Dorian Leigh: the first top-model

Dorian Leigh paraded for every haute couture house from the 1940s to the 1960s. She was in the top of her modeling career during the 1950s when she was the face of Revlon for campaigns such as “Fire and Ice” and “Cherries in the Snow” whose images were taken by Richard Avedon. Moreover, Leigh posed for other famous photographers, i.e.: Cecil Beaton e Irving Penn.

Her slim and aristocratic self beautified the cover of the best fashion magazines e.g. “Vogue” where she appeared seven times in 1946; “Harper's Bazaar”, “McCall's” and “Look”.

After abandoning her modeling career, Leigh founded her own modeling agency in Paris. Actress Audrey Hepburn took from Leigh the essence for her role in “Breakfast in Tiffany's”.

Dorian Leigh was born on April 23rd 1917 in San Antonio (Texas, USA). Leigh is considered the pioneer of the top model trend followed by Linda Evangelista, Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Twiggy, among others. Leigh died last week in an old people's home located in Falls Church (Virginia), according to her elder son T.L.Hawkins.

In 1980, Leigh published her autobiography: “The Girl Who Had Everything”. She convinced her younger sister, famous Suzy Parker, to join Ford Modeling Agency. In 1997, the founder of that agency, Eileen Ford, declared to “The Free Lance-Star” magazine that Leigh had been the best model of her time.