I don't think it is that Lara just "got lucky"
I think with the true number ones they change the "look" and make a huge change in the industry . Kate is the biggest example of this all the petite girls that followed her Mona j Emma Balfour Devon a etc etc, Gemma spawned a thousand imitations and changed what models weere scouted Sasha was promoted as she was the best of the look alikees! Same with Gisele.. The brazillian bomb wave and Lara presaged all the obsession with curve the whole crystal renn thing and all laras gap teeth imitators that work Georgia Jagger Ashley smith etc
I think the number one needs to be this strong. The best candidate is freja because she has had an influence in ghe rise of the androgynous model from Lea to andrej I think!