

 

[stillasaying]

since you mention the race issue lets just note that naomi campbell was & is so much better & more successful a model than tyra ever was or cld dream of.
and since you mention the race issue lets note that beverly johnson & Iman were also far better & more successul models than tyra ever was. they are real pioneers for africans & african-americans.
tyra is only a pioneer in model-turned-TV producer & lets see if her talk show will be an oprah-level success as she hopes?

Yes, naomi was successful but tyra was as or more successful in a different way. She was the first to land a GQ cover as a black model. That is HUGE considering the demographic that reads GQ. she was the first black model to be on cover of sports illustrated. i think tyra's sucess was a lot more widespread than naomi or iman (even though i agree that they are amazing as well). everyone, including people who don't care sh*t about fashion knows who tyra is and that is what makes a supermodel. just my opinion..

 

[secondly]

Janice is actually an extremely good writer, and very clever if you've ever seen her outside of ANTM. Regardless of who came first, I think she is definately one of the best models of all time for a number of reasons.

 

[adorefaith]

I prefer Janice's look to Tyra's.. she was striking in her younger days. I think she has a horrible attitude lately, but strictly appearance-wise, she's a gorgeous woman.

 

[happycanadian]

"Yes, naomi was successful but tyra was as or more successful in a different way. She was the first to land a GQ cover as a black model. That is HUGE considering the demographic that reads GQ. she was the first black model to be on cover of sports illustrated. i think tyra's sucess was a lot more widespread than naomi or iman (even though i agree that they are amazing as well). everyone, including people who don't care sh*t about fashion knows who tyra is and that is what makes a supermodel. just my opinion.."


i ABSOLUTELY agree. (in a way). see, i think that tyra has been more commercially successful than naomi or iman. little kids my brother's age (11) know who tyra banks is, but ask them who iman is? no idea. naomi campbell? no idea. and not that the demographic of 11 year old boys is important in regards to fashion, but it just speaks volumes about the measure of fame that tyra has been able to achieve. i am not very familiar with Iman's actual modelling work, though i'm sure she broke down MANY doors as an early black model. and she's sure as hell a STUNNING woman even now. naomi i am very familiar with and i agree with lady grey (believe it or not) that she is and has been a more successful MODEL than tyra. she's one of the original 5 and has had a more direct impact on the modelling and fashion world than tyra banks has. BUT, that being said, i think that tyra has done more as a celebrity and personality. she has progressed beyond modelling faaaaaarrrrrr better than naomi, no matter how naomi has tried.

 

[lady grey]

beverly johnson is important

" She was the first to land a GQ cover as a black model. That is HUGE considering the demographic that reads GQ. ""
why is that important? GQ had had black males many times before tyra was a black woman on its cover. I dont think a woman on the cover of GQ is that amazing.

"she was the first black model to be on cover of sports illustrated."
yes the SI cover was perhaps her greatest modelling plateau and then her VS fame is prob equal. as i say i laud tyra more for her bridging into TV production after modelling- that is more impressive than a GQ cover.

as far as the old high fashion vs commercial debate, sure everybody knows tyra. shes on tv every week for years on top of her SI & VS fame. but that doesnt make her a more important model than bev johnson, iman or naomi. those three were far more reputable high fashion/vogue style models, by far. tyra was an elle late 90s girl.

the most important cover is when beverly johnson was the 1st black woman on the cover of vogue in the 70s THAT was revolutionary. as was Iman's tremendous high fashion success. and naomi's. it doesnt matter if 7 year olds see tyra on top model every week.
that has nothing to do with bev johnson, Iman & naomi's modelling success, fame & significance, which tyra will never touch, except for her TV prominence producing top model.
I also feel that show will be discarded on the junk pile of prime time tv also-rans like the 'who wants to be a millionaire' is. it is not a legacy that will earn tyra a place in cultural history. [1 reason she trying to be oprah-talk host next].
but beverly johnson's vogue cover is a legitimate accolade in the cultural & social history of race & african americans in american history & media. ask anybody who knows about race, fashion & media- johnson's cover was a landmark in african american social & media history. tyra has nothing to with anything like that. shes a VS model on a fake model reality show.

 

[iluvjeisa]

And the coolest thing about Beverly Johnson's success is that her Vogue covers are among the best covers from the 70s. Iman didn't make it onto too many Vogue covers, I don't think, the only one I can remember seeing is an early 80s German Vogue cover, which was beautiful but not really as wonderful as Beverly's. Beverly was awesome. She didn't get that many campaigns though, did she?

 

[lady grey]

janice vs carol alt

this is hilarious- there is some play/monologue called "Pieces [of *ss]" off-broadway in nyc and the next 2 weeks will have janice dickenson and then carol alt starring, and discussing their fame careers & 'being the first supermodel'!!

and you thought WE were the only ones arguing over janice's claim!!!

i see that carol is called a 'supermodel' but jan in quotes is called "the world's first supermodel"!!
jan is actually using that title everywhere now, its attached to her name, as well as 'best selling author!'

and as a longtime janice fan, i have to say this is fantastic, not only was she one of the hottest models of the 80s & maybe ever, but now in a new century she has TWO best selling books [#3 coming soon], shes a superstar again cos of 'top model' AND shes getting more & more credibility as "the world's first supermodel'!!!

lets all pray that we can be so hot and so successful into our fifties-
maybe you really can Have It All!!

http://www.brettsinger.com/clients/prsrl-supermodelweek.htm

and if you know about janice's extreme debauchery & craziness from the early 80s, her endurance & 2nd or 3rd careers are even MORE impressive!
our unlikely heroine- janice dickenson!!!

 

[lady grey]

janice 2 hour biography on TV sunday-

sunday march 27, E! TV in usa:
Janice's "True hollywood story"

a 2 hr biography, I saw a preview she talks about cocaine, plastic surgery, being a super model, sex with famous actors & more.

It seems to have at least some video of her 80s modelling peak & shld have some stills also of various mags, covers edits etc.

its worth all the drama & exploitation just to see janice at her early 80s modelling peak- if youre not familiar with her at that time I think her beauty, sexiness & fame will stun you,.
watch it!!!!

I REALLY hope she talks about being 'the first' supe- I suspect she will & I cant wait to hear her reasoning!!

 

[acester]

I'm 14 and I've never heard of this Janice person:eek:

 

[lady grey]

J D

shes currently famous as a best selling author & star of US' 'americas next top model' panel.

she is also "the first supermodel" circa 1980 or so.

legitimately one of the most beautiful, sexy, crazy, wild & popular models in the history of the fashion business & I cant even describe how loved jan was in the 1980s by fashion mags, photographers, model fans, etc & amazingly shes done it again 25 years later.

she is arguably one of the top 5 or 10 models ever & still going at age 50+ -
shes ONE of a kind!!!

 

[acester]

wow i can't believe i didn't know her...me the total model obsesor!! heeheh Her personality sounds fun