Imagine never seeing these legendary models on the catwalk.

Becoming a supermodel is no easy feat: it's a physical and demanding job that requires true human endurance. Despite its difficulties, becoming a model is the dream for many women worldwide. While many women in the industry had plans to model since childhood, others had different ambitions, like Irina Shayk, who was enrolled in cosmetology school in rural Russia before being discovered. Gigi Hadid, meanwhile, pursued a degree in criminal psychology before she heard the runway calling. Below, L'OFFICIEL explores nine supermodels who almost had completely normal jobs before reaching catwalk stardom.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellemacpherson/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Elle Macpherson</a>

Instagram @ellemacpherson

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson is known for her record-breaking number of Sports Illustrated covers&nbsp;and for being a&nbsp;BAZAAR cover star in her career. <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/news/celebrity/models-different-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macpherson studied law</a> at the University of Sydney and has stated that she originally started modeling as an easy way of paying for her expensive textbooks.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/gigihadid">Gigi Hadid</a>

Instagram @gigihadid

Gigi Hadid also <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/news/celebrity/models-different-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moved from Los Angeles to New York to attend university</a>, where she pursued a degree in psychology. However, her successful runway career cast aside her studies. In interviews, she often talks about how much she enjoyed her experience at university.

<a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/tags/fernanda-ly">Fernanda Ly</a>
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Instagram @warukatta

Formerly known for her pink hair, Ly made her catwalk debut as an exclusive Louis Vuitton model at the brand's Spring/Summer 2016 fashion show and has since had a successful career. However, the Australian model used to attend the University of Technology Sydney, where she had plans to become an architect.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/jazz-leg-pose-instragram-trend-rosie-huntington-whiteley">Rosie Huntington-Whiteley</a>
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Instagram @rosiehw

One look at Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Instagram account reveals her iconic aesthetic taste. The supermodel once said she would be a designer if it weren't for her captivating modeling career.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bellahadid/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bella Hadid&nbsp;</a>
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Instagram @bellahadid

Initially, Bella Hadid wanted to become a professional equestrian and was working to compete in the 2016 Olympics before her diagnosis of Lyme disease, which tragically made her relinquish the sport professionally. In 2014, at 18, she moved to New York to study photography at Parsons School of Design but left the university once her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Hadid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modeling career</a> gained significant momentum.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/irina-shayk-model-street-style-daughter">Irina Shayk</a>
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Instagram @Irinashayk

In a 2011 interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Shayk&nbsp;revealed that she and her sister had enrolled at a cosmetology school near her hometown in rural Russia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irina_Shayk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when she was discovered</a>.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/tags/cindycrawford">Cindy Crawford</a>
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Instagram @cindycrawford

Cindy Crawford grew up in rural Michigan and later enrolled at Northwestern University to study <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/news/celebrity/models-different-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chemical engineering</a>. Throughout college, she eventually dropped out to pursue her dream of a successful modeling career. She moved to New York to represent brands such as Versace and Chanel. Today, Crawford is one of the most well-known supermodels of all time.&nbsp;

Instagram @claudiaschiffer

Claudia Schiffer was one of the most famous supermodels in the 1990s. Her career began when she was spotted at age<a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/a31973543/claudia-schiffer-cover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 17 in a Düsseldorf nightclub</a>. Until she was scouted, her original plan was to follow in her father's footsteps and obtain her law degree; however, once an agency picked her up, that plan was gone. Schiffer would soon become one of the leading models on the catwalk.&nbsp;

Instagram @lyndsey360

Lyndsey Scott is the first African American model in the industry to sign an exclusive runway contract for <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/veronica-leoni-calvin-klein-creative-director" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Klein</a> and has worked for <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/prada-womens-fashion-show-spring-summer-2025-collection-photo-look" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prada</a> and Gucci. But also has<a href="https://www.lyndseyscott.com/bio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> experience in the technology industry</a>; when she's not modeling, she develops mobile apps for IOS devices and mentors young women who are enrolled in computer programming.

9 Supermodels That Almost Missed the Runway

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