The Most Famous
MODELS from France
Top 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary French Models of all time. This list of famous French Models is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of French Models.
1. Alice Prin (1901 - 1953)
With an HPI of 58.64, Alice Prin is the most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 28 different languages on wikipedia.
Alice Ernestine Prin (2 October 1901 – 29 April 1953), nicknamed the Queen of Montparnasse and often known as Kiki de Montparnasse, was a French model, chanteuse, memoirist and painter during the Jazz Age. She flourished in, and helped define, the liberated culture of Paris in the so-called Années folles ("crazy years" in French). She became one of the most famous models of the 20th century and in the history of avant-garde art.
2. Natalia Pavlovna Paley (1905 - 1981)
With an HPI of 56.01, Natalia Pavlovna Paley is the 2nd most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.
Princess Natalia Pavlovna Paley (Russian: Наталья Павловна Палей; 5 December 1905 – 27 December 1981) was a Russian aristocrat who was a non-dynastic member of the Romanov family. A daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, she was a first cousin of the last Russian emperor, Nicholas II. After the Russian Revolution, she emigrated first to France and later to the United States. She became a fashion model, socialite, vendeuse, and briefly pursued a career as a film actress.
3. Inès de La Fressange (b. 1957)
With an HPI of 52.94, Inès de La Fressange is the 3rd most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.
Inès Marie Lætitia Églantine Isabelle de Seignard de La Fressange (French pronunciation: [inɛs maʁi letisja eɡlɑ̃tin izabɛl də sɛɲaʁ də la fʁɛsɑ̃ʒ]; born 11 August 1957), is a French supermodel, fashion designer and perfumer. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1998.
4. Catherine Hessling (1900 - 1979)
With an HPI of 52.19, Catherine Hessling is the 4th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Catherine Hessling (born Andrée Madeleine Heuschling; 22 June 1900 – 28 September 1979) was a French actress and the first wife of film director Jean Renoir. Hessling appeared in 15, mostly silent, films before retiring from the acting profession and withdrawing from public life in the mid-1930s.
5. Laetitia Casta (b. 1978)
With an HPI of 51.24, Laetitia Casta is the 5th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 46 different languages.
Laetitia Marie Laure Casta (French: [lɛtisja kasta]; born 11 May 1978) is a French model and actress. Casta became a "GUESS? Girl" in 1993 and gained further recognition as a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1998 to 2000 and as a spokesperson for cosmetics company L'Oréal. She has appeared on over 250 covers of such popular magazines as Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Elle and Glamour, and has walked runways for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Paco Rabanne, Kenzo, Louis Vuitton, Christian Lacroix, Roberto Cavalli, Jacquemus, Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood. As an actress, Casta appeared in such films as Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999), Born in 68 (2008), Face (2009), Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010), which earned her a nomination for the César Award for Best Supporting Actress, Arbitrage (2012), A Faithful Man (2018) and The Crusade (2021).
6. Noémie Lenoir (b. 1979)
With an HPI of 42.01, Noémie Lenoir is the 6th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Noémie Lenoir (born 19 September 1979) is a French model and actress. She is known for her work with Gucci, L'Oréal, Next, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Balmain Paris Hair Couture and Marks and Spencer.
7. Clara Morgane (b. 1981)
With an HPI of 41.13, Clara Morgane is the 7th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 30 different languages.
Clara Morgane (French pronunciation: [klaʁa mɔʁɡan]) is a French singer and former pornographic film actress.
8. Isabelle Caro (1982 - 2010)
With an HPI of 40.75, Isabelle Caro is the 8th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 28 different languages.
Isabelle Caro Rosenbohm (12 September 1982 – 18 November 2010) was a French model and actress from Marseille, France, who became well known after appearing in a controversial advertising campaign "No Anorexia" which showed Caro with vertebrae and facial bones showing under her skin in a picture by photographer Oliviero Toscani.
9. Gaia Weiss (b. 1991)
With an HPI of 38.87, Gaia Weiss is the 9th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages.
Gaia Weiss (born 30 August 1991) is a French actress and model. Her filmography includes Mary Queen of Scots (2013), Vikings (2014–2015), Alien: Containment (2019), Meander (2020), La Révolution (2020), and Shepherd (2021).
10. Thylane Blondeau (b. 2001)
With an HPI of 32.96, Thylane Blondeau is the 10th most famous French Model. Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages.
Thylane Léna-Rose Loubry Blondeau (born 5 April 2001) is a French model. Blondeau started modeling at a very young age, and in 2006, was elected "Most Beautiful Girl in The World" by Vogue Enfants. She has modeled for many designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, L'Oréal and Versace. In 2018, she founded her own clothing brand, Heaven May, and topped TC Candler's "100 Most Beautiful Faces."
People
Pantheon has 12 people classified as French models born between 1900 and 2001. Of these 12, 8 (66.67%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living French models include Inès de La Fressange, Laetitia Casta, and Noémie Lenoir. The most famous deceased French models include Alice Prin, Natalia Pavlovna Paley, and Catherine Hessling. As of April 2024, 1 new French models have been added to Pantheon including Camille Rowe.
Living French Models
Go to all Rankings
Inès de La Fressange
1957 - Present
HPI: 52.94
Laetitia Casta
1978 - Present
HPI: 51.24
Noémie Lenoir
1979 - Present
HPI: 42.01
Clara Morgane
1981 - Present
HPI: 41.13
Gaia Weiss
1991 - Present
HPI: 38.87
Thylane Blondeau
2001 - Present
HPI: 32.96
Camille Rowe
1990 - Present
HPI: 31.66
Constance Jablonski
1991 - Present
HPI: 30.43
Deceased French Models
Go to all RankingsAlice Prin
1901 - 1953
HPI: 58.64
Natalia Pavlovna Paley
1905 - 1981
HPI: 56.01
Catherine Hessling
1900 - 1979
HPI: 52.19
Isabelle Caro
1982 - 2010
HPI: 40.75
Newly Added French Models (2024)
Go to all RankingsOverlapping Lives
Which Models were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 4 most globally memorable Models since 1700.
