What makes a Supermodel and where did the term come from? There are many opinions as to who started it but Kim definately fits the profile. A supermodel has to be at the top of her field in all of the aspects of the business; from covers, editorial, commercial work including the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, to runway and television. Kim has done them all and done them well.
How She Got Started
Kim Alexis was born and reared in upstate New York. Always competitive, Kim was deeply involved in junior high and high school athletics, and is a marathoner. She originally had planned a career in pharmacology.
At the age of 18, she was "discovered" by the Elite Talent Agency. She soon moved to New York City and thus began an unbelievable career in the modeling industry.
Alexis was one of the top models of the 1980's, identified along with Gia Carangi, Carol Alt, Christie Brinkley, Kelly Emberg, Iman, and Paulina Porizkova. In 1983 she became the face of Revlon's premium Ultima II line, replacing Lauren Hutton. She was featured in countless TV and print ads, and graced the cover of over 500 magazines, not to mention six appearances in the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. In fact, it's as though the term "supermodel" was coined to describe her.
Recent Work
More than just a model, Kim parlayed her good looks and bright mind into other opportunities, including broadcast journalism, where she hosted several television shows on the Family Channel and Lifetime, as well as film and TV acting. She appeared in the 1998 movie Holy Man with Eddie Murphy. In 2005, she appeared on VH1's reality competition "But Can They Sing?"
As her career has progressed, she's never lost her love of fitness. In recent years, she's focused on health and wellness issues for women, specifically by developing several fitness aids.