Elle Macpherson Rankings And Opinions

When people make lists of the most iconic supermodels of all time, Elle Macpherson almost always shows up somewhere near the top.
The Australian model, actress, and wellness entrepreneur has been nicknamed “The Body” since the late 1980s thanks to her record-breaking
runs on magazine covers and in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Today, rankings and opinions about Elle Macpherson are shaped by more than her runway walk. Fans and fashion editors look at her
influence on the supermodel era, her film and TV roles, her business success with wellness brand WelleCo, and how she talks about
ageing, confidence, and health in her 50s and 60s.

In this in-depth look at Elle Macpherson rankings and opinions, we’ll walk through how critics, fashion insiders, and everyday fans
view her legacyand why she continues to feel relevant in an era of Instagram models and TikTok beauty trends.

Who Is Elle Macpherson? A Quick Refresher

Elle Macpherson was born Eleanor Nancy Gow in 1964 in Killara, New South Wales, Australia. She later took her stepfather’s surname
and became known globally as Elle Macpherson. She originally planned to study law at the University of Sydney, but a
gap year modeling trip to the United States in the early 1980s changed everything.

Her early commercial work quickly led to major magazine coversElle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and more. She became one
of the defining faces of the 1980s and 1990s fashion scene, part of the supermodel wave that also included Cindy Crawford,
Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer.

The Sports Illustrated Era and “The Body” Nickname

If you ask fans why Elle Macpherson ranks so highly among supermodels, many will point straight to her
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue record. She appeared in the Swimsuit Issue nine times and landed a record
five covers, starting in 1985. That sustained visibility turned her into a pop culture fixture.
In 1989, Time magazine famously dubbed her “The Body,” a nickname that stuck and later became a core part of her personal brand.

Beyond Modeling: Acting and TV Work

Judging from online rankings and fan comments, a lot of people first discovered Elle Macpherson not on a runway, but on TV or in movies.
She appeared in films like Sirens, The Edge, and Batman & Robin, and she had a memorable guest role as Joey’s
dancer roommate-turned-girlfriend Janine on Friends.

Later, she moved into hosting and producing, fronting Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model, which reinforced her status as an industry
authority rather than just a former cover star.

Where Elle Macpherson Ranks in the Supermodel Hall of Fame

So where does Elle Macpherson actually rank among supermodels in the eyes of fashion insiders and fans? There isn’t a single, official
global leaderboard (sorry, no FIFA-style ranking system for supermodels), but several patterns show up across editor-curated lists and
fan-driven rankings.

Editorial Rankings: Iconic Supermodels Lists

Fashion magazines frequently publish “greatest supermodels” roundups, and Elle Macpherson consistently appears in these lineups:

• Marie Claire includes her in its list of the most iconic supermodels of all time, specifically calling out her
  “The Body” nickname and record Sports Illustrated covers.
• Harper’s Bazaar names her among the top supermodels who dominated fashion in the 1980s, emphasizing her “Amazonian figure” and
  girl-next-door appeal.
• Earlier coverage in outlets like The New York Times grouped her with the so-called “Magnificent Seven” of classic supermodels,
  reinforcing her status in the first-name-only club of fashion legends.

Taken together, these editor-curated lists typically place Macpherson in the top tier of supermodelsoften on the same level as
Cindy, Naomi, and Claudia. While each list uses its own criteria, she rarely falls out of the “all-time greats” conversation.

Fan Rankings: Online Lists and Voting Culture

On fan-driven websites and social platforms, Elle Macpherson also gets regular attention. Ranking-focused sites and social collections
often feature her in lists of “’80s supermodels then and now” or “most iconic swimsuit models,” where users vote photos and names up
or down.

These rankings vary day by day, but Macpherson generally lands near the top or upper-middle of the packespecially when the focus is
nostalgia-heavy: think 1980s magazine covers, classic swimsuit shoots, and red carpet looks from the early 2000s. Fans tend to reward:

• Longevity (a long career, not just a single viral moment)
• Memorability (the instantly recognizable “The Body” persona)
• Successful reinvention (transitioning into business and wellness)

Macpherson scores highly on all three, which helps explain why her fan rankings stay strong even as new generations of models emerge.

Expert Takes: How Editors and Journalists Talk About Elle

When fashion editors write about Elle Macpherson, the tone is typically respectful, occasionally awestruck, and increasingly focused
on her evolution rather than just her physique.

Long-form interviews and profiles highlight her:

• Business savvy: She founded lingerie brand Elle Macpherson Intimates and later co-founded wellness company WelleCo,
  turning her image into a portfolio of products rather than just a series of campaigns.
• Work ethic: Editors often describe her as highly organized, disciplined, and thoughtful about the brands she attaches her name to.
• Perspective on ageing: In recent interviews, particularly in Australian and UK outlets, she speaks openly about menopause,
  self-acceptance, and redefining midlife, which reshapes how audiences rank her in terms of role-model status, not just physical appearance.

In short, professional opinion has shifted from “this is a woman with great genetics” to “this is a woman who leveraged a modeling
career into something long-lasting and multidimensional.”

Fans’ Opinions: What People Actually Say About Elle Macpherson

On social media and fan forums, commentary about Elle Macpherson often falls into a few recurring themes:

1. The Timelessness Factor

Many fans express amazement that Macpherson can turn 60 and still appear incredibly fit and energetic. Articles about her birthdays
tend to generate comments about how she has “outwitted time,” especially whenever new photos or interviews appear.

2. Nostalgia for the Supermodel Era

People who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s often rank Elle Macpherson very highly because she represents a specific era: pre-social-media
fame, when being on the cover of a magazine felt like the ultimate cultural stamp. Old Sports Illustrated covers, editorial spreads, and
behind-the-scenes photos circulate as throwback content, and comments frequently refer to her as one of the “original” supermodels.

3. Mixed Feelings About Beauty Standards

In more critical spaces, fans acknowledge that Macpherson’s imagelike that of many classic supermodelswas tied to very narrow beauty
standards: extremely tall, very lean, and conventionally symmetrical. Some users argue that while she deserves credit for her work and
professionalism, it’s important to recognize how such images contributed to unrealistic expectations for women in the 1980s–2000s.

Others counter that Macpherson herself now advocates for more holistic wellness and self-acceptance, especially as she discusses
ageing, hormones, and mental wellbeing. That shift helps keep her reputation largely positive even as
conversations about beauty ideals become more nuanced.

Beyond the Runway: Business and Wellness Influence Rankings Too

Modern rankings don’t just ask, “Who looked best in a swimsuit?” They also ask:
Who built something lasting? On that front, Elle Macpherson has a strong case.

In 2014, she co-founded WelleCo, a wellness brand focusing on plant-based dietary supplements that support gut health,
energy, and skin. The flagship product, a greens-based powder, is marketed as part of her own daily routine.

Business and entrepreneurship outlets describe WelleCo as a key pillar of her “second act”an example of a celebrity who used her
platform to launch a long-term brand rooted in her personal interests and lifestyle.

As a result, when people rank Elle Macpherson today, they often give her extra points for:

• Successfully pivoting from model to entrepreneur
• Championing wellness rather than just appearance
• Staying visible without relying on constant tabloid drama

Balanced Perspectives: Critiques and Changing Standards

No discussion of rankings and opinions would be complete without acknowledging that views on fashion and beauty have changed dramatically
since Macpherson first appeared on a magazine cover.

Some critics question whether celebrating “The Body” as an ideal reinforces narrow expectations. Others note that the supermodel generation,
including Macpherson, came of age in an industry with far less transparency about health, mental wellbeing, and diversity than we aim for today.

At the same time, Macpherson’s more recent interviews show a person who has evolved with the cultural conversation. She speaks about
motherhood, ageing, and the emotional side of her life, and she emphasizes gratitude and inner confidence over outward perfection.
That doesn’t erase the history of the beauty standards she embodied, but it does broaden the way people talk about her legacy.

How Elle Macpherson Compares to Today’s Models

When fans compare Elle Macpherson to today’s influencers and models, the conversation usually splits into two tracks:

• Impact vs. reach: Macpherson’s impact came through a relatively small number of high-profile channelsmagazines, TV,
  runway shows. Today’s models might have larger follower counts on social media, but fewer truly iconic images.
• Career arcs: Macpherson’s career moved from modeling to acting to business over decades. Many of today’s personalities
  start as content creators first, then back into modeling or brand work. The route is different, but the ideaturn visibility into a
  long-term platformis similar.

Overall, in “greatest supermodel” discussions, she frequently ranks as one of the standout figures of the late 20th century. Meanwhile,
her business and wellness work help keep her relevant in 21st-century conversations around healthy ageing and female entrepreneurship.

My Take: Why Elle Macpherson Still Ranks So Highly

Putting all of this togethereditorial lists, fan rankings, interviews, and business pressElle Macpherson’s enduring reputation rests
on four key pillars:

1. Iconic imagery: The Sports Illustrated covers and 1980s–1990s editorials are still instantly recognizable.
2. Brand consistency: From “The Body” nickname to wellness entrepreneurship, her public story feels coherent.
3. Longevity: She has remained visible across multiple decades, which few models manage at that level.
4. Evolution: Her willingness to talk about ageing, health, and inner life adds depth to her original supermodel persona.

In other words, if you’re making a ranking of supermodels, Elle Macpherson isn’t just a “nice to include” nameshe’s one of the benchmarks
you use to measure everyone else.

Experiences and Observations Around Elle Macpherson Rankings and Opinions

To understand why Elle Macpherson still scores highly in rankings and public opinion, it helps to look at how different groups of people
experience her image and legacy in real life.

How Longtime Fans Experience Her Legacy

For people who were teenagers or young adults in the 1980s and 1990s, Elle Macpherson is more than a name in a listshe’s attached to
specific memories. Someone might remember buying a Sports Illustrated issue with her on the cover and keeping it hidden under their
bed like a prized artifact. Another person might recall seeing her on a billboard and realizing, for the first time, what “supermodel”
actually meant in the pre-Internet age.

When these fans participate in online rankingsvoting on “greatest supermodels” lists or sharing old photosthey aren’t just rating
looks. They’re ranking a whole era of music, fashion, and media that her image represents. That emotional weight tends to nudge Elle
higher in their personal top tens, even if they also appreciate newer models.

Younger Audiences Discovering Her Through Clips and Throwbacks

Gen Z and younger millennials often meet Elle Macpherson in a completely different context: short video clips, reaction content,
and throwback posts. They might see a montage of ’90s Friends guest stars and realize, “Wait, who is that model playing Joey’s
roommate?” Then a quick search leads them to her runway photos and iconic SI covers.

For these viewers, rankings are less about nostalgia and more about curiosity. They compare Macpherson to modern influencers and
ask questions like:

• “Would she have had 50 million followers if Instagram existed in 1989?”
• “How would her career look if she launched her wellness brand first and modeled second?”

Even with that different lens, many end up impressed by how much she accomplished without the amplification tools current models rely on.

Wellness-Focused Audiences Ranking Her as a Role Model

Another group that shapes modern opinions on Elle Macpherson is the wellness community. People who follow WelleCo or read interviews
about her nutrition, movement, and self-care routines often rank her as a lifestyle role model rather than just a fashion icon.

In these spaces, the conversation tends to sound like:

• “I admire how she shifted from modeling to building something that aligns with her personal values.”
• “I appreciate that she talks about ageing and hormones without pretending everything is effortless.”

Those kinds of reactions don’t show up in a traditional “Top 10 Beautiful People” rankingbut they absolutely affect how people
evaluate her overall legacy.

Industry Insiders and Their Quiet Scorecards

Finally, there are the stylists, photographers, editors, and casting directors who worked with supermodels across decades. While their
opinions don’t always show up in public rankings, their quiet scorecards matter. When they’re asked in interviews which models were
the most professional, prepared, or influential, Elle Macpherson’s name regularly comes up alongside a handful of peers.

They tend to praise:

• Her reliability and work ethic on set
• Her understanding of lighting, camera angles, and branding
• Her ability to evolve from model to business collaborator

Even if these assessments never turn into a formal ranking, they quietly reinforce why her reputation stays strong in professional circles.

Putting the Experiences Together

When you blend all these experiencesnostalgic fans, curious younger viewers, wellness followers, and industry insidersyou get a
clearer picture of why Elle Macpherson still ranks so highly in public opinion. She’s not just frozen in time as “The Body” from a
1980s cover. Instead, people interact with her story at different points in their own lives, whether that’s discovering an old SI
cover, binge-watching Friends, or adding a scoop of greens powder to a morning smoothie.

That ongoing interaction keeps reshaping and reinforcing her rankings. The result is a rare kind of cultural staying powerone that
rests not only on how she looked in a swimsuit decades ago, but on how she continues to show up, speak up, and build things in the
present.

Conclusion

Elle Macpherson’s place in rankings and opinions isn’t a fluke or a nostalgia glitch. It’s the product of a long career built on
iconic images, disciplined work, smart brand decisions, and a willingness to talk about the harder parts of lifeageing, health, and
identityalongside the glamorous highlight reel.

Whether you’re putting together a list of “all-time greatest supermodels,” evaluating female entrepreneurs in wellness, or simply
scrolling a throwback photo thread, Macpherson is more than just a name to check off. She’s one of the standards by which an entire
eraand a certain style of career longevityis judged.