Best models 2025 : the names dominating right now
The 2025 fashion season kicks off with a simple question : who are the best models to watch and book today. The short list already feels clear on runways and billboards alike : Anok Yai, Vittoria Ceretti, Kendall Jenner and Paloma Elsesser pull ahead with a mix of runway authority, campaign firepower and cultural pull.
Facts point the way. Paloma Elsesser won Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards organized by the British Fashion Council in December 2023, a pivotal signal for casting and campaigns in the seasons that followed. Naomi Campbell anchors the narrative with a major museum show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London running from 22 June 2024 to 6 April 2025, a reminder that legacy still directs fashion’s present. On social reach, Kendall Jenner counts well over 290 million Instagram followers as of late 2024, while Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid each pass the tens of millions mark too (Instagram, October 2024).
Runway power in 2025 : from Milan to Paris
Runway sets the tone for who leads the year. Anok Yai has become a first-call opener and closer across the big four weeks after making headlines as the first Black model to open Prada in more than two decades back in 2018. Vittoria Ceretti keeps the line clean and modern for luxury houses, repeatedly selected by casting directors when a show needs quiet authority.
The new guard rises right beside them. Mona Tougaard’s fluid walk and sharp profile fit the minimal mood that dominated 2024 collections, a direction carrying into 2025. Adut Akech continues to bring presence to heritage labels and younger houses, a rare bridge between couture codes and street energy.
Across cities the pattern holds. The names that set the runway pace often end the season with flagship campaigns and beauty contracts, sealing their year with visibility that reaches far beyond fashion week seats.
Campaign stars and social reach : Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid
Campaigns translate runway heat into cultural impact. Kendall Jenner’s audience crosses well beyond fashion and lands straight in mainstream conversation, a reason luxury brands keep her in front of global launches as her follower count passes 290 million on Instagram in 2024 (Instagram, October 2024). That kind of scale moves product searches within hours of a drop.
Gigi Hadid maintains a wide spectrum of work from luxury shoots to design collaborations, keeping her community engaged across seasons. Bella Hadid returned to major projects and launched her fragrance line Orebella in May 2024, showing a model can turn momentum into a brand without losing editorial demand.
Brands still watch editorial stamina closely. Vittoria Ceretti and Rianne van Rompaey remain print anchors for European luxury, while Imaan Hammam holds a long running beauty contract and consistent Vogue presence, valuable when a campaign needs both reach and credibility.
Icons redefining beauty : Paloma Elsesser, Naomi Campbell, Liu Wen
Change comes from leaders who shift the frame. Paloma Elsesser’s Model of the Year win in 2023 from the British Fashion Council reframed casting conversations for 2024 and 2025, proving that body diversity is not a trend but a performance metric for brands seeking relevance.
Naomi Campbell’s exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum running into April 2025 underlines how a supermodel can still set an agenda for the industry, from philanthropy to image control. That institutional recognition feeds demand for multi generation storytelling in campaigns this year.
Liu Wen continues to be a benchmark for representation after becoming the first Asian model to be named a global face of Estée Lauder back in 2010, a milestone that still informs beauty casting across Asia and the West. When markets diverge, these anchors keep strategy steady.
Looking for a clear snapshot of who to watch week by week. Here is a concise roster that buyers, editors and fans keep checking in 2025 :
- Anok Yai : runway leader and frequent opener for top European houses
- Vittoria Ceretti : campaign specialist with consistent luxury bookings
- Kendall Jenner : massive social reach and global luxury campaigns
- Gigi Hadid : editorial range and high engagement across platforms
- Bella Hadid : creative projects like Orebella plus high fashion returns
- Paloma Elsesser : 2023 Model of the Year and curve icon in campaigns
- Adut Akech : couture presence and cross market appeal
- Mona Tougaard : directional runway casting for 2025 minimal lines
- Imaan Hammam : beauty contracts and steady Vogue visibility
- Liu Wen : pan regional influence and luxury consistency
- Kaia Gerber : fashion film crossovers and selective runway moments
- Amelia Gray : breakout energy across Paris and Milan in 2024
One more layer completes the picture. Awards like The Fashion Awards in London announce winners each December, museum calendars such as the V and A show for Naomi Campbell validate legacy through spring 2025, and Instagram numbers routinely tilt casting when brands chase attention at scale. Track those three signals together and the 2025 board of the best models becomes definitly clear, then adjust as fashion month unfolds city by city.