Models who changed their names

By Megan Riedlinger 1:40pm PDT, Mar 21, 2017

Would you be surprised to know that you don't actually know the real names of your favorite supermodels? Some of the biggest stars in the fashion industry have changed up their monikers and gone on to become household names, like our first example: Gigi Hadid. Gigi's name isn't really Gigi! The biggest model of the moment was actually born Jelena Noura Hadid. Gigi was a nickname her mother gave her as a child that just happened to stick! Keep reading to uncover more of your favorite models' real names…

Russia-born Irina Shayk made it big in the United States in 2007 when she landed the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The stunning supermodel has continued to make a name for herself ever since, despite the fact that she doesn't use her real name! Her professional moniker is actually a shortened version of her given one: Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova.

Cindy Crawford is one of the biggest names in fashion. But would things be different if she went by her given name, Cynthia Ann Crawford? Probably not, but it's strange to think of the icon as anything but Cindy.

Supermodel Iman is known by only one name, but she was born with a much longer moniker — Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid. The Somali star and widow of rocker David Bowie worked as a high fashion model for 14 years.

The name Elle Macpherson is synonymous with style, but it's not her real name! The Australian supermodel was born Eleanor Nancy Gow. (Macpherson is her stepfather's surname.) She also earned herself the nickname "The Body" in the '80s after landing multiple Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers.

Does Christie Lee Hudson sound like a supermodel's name to you? What about Christie Brinkley? Christie's celebrity profile rose in the late '70s when she covered three Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. She returned to the pages of the iconic magazine in 2017 at age 63. A true fashion icon!

Izabel Goulart has been quietly dominating the fashion world since 2001 — after ditching her first and last name, as she was born Maria Izabel Goulart Dourado. The Brazilian stunner has modeled for major fashion houses like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Stella McCartney, but it's her Victoria's Secret work that is perhaps most impressive. She's walked in the brand's fashion show every year since 2005!

Coco Rocha sounds like a name perfect for the fashion world. It's almost as if it's too good to be true… and it is. The Canadian model was born Mikhaila Rocha.

This one might be obvious: Twiggy's name isn't really Twiggy. The iconic British model was actually born Lesley Hornby! But she comes by that name honestly, as Twigs was actually her childhood nickname.

Erin Heatherton made a name for herself as a Victoria's Secret Angel in the late '00s. But her real moniker is different — it's Erin Heather Bubley.

Joan Smalls' name isn't really that small. The Puerto Rican beauty, who has modeled for the likes of Givenchy, Chanel, Prada and Gucci, ditched her last name early in her career. Smalls is actually her middle name — her last name is Rodriguez.

We knew this name was a little too unique! Suki Waterhouse, the British model-turned-actress, is actually named Alice Suki Waterhouse. She just chose to go by her middle name professionally.

British model Agyness Deyn didn't always have such an unusual name. In fact, the blonde, who once landed the cover of American Vogue alongside legends like Doutzen Kroes and Lily Donaldson, was born Laura Hollins.

Russian model Natasha Poly is a big name in the fashion world, but she was born with an even bigger one — literally. Natasha, who started modeling at age 15 back in 2000, was born Natalya Sergeyevna Polevshchikova.

Chanel Iman has been modeling for more than half her life. She got her start at 12 when she signed with Ford Models and opted to ditch her last name. That's right — Iman is her middle name. Chanel was born Chanel Iman Robinson.