Female Models Who Are Also Entrepreneurs: Building Brands Beyond Beauty

Ever looked at a model on a magazine cover and wondered what else she does besides posing for the camera? These days, the answer can surprise you. More and more models are launching startups, running fashion lines, rolling out wellness brands, and sitting at the head of their own companies. For them, modeling is just the launchpad.

Why does this matter? Because it totally flips the old-school idea that models are just pretty faces. Now, you see people like Karlie Kloss running coding camps for girls, or Miranda Kerr with her own organic skincare line. These women are proof that you don’t have to stick to one box—you can be the brand, not just the face of it.

If you’re interested in fashion, business, or just how to get creative and take control of your career, there's a lot to learn here. You'll pick up ideas on building a brand from scratch, using your existing network, and figuring out the business basics (even if you’ve never taken a single MBA class). Want to start your own thing? Watching how top models-turned-entrepreneurs work could save you a ton of rookie mistakes.

• Key Takeaways: Models Who Are Building More Than Just a Career
• The Shift: Why Models Are Turning to Business
• Success Stories: Models Running the Show
• How They Do It: Building Your Own Brand
• Tips for Wannabe Model-Entrepreneurs

Key Takeaways: Models Who Are Building More Than Just a Career

Models aren’t sticking with just photo shoots and runways anymore. A rising group of female models have become serious model entrepreneurs, proving they're much more than just faces for brands—they're building their own from scratch. Gisele Bündchen turned her passion for wellness into best-selling books and a green lifestyle brand. Tyra Banks wrote a book, created 'America’s Next Top Model,' and even teaches a course at Stanford on branding yourself. Karlie Kloss didn’t just rest on her fashion fame—she launched 'Kode With Klossy,' a camp that teaches girls to code.

Want some numbers? Around 35% of top-earning female models in the last five years have started at least one business outside of modeling. They’re branching into things like beauty lines, clothing brands, healthy food products, and even tech startups.

These models in business are using their networks and social followings as launchpads. They know branding inside-out because they've seen it from both sides—so they use that experience for their own companies. If you've ever thought about launching a business in fashion or beauty, seeing how these women juggle modeling gigs and business Zoom calls can be super motivating.

The real kicker? Most of these brand-building models got started by spotting gaps in the market. They were tired of products that didn’t serve real needs, so they made what they wanted to see. That’s a lesson for anyone thinking about business: your unique perspective is a legit asset.

The Shift: Why Models Are Turning to Business

Here’s something you might not know: the average modeling career is pretty short—many models hit their peak in their twenties and need a back-up plan well before most people even settle into their first job. That’s a big reason why you’re seeing so many female models flipping the script and moving into entrepreneurship. Want another reason? Models are basically brands in themselves. They've learned how to market, network, and hustle from years on set, so building something of their own feels like the next logical step.

Technology has made it even easier for model entrepreneurs to start their own thing. With Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, models already have a built-in audience. Just look at Gisele Bündchen—she’s got millions of followers and leverages that platform not just for modeling gigs, but to push her eco-friendly sandal brand, Ipanema, into the spotlight.

And the money? Well, runway gigs might get you glam and good stories, but real wealth often comes from owning something—not just promoting it. Take Rihanna (who started as a model for brands like Puma before dominating the business world with Fenty Beauty). Forbes estimated Fenty Beauty raked in $550 million in just one year. That’s way more than a year’s worth of covers.

But it’s not just big names. Lots of models in business start small—maybe a simple jewelry line or a fitness program. The skills they pick up on the job (like public speaking, branding, social media, and networking) transfer straight into running a company.

• Short career span: The modeling world moves fast. Business offers a way to stay relevant long after the catwalk.
• Control: Models get to be the boss, not just the face of someone else’s idea.
• Income security: Brand ownership can bring long-term earnings, without depending on fickle casting calls.
• Personal mission: Many models want to sell something they believe in, whether it’s clean beauty, healthy snacks, or sustainable clothes.

Bottom line? The smartest models see business as freedom—from short careers, from stereotypes, and from depending on someone else to get paid. That’s the real power move in today’s fashion world.

Success Stories: Models Running the Show

So, who are the female models who have shaken things up by becoming real-deal entrepreneurs? Let’s look at a few women who turned their time on the runway into business gold—and kept their names buzzing way beyond the catwalk.

Karlie Kloss isn’t just known for her long stride; her tech startup, Kode With Klossy, has helped thousands of young women learn to code, shaking up the stereotype that models don't do STEM. Since 2015, her coding camps have impacted over 12,000 girls across the U.S.—that’s a lot more than a typical catwalk audience.

Then you’ve got Miranda Kerr, who founded KORA Organics. This brand has become one of the top-selling organic skincare lines worldwide. She used her background as a model entrepreneur to design, test, and promote every single product herself. KORA Organics products are now sold in over 30 countries. Kerr’s approach is pretty simple: she stands behind her brand and knows exactly what goes onto your skin.

Tyra Banks didn’t just strut on runways—she built America’s Next Top Model into a massive TV and pop-culture empire. Tyra went on to launch her own cosmetics line, Tyra Beauty, showing how building brands can make you a boss, not just a face in someone else’s campaign.

Another inspiring story? Jessica Hart, who founded LUMA Beauty, focusing on minimalist skincare. Hart used her career connections in fashion to get the right influencers on board, pushing her brand into top stores like Mecca. She’s a great example of a model who knows that success in business means treating it like any other major project—tons of research, planning, and plain old hard work.

Here’s a quick snapshot comparing their brands and impact:

Seeing how these models in business carve out their own lanes is inspiring. They use what they learned on the job—like networking, presentation, and sticking to a schedule—and pour that into their brands. And they’re not just cashing in on their faces. They’re building their own empires.

How They Do It: Building Your Own Brand

So how do these female models actually pivot into entrepreneurship and build brands that last? It’s not all red carpets and Instagram posts. Most of the well-known model entrepreneurs roll up their sleeves, use lessons from their modeling careers, and tap into what makes them unique. Here’s the playbook many of them follow—and yes, you can steal these moves for yourself.

1. Start with Your Story
Every great brand starts with a personal story. Think of Karlie Kloss. She turned her interest in coding into “Kode With Klossy,” hosting free camps for teen girls. Her own curiosity became her brand’s mission. Miranda Kerr did something similar with KORA Organics, built on her passion for clean, healthy skin. So ask yourself: what do you care about that you can share with the world?

2. Use What You Know (and Who You Know)
Models build strong networks just by doing their regular jobs. They work with photographers, designers, and marketers. When moving into business, they use those connections for advice, collaborations, or even early customers. If you’re thinking of jumping in, make a contact list from people you’ve met in your field—you never know who might be helpful.

• Karlie Kloss included her tech friends and brand partners to grow her camps and gain sponsors like Apple.
• Jourdan Dunn leaned on her chef friends and followers when launching her cooking show and YouTube content.

3. Stand Out—Don’t Just Sell Stuff
It’s easy to slap your face on a beauty product, but the models who succeed in building brands give their business a purpose. Tyra Banks is a pro at this: she started America’s Next Top Model, then built a cosmetics company and a business school for personal branding. Each thing she created had a clear value for her audience.

4. Get Hands-On With the Details
Many people think models just sit back while managers do the work. That’s not true for top models in business. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley famously reviews every product and marketing push for Rose Inc., her beauty brand. She’s in product meetings, checks packaging, and even answers customer feedback herself.

5. Know the Numbers
A big reason businesses fail? Not watching the money. Smart model-entrepreneurs learn basic finances—even if they hate math. They track sales, set budgets, and dig into which things bring in the most cash. Miranda Kerr admitted in several interviews that she studies numbers each month and tweaks her marketing plans based on what’s actually selling.

Here’s some quick advice if you’re staring at your own business idea but not sure where to start:

1. Figure out what you genuinely care about—it makes everything else easier.
2. Write down the network you have and think about how they can help.
3. Make your product or service stand out—what’s different?
4. Stay close to every detail (don’t be afraid to get involved).
5. Keep an eye on the money. Even a simple spreadsheet is better than blind hope.

Being a successful model entrepreneur isn’t about luck or just having a famous face. It’s about using your voice, your story, and a lot of work behind the scenes. If they can do it, so can you.

Tips for Wannabe Model-Entrepreneurs

So, you want to join the ranks of female models who’ve turned entrepreneur? Here’s the no-nonsense playbook that’ll help you get started—and actually build something lasting. No fluff, just what works from people who've done it.

• Leverage your network. Modeling usually means you know a ton of people in fashion, beauty, events, and the media. Don’t be shy—reach out for advice, partnerships, and those all-important intros. Tyra Banks famously credits her network as key when she launched America’s Next Top Model and later her beauty brand, TYRA Beauty.
• Pick a niche that fits you. Miranda Kerr made her brand, KORA Organics, about organic skincare because wellness mattered to her personally. Don’t just chase trends. If your business lines up with who you really are, you’ll have a way easier time staying motivated when things get tough.
• Start learning the business basics. You don’t need to be a finance wiz, but you do need to know what cash flow is, what to budget for, and how to read a contract. Loads of model entrepreneurs (like Karlie Kloss) credit business classes and mentors for helping them avoid early mistakes.
• Use social media to your advantage. Your audience isn’t just for sharing pretty photos—use it to test products, get feedback, or even crowdfund. Emily Ratajkowski launched her swim brand using only Instagram, talking directly to her fans. It saved her a ton on marketing and built instant hype.
• Protect your name and work legally. Trademark your brand name and get contracts in writing. Chrissy Teigen trademarked her name for cookware and food products way before she launched her line. It paid off when imitators tried to cash in.

Not sure where to begin? Check out this table showing what areas top model entrepreneurs chose for their first startups:

And here's a final quick-hit list to keep in mind as you grow:

• Listen to feedback—fans and buyers can help you fine-tune your idea.
• Stay authentic—don’t fake expertise in products you wouldn’t use yourself.
• Manage time—balancing modeling gigs and a startup is tough. Prioritize what matters most each week.
• Don’t go it alone—find mentors or co-founders if you’re stuck.

Tons of models in business didn’t follow a straight path, but they all kept learning, stayed true to themselves, and put in real work behind the scenes. It can be done—you just need to start.