The long-held stereotype that the world's top supermodels survive on lettuce leaves and water to maintain their iconic figures is being thoroughly debunked. A look into the daily eating habits of catwalk legends reveals a spectrum far wider than extreme restriction, featuring everything from three-ice-cream-shop binges to plates of raw vegetables.
From Runway to Royal Copenhagen: Tyra Banks' Sweet Tooth
Tyra Banks, the runway icon and former Victoria's Secret Angel, has proudly declared herself a committed foodie. Now residing in Australia, the 51-year-old recently revealed a signature Saturday ritual in Sydney that involves a ferry trip to Manly and a dedicated ice cream tour. "We go full-on ice cream mode. We don't stop at one - we hit Messina, Anita, and Royal Copenhagen. Yep. Three. In a row," she told the Daily Telegraph. She summarised her philosophy simply: "Call it excessive - we call it Saturday."
Her love for frozen treats is so profound that she has opened her own ice cream parlour, SMiZE & DREAM, in Sydney's Darling Harbour. This indulgence comes alongside a candid acknowledgment of how her body has changed. Reflecting on her return to the Victoria's Secret catwalk last year, Banks noted she was about 40-50 pounds (18-22 kg) heavier than during her initial tenure. "My boobies were like 10 times bigger... So I was like, 'Don't fall out, don't fall out,'" she joked on The Drew Barrymore Show.
The 'Breakfast of Champions' & Low-Calorie Starts
While Tyra embraces indulgence, other supermodels showcase more ascetic morning routines. Heidi Klum, 52, recently unveiled what she calls her 'breakfast of champions'. The German-born model shared a video of a meal served on a blue-and-white plate, consisting mostly of vegetables. The roughly 150-calorie plate featured avocado, tomato, raw onions, a boiled egg, lettuce, and celery, accompanied by a half-slice of German pumpernickel bread with a thin layer of butter.
Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner, 30, previously revealed a strikingly low-calorie breakfast on Instagram. A nutritionist analysed the plate, estimating it at around 200 calories, comprising fresh berries, matcha green tea powder, a few nuts, a splash of Greek yogurt, and a Golden Milk Latte. The expert highlighted the meal's content of healthy fats, fibre, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Extreme Regimes & Balanced Preparations
At the more stringent end of the spectrum sits Naomi Campbell. In a 2019 interview, the legendary model disclosed she sometimes goes days without eating, consuming only water or juice. "It can be more than one day," she stated on Lorraine, clarifying, "I don’t starve myself." When she does eat, she typically has just one meal a day, usually lunch, which serves as her dinner. Sundays are reserved as a treat day for making desserts.
Former Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio represents a balanced, fitness-focused approach. Before her return to the VS runway last year, she shared her preparation routine. Her light breakfast often includes eggs and avocado, with bacon on rare occasions. Her rigorous gym sessions combine cardio, ab work, and weight training, followed by a low-sugar protein smoothie. Dinners are built around lean proteins and vegetables, such as salmon and asparagus.
The collective revelations from these fashion icons paint a complex picture. It dismantles the monolithic myth of model starvation, showing instead a diverse array of approaches—from calculated nutrition and disciplined fitness to joyful indulgence and occasional extreme fasting. The common thread is not a universal diet but a highly personalised, and often fiercely controlled, relationship with food that supports their demanding professional lives.
