NETHERLANDS PRIDE

– Our top models in model land –

On Friday afternoon (music on, glass of ginger tea, yes that's nice, on the desk and some chocolate within reach) I sometimes like to surf to the site models.com. Intern Janine watches and comments along because she eats, drinks, and breathes models. She knows the Top 50 ranking by heart just like I used to recite the Top 40.

Dutch models at the top

A visit to our equivalent of the Top 40 is a celebration. Not only because you see the most beautiful covers and the most beautiful girls but also because your Dutch heart swells with pride. Saskia de Brauw is in second place. Special in any case, but especially when you consider that Saskia doesn't want to turn her whole life upside down for her career. Saskia lives in Paris and not in New York and only takes on jobs that feel right. She has even been on a week-long silent retreat during fashion week. During. Fashion week. I mean.

Better than Georgia-May Jagger

Being in second place is a world-class achievement. Daphne Groeneveld is in 24th place, ahead of Georgia-May Jagger. I mean. Bette Franke (if I could choose a face to stick on mine, it would be Bette's) shines in 26th place, Mirte Maas has the 44th ranking and Laura Kampman from Micha Models is in 45th place. That's just incredible, right?

Where is Doutzen?

I feel your question. Where is Doutzen? I wondered that too. Models.com uses different rankings. For a spot in the top 50, they count your shoots for top photographers (Steven Meisel, Inez & Vinoodh, also Dutch by the way, and so on) along with your bookings for the most important fashion titles (Vogue, i-D magazine, W) and for the most important fashion brands (Think Prada, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein).

Making an impression

To separate the wheat from the chaff in modeling, models.com looks at how you have impressed casting directors, photographers, designers, and stylists, what great covers you have to your name, and what fantastic campaigns you have done. If you have gone through that whole package well, you stand a chance for this spot.

There is Doutzen

There is also a money list. There you see the girls who earn the most. Our Doutzen (with campaigns for l’Oréal, Tiffany & Co, Repeat Cashmere, Calvin Klein, and a thousand more things) ranks fourth. Does Doutzen mind that she is not in the regular top 50? Imagine you were Doutzen Kroes (just imagine, just imagine), would it really matter to you at all?