The runway is no longer the final destination for today’s top models. These women have traded catwalks for boardrooms and built businesses worth millions. Their real success comes from bold vision and very smart decisions.
If you want inspiration from women who turned fame into real power then keep reading this entire article. These supermodels prove that a modeling career is just the beginning of something far bigger and better.
Gigi Hadid builds a cashmere kingdom
Gigi Hadid launched Guest in Residence in September 2022 as her own luxury knitwear brand. The label is made entirely of 100 percent cashmere, and Hadid serves as its creative director, personally designing all collections.
The brand has flagship stores in New York and Los Angeles and is sold in retailers all over the world. Hadid debuted her Spring and Summer 2026 collection in early 2026, confirming impressive ongoing growth.
Karlie Kloss becomes a media mogul
Karlie Kloss built her company Bedford Media and moved far beyond modeling in a very significant and lasting way. In 2020 she led an investor group that acquired W Magazine directly from Bustle Digital Group.
Bedford Media then struck a deal to relaunch LIFE Magazine in print and digital formats in 2024. Kloss described LIFE as an uplifting voice for a chaotic landscape and currently serves as Bedford Media CEO.
Miranda Kerr turns skincare into gold
Miranda Kerr launched KORA Organics in 2009 while still earning millions as a Victoria’s Secret Angel on the runway. The certified organic skincare brand now sells in over 30 countries through major global retailers worldwide.
KORA Organics made history in October 2024 as the very first certified organic skincare brand featured on QVC. The brand generates estimated annual revenues exceeding 20 million dollars and continues expanding into new global markets.
Candice Swanepoel designs her own shore
Candice Swanepoel founded eco-conscious swimwear brand Tropic of C in 2018 after years as a top Victoria’s Secret Angel. The brand uses sustainable materials including regenerated nylon and she handles much of the creative direction.
Tropic of C expanded into activewear with a line called Movement and gained a strong dedicated global following quickly. In October 2025 Swanepoel fronted a new Mediterranean campaign keeping the brand fresh and very visible.
Tyra Banks goes from runway to boardroom
Tyra Banks made modeling history and then pivoted confidently into media and business ownership in a truly major way. She created America’s Next Top Model and built Bankable Productions as her very own entertainment company.
Banks was the first Black woman to appear solo on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover in 1997. She returned to that same magazine in 2019 and her empire now spans television, cosmetics and education.
Heidi Klum runs a television empire
Heidi Klum turned her Victoria’s Secret modeling career into one of fashion’s most profitable television empires around the world. She hosts and executive produces Project Runway and Germany’s Next Top Model at the same time.
Klum served as a judge on America’s Got Talent for 11 seasons, adding millions to her annual income over the years. She left the show in 2025 and returned to host and produce Project Runway on Disney’s Freeform channel. Beyond television, she launched fashion lines, including lingerie and maternity wear, serving very diverse global markets.
Gisele Bundchen champions Eco brands
Gisele Bundchen built a strong business portfolio deeply rooted in sustainability and personal wellness throughout her entire modeling career. She launched her own skincare line and partnered with major brands including both Chanel and Pantene.
Her estimated net worth sits around 400 million dollars making her one of the wealthiest and most influential models alive. Gisele uses her global platform to lead environmental campaigns and collaborate on eco-friendly product lines.
Kendall Jenner poured passion into tequila
Kendall Jenner spent three and a half years developing 818 Tequila before its 2021 launch. She ran blind taste tests and competitions to ensure the product could stand on its own without just her name.
The brand sold 136,000 cases in its impressive first seven months of business. By 2024, 818 Tequila reached estimated revenues of $45 to $50 million and became the 10th best-selling tequila in the United States.
Kim Kardashian and the SKIMS revolution
Kim Kardashian launched SKIMS in 2019 as a bold and inclusive new shapewear brand. By November 2025, the company raised $225 million in fresh funding led by Goldman Sachs, reaching a stunning $5 billion valuation.
SKIMS grew from $145 million in revenue in 2020 to nearly $750 million in 2023. The brand also launched a major strategic partnership with Nike in 2025, releasing a powerful new activewear line called NikeSKIMS.
Ashley Graham redefined the industry and invested smart
Ashley Graham became the first plus-size model on a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover in 2016. She used that landmark visibility to launch a swimwear and lingerie line and sign multiple major brand licensing deals.
Graham also became a brand ambassador for Lane Bryant and co-founded a production company to develop film and TV projects. She has built a platform that combines body positivity with real entrepreneurial hustle and growth.
Featured Image: Photo by Fernando Frazão on Wikimedia Commons.
