10 Most Famous Male Models of All Time

Today, we present the most famous male models of all time. Hailing from around the world, these top male models saw an industry dominated by women and decided to go for it anyway. In return for their efforts, they were rewarded with coveted contracts from major fashion houses such as Armani and Dolce & Gabbana. As such, you can find their handsome faces and chiselled physiques in magazines, on runways, in commercials, movies, and shows, or over on Instagram, where they rack up hundreds of thousands of followers.

Meanwhile, several top male supermodels continue to expand their portfolios, cultivating their own brands while exploring a variety of peripheral careers. Some have become fashion designers in their own right, while others have gone on to make it big in Hollywood. It’s the name of the game for even the greatest male models, who don’t usually make as much as their female counterparts. But who are the most famous male models of all time? Let’s find out.

1. David Gandy

At the top of virtually every list of famous or influential male models is the name David Gandy, and with good reason. In 2001, he became an overnight sensation after winning a televised contest, and by 2006, he was the face of D&G’s Light Blue fragrance. With his sharp looks, dapper style, and muscular figure, the British model redefined masculinity at a time when thin was definitely in. These days, Gandy does far more than strike a deft pose. Accordingly, you can find him writing lifestyle articles, supporting charitable causes, launching apps, and even designing his own wildly successful range of menswear for Marks & Spencer. Consistently along for the ride is Gandy’s unique brand of British charm and wit, as if he would have it any other way. Cheerio!

Career start: 2001
Best known for: the face of Dolce and Gabbana and Lucky Jeans
Height: 1.91 m

2. Lucky Blue Smith

His name might be Lucky Blue Smith, but don’t take that to mean this top male model didn’t work hard for his success. After all, it’s not easy to garner over 3 million followers on Instagram. Equipped with stirring blue eyes and perfect blonde hair, Smith began modelling for Saint Laurent at the tender age of 12. Soon after, he was working with names like Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein. Nowadays, he ranks among the biggest Insta-models in the world, with the aforementioned three million-plus followers to show for it. If you’re looking for a veritable modern-day superstar (and one of the most beautiful male models on the planet), you’ve found him right here.

Career start: 2009
Best known for: Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein
Height: 1.83 m

3. Sean O’Pry

If you follow fashion with even a passing interest, then you recognise the handsome face of Sean O’Pry. Indeed, the 29-year-old has enjoyed the kind of career that virtually all other male models aspire to. Success is the operative word here, as O’Pry has frequently been listed as one of the highest-paid male models in the world, if not the highest paid. All the while, he maintains a somewhat elusive social media presence, which only seems to work in his favour. That said, he’s still racked up over 600k followers on Instagram. In addition to his bevy of appearances on runways and in magazines and commercials, O’Pry has also starred in music videos for Madonna and Taylor Swift.

Career start: 2006
Best known for: ‘The Most Successful Male Model’ since 2013; starred in Taylor Swift’s music video “Blank Space”
Height: 1.83 m

4. David Beckham

Call us frontrunners if you must, but David Beckham is definitely no stranger to the world of modelling. The former “Sexiest Man Alive” (according to People Magazine) has lent his sharp smile and ripped abs to a slew of major brands, including H&M, Adidas, Emporio Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. One could even say that his career as a fashion icon and spokesperson has ultimately dwarfed his former run as an English footballer, or is that going too far? No matter where you stand on the matter, you can’t deny that Beckham has duly capitalised on his perfect looks. As a result, he routinely ranks among the highest-paid retired athletes in the world.

Best known for: soccer star
Height: 1.83 m

5. Channing Tatum

Before he was one of the world’s foremost movie stars, Alabama-born Channing Tatum was a roofer, a stripper named Chan Crawford, a dancer in music videos, a successful male model, and one of Tear Sheet magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful Faces.” In the early 2000s, he landed modelling gigs with a slate of big-name clients, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Dolce & Gabbana, American Eagle Outfitters, and Emporio Armani. His film career began in 2005 and took off in 2006, when he starred opposite his future wife (now ex-wife), Jenna Dewan, in “Step Up.” Remembering his early days as a male stripper, Tatum conceived and starred in a little movie called “Magic Mike,” which came out in 2012 and solidified his A-list status. He’s been a household name ever since. Whether he’s a famous male model or a male model who became famous is for you to decide, but either way, he’s super famous.

Career start: 2000
Best known for: leading role in Magic Mike (2012)
Height: 1.85 m

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6. Luka Sabbat

When not perfecting streetwear trends, Luka Sabbat (aka Mr Fallback on Instagram) is setting them, which is quite a feat given that he’s just 21. What’s even more impressive is Sabbat’s ability to make outlandish fashion statements seem downright appealing, as seen in the cross-body bag trend. It’s no surprise, then, that the famous male model has turned all the right heads and amassed 1.7 million Instagram followers in very little time. This is what being a modern-day influencer is all about. Oh, and did we mention he’s been linked to Courtney Kardashian? Yeah, this guy is going places.

Best known for: worked with Warren Lotas and YEEZY
Height: 1.52 m

7. Zach Miko

Upending preconceived notions of what the hottest male models are supposed to look like, Zach Miko stands 6’5 “with a 40-inch waist. That makes him the ideal match for IMG agency’s “Brawn” division, where he’s thrived by way of his “regular guy” persona. Decades ago, Miko wouldn’t have been allowed near the runway, but nowadays, this top model has become a wildly successful signifier (and huge promoter) of male body positivity. Is he the most famous male model of all time? Not quite yet. But as cultural norms continue to change, he very well might get there, so we’re spreading the love.

Best known for: the very first “brawn” model (plus-size male model)
Height: 1.82 m

8. Billy Huxley

We won’t go so far as to say that top male model Billy Huxley created the ubiquitous hipster beard trend, but he certainly helped popularise it. That and his spectacular tattoo work make him an unconventional figure in the world of male modelling, where smooth faces and unmarked bodies tend to reign supreme. It’s also helped this British male model land major gigs with brands like ASOS, Adidas, and Vagabond. While the very movements he helped inspire aren’t as culturally relevant as they once were, Huxley continues to redefine fashion for the modern era—just ask his 360k Instagram followers.

Career start: 2012
Best known for: a tattooed model featured in campaigns for ASOS, Adidas, and Vagabond
Height: 1.9 m

9. Tyson Beckford

As you might have noticed, we’ve primarily kept it “new school” on our list of the most famous male models… until now. Enter Tyson Beckford, who was best known as the face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo line back in the 1990s. The man’s achievements are nothing short of extraordinary, which helps explain why Vogue Magazine once dubbed him the “Top Male Model of All Time.” He’s also been previously named “Man of the Year” by VH1 and one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” by People Magazine. When his modelling career began to wane, Beckford forayed into the world of television. In 2003, he appeared on the celebrity reality game show “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” and then later co-hosted the contest “Make Me a Supermodel” for Bravo (he’s also been a judge and mentor on Australia’s version of the very same show). Now 48, Beckford maintains his muscular figure and stunning good looks. He also makes headlines on occasion, though, mainly for his recent feud with Kim Kardashian. Nevertheless, in the world of guy models, he remains a legend.

Career start: 1992
Best known for: Ralph Lauren Polo model
Height: 1.83 m

10. Marcus Schenkenberg

Capping off our list of the most famous male models of all time is another old school legend by the name of Marcus Schenkenberg. Blessed with a toned body and a naturally handsome face, this foreign male model rose to fame in the 1990s through his appearances in various Calvin Klein adverts. He also participated in major campaigns for fashion houses such as Versace, Armani, Donna Karan, and Iceberg. Setting an example for the next generation of top male models, Schenkenberg began to diversify while still at the height of his career. In 1997, he published a book about his life and work. Two years later, he recorded a song and then signed a recording contract with EMI. In the 2000s, he became quite active on the small screen, mainly appearing as himself in a slew of TV shows, including “The Surreal Life” and “One Life to Live.” He’s also guest-hosted an Italian soccer TV program and appeared on shows like “Germany’s Next Topmodel.” Last but not least, it’s been suggested that Schenkenberg inspired Samantha’s supermodel boyfriend in “Sex and the City.” May he similarly inspire all the up-and-coming male models out there.

Career start: 1990
Best known for: Calvin Klein advertisements
Height: 1.93 m

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Rising Stars: The New Generation of Male Models Making Waves

The fashion landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years, with social media, streetwear, and entirely new standards of representation reshaping what a “top model” looks like. While the icons above remain the most famous models of all time, a new class of boundary-pushers has emerged. These modern names dominate runways, media campaigns, and social media feeds across TikTok, Instagram and beyond, bringing broader cultural influence to the industry.

If you want to know who’s defining the next decade of men’s modelling, start with these standouts.

Alton Mason

If male modelling had a next big thing announcement, Alton Mason would be the headline every time. The American model-dancer-actor burst into fashion’s upper orbit after being discovered on Instagram and cast in Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 show, and he hasn’t touched the ground since. Armed with a jawline that means business and a runway strut with its own fanbase, Mason quickly became a favourite of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Tom Ford and pretty much every brand with a pulse.

In 2018, he made history as the first Black male model to walk for Chanel, something even Karl Lagerfeld personally insisted on. Awards followed, of course: Models.com Male Model of the Year (five years running), GQ Australia’s Model of the Year, and even Forbes 30 Under 30. But when he’s not the talk of fashion week, he’s starring in campaigns, recording music, or playing Little Richard in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

Career start: 2015
Best known for: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford
Height: 1.88 m

Pietro Boselli

What happens when a mathematics lecturer casually doubles as a world-class model? You get Pietro Boselli. Crowned “the world’s hottest math teacher” overnight, the Italian engineer turned supermodel went viral in 2015, turning a quiet academic career into a global phenomenon, picking up millions of followers in the process.

Boselli has since fronted campaigns for Armani EA7, Moschino, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Equinox, all while carving out a niche as the guy who can explain calculus and sell cologne. He even won the WBFF European fitness title, launched his own sportswear brand Petra Design, and landed magazine covers from Vogue to Attitude. Smart, sculpted, and surprisingly grounded, Boselli proves that you don’t need to choose between brains and beauty; you can excel at both.

Career start: 2014
Best known for: Emporio Armani, viral global fame
Height: 1.85 m

Matthew Noszka

Matthew Noszka’s rise to modelling fame is the kind of story Instagram dreams are made of. One photo of the Pittsburgh native building a deck went viral, caught the eye of a New York agent, and within days, he was modelling for Nike. From there, it was a smooth sprint into campaigns for Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Hugo Boss, with Vogue naming him one of the “50 Fittest Boys” shortly after.

But fame only tells half the story. In 2018, Noszka survived a catastrophic motorcycle accident that required 22 surgeries, titanium implants, and a level of perseverance that would break most people. Instead, he returned to modelling stronger than ever. With Hollywood roles, alongside a massive online following, and a career that refuses to slow down, Noszka is living proof that resilience is just as attractive as a perfect jawline.

Career start: 2014
Best known for: Nike, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein
Height: 1.88 m

Fernando Lindez

Spain has produced more than a few heartthrobs, but Fernando Lindez seems determined to raise the bar. Scouted through Instagram and cast in Skam Spain, he quickly became a breakout star with the kind of effortless, camera-ready cool that fashion houses dream about. It didn’t take long for the runways to notice, and soon Lindez was walking in New York, Paris, London, and Milan for brands like Versace, gaining a loyal Gen-Z fanbase along the way.

His acting career has matched his modelling trajectory stride for stride. In recent years, he’s starred in Scandal: Story of an Obsession, appeared in high-profile music videos, and joined the cast of Netflix’s hit series Elite. Equal parts runway darling and rising screen talent, Lindez represents the new face of European modelling. He’s versatile, stylish, and already well on his way to icon status.

Career start: 2017
Best known for: Loewe, Prada, Louis Vuitton
Height: 1.85 m

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