Linda Evangelista was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, and became one of the original “Big Five” supermodels.
The Big Five label generally refers to Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Claudia Schiffer. These models dominated major runway shows, magazine covers, and advertising campaigns during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Evangelista was especially known for transforming her appearance through frequent hair-color and hairstyle changes. Her versatility made her a favorite of designers and photographers and helped establish the idea that a fashion model could have a recognizable celebrity identity.
The nickname is sometimes confused with the “Original Supermodels” or with later lists of influential models. The commonly cited Big Five group contains five specific women, including Evangelista.