Whereas in the past the fashion sphere has always been in wonder of the lady supermodel, the influence of the male model has increased more and more, ruling fashion, redefining manhood, and securing the most coveted campaigns worldwide.
By 2025, male modeling is no sideshow. These men broke doors, strode the catwalk of all time, fronted high-fashion brand campaigns, and influenced generations. This is the most successful 10 male models of all time, not just in terms of popularity, but endurance, financialization, diversity, and impact. From those of us who know them so well like David Gandy to the legends of today like Alton Mason, each one of these men has left an indelible mark on the industry. With Calvin Klein billboards or sashaying for Versace and Dior, their poise, charisma, and professionalism have earned them places in fashion royalty clubs. Learn about who set the standard and what they’ve done to maintain that level for decades of changing trends.
1. David Gandy
- Age: 45
- Date of Birth: February 19, 1980
- Nationality: British
Image Credit: Getty Images
David Gandy is thought to be the most successful male model in history. He became globally famous in 2006 when he starred in the launch of the Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue” fragrance campaign which has become one of the most famous fashion advertisements of all time. He has since worked constantly in GQ, Vogue, and Esquire as well as guest editor and columnist. Gandy has created a lifestyle brand, worked on brand campaigns for Jaguar and most recently launched a tailoring line.
2. Tyson Beckford
- Age: 54
- Date of Birth: December 19, 1970
- Nationality: American
Image Credit: Getty Images
Tyson Beckford is trailblazer in male modeling – the first globally recognizable African-American male model. Discovered in the early 90’s, Beckford quickly became a household name as the face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo line. He went on to become a television personality and actor on various television shows and in movies and featured in films Zoolander and Into the Blue. Beckford continued to appear in campaigns and runway shows deep into the 2000’s and 10’s.
3. Sean O’Pry
- Age: 36
- Date of Birth: July 5, 1989
- Nationality: American
Image Credit: Getty Images
Sean O’Pry emerged from MySpace and became an overnight sensation with his angular features and piercing eyes. By 2013, Forbes had already called him the world’s highest-earning male model, and every designer would fight for him to be in their designs, including Calvin Klein, Versace, Armani, and Hugo Boss. O’Pry exploded after his exposure as a global brand through Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” music video, making him a star beyond fashion.
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4. Jon Kortajarena
- Age: 40
- Date of Birth: May 19, 1985
- Nationality: Spanish
Image Credit: Getty Images
Jon Kortajarena is the quintessential image of European style and male modeling. His sculpted cheekbones, piercing eyes and strong features have served the catwalks and campaigns for major brands, including Tom Ford, Versace and H&M. Kortajarena was found at a fashion show in Barcelona, and immediately burst into the limelight. His first break was Just Cavalli, then came Tom Ford, whom Kortajarena remains inextricably linked, as the longest client of his modeling career. Kortajarena then began to act after the success of modeling – starting with the role it played in A Single Man – where it was laid groundwork to take on various acting roles with Spanish dramas, and so on to create his public persona beyond modeling. Likewise, while aging as a model, he has more recently been active navigating a career and a balance of his activism efforts and broadened and embraced his acting practice while representing communities (i.e. Sustainability, LGBTQ+).
5. Lucky Blue Smith
- Age: 27
- Date of Birth: June 4, 1997
- Nationality: American
Image Credit: Getty Images
Lucky Blue Smith became a global sensation as a teenager because of his icy-blond hair and high-fashion editorial presence. Lucky Blue was scouted at 10 years old and signed by an agency by 12. Major campaigns such as Tom Ford, Phillip Plein, and Calvin Klein quickly followed, and he became an editor’s darling. By the 2010s, Lucky Blue’s impact transcended the runway. Lucky Blue amassed a large fan base on Instagram, and in fact, was one of the first male models to build a branding on social media (before the Kardashians). His young boyishness and ambiguity provided an interesting dimension to the male modeling space in the 2010s. As Tom Ford so eloquently mentioned, “It would be impossible to exaggerate Lucky Blue’s influence on the industry.” As of 2025, Lucky Blue continues to have bookings with luxury fashion houses, and is a favorite of the press.
6. Marcus Schenkenberg
- Age: 56
- Date of Birth: August 4, 1968
- Nationality: Swedish
Image Credit: Getty Images
Marcus Schenkenberg is said to be one of the first supermodels for men. As the face of Calvin Klein, he typified the 1990s and his campaign work changed how we measure advertising. With his long lean frame and European cool, Schenkenberg firmly established a new design language for high-end menswear at a time when male models were invisible names to everyday buyers in the industry. He appeared in the biggest magazines of the time, including Vogue Hommes, GQ and Details, doing campaign work for almost every designer in the world. He also began acting and doing reality television to expand the zeitgeist visibility.
7. Noah Mills
- Age: 41
- Date of Birth: April 26, 1983
- Nationality: Canadian-American
Image Credit: Getty Images
Noah Mills is one of the most recognizable faces in fashion, known for his strikingly rugged face and an unparalleled versatility as a model. His pull for modelling fate was with Dolce & Gabbana. From there he worked with Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. He has a career that spans print and runway and has been a fixture in campaigns and high fashion spread for over 15+ years. Mills was also able to transition into acting quite successfully, with roles in 2 Broke Girls, The Brave and NCIS: Hawai’i.
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8. Alton Mason
- Age: 27
- Date of Birth: November 21, 1997
- Nationality: American
Image Credit: Getty Images
Alton Mason was the first Black male model to walk for Chanel and has worked with almost every luxury brand that exists today, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Off-White. Since joining the fashion world in 2016, he’s headlined Models.com, Top 50 Male Models, and Model of the Year on several occasions. Mason is also a filmmaker and choreographer, so he can add yet another layer of creativity to his already stout resume.
9. Evandro Soldati
- Age: 39
- Date of Birth: April 17, 1985
- Nationality: Brazilian
Image Credit: Getty Images
Evandro Soldati gained recognition in the late 2000s with ad campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino. His career propelled him into the realm of “most successful male models from Brazil globally known”. Soldati also starred in Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” music video and built on that crossover fame. Over the next several years he continued to work with high end brands and he consistently ranked in the top male models in Models.com and others.
10. Simon Nessman
- Age: 36
- Date of Birth: November 5, 1988
- Nationality: Canadian
Image Credit: Getty Images
Simon Nessman burst onto the modeling scene in the late 2000s armed with good looks, work ethic, and a clean-cut professional image. He also gained worldwide prestige with campaigns for Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and especially as the interpretive and artistic face of Giorgio Armani’s fragrance line. Nessman’s notability gets verified as he is rated one of the most popular male models by Forbes and Models.com, too, and as he was consistently on magazine covers around the world. While he temporarily exited the modeling world to attend college and play competitive basketball, he returned without any bumps, and was back to the same demand, savvy, and grace as he was before.
Conclusion
Men’s modeling has come a long way from the time when men were secondary fiddles on the catwalk to the current time when they are the uncrowned fashion and cultural monarchs. These 10 have shattered records, reversed the stereotyping of models, and written books in an industry that now runs with individuality, diversity, and longevity. From David Gandy’s classic good looks to Alton Mason’s hyper-kinetic, all these legends bring something fresh to the table. All of them are the embodiment of the greater fashion trends—to diversification, to experimentation, and to crossover influence.
