Smoking models are nothing new. As a matter of fact, trying to find a supermodel or regular model that does not smoke is like looking for a male model among the famously infamous Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated. It is hard to understand why there are fashion models smoking. After all, their skin will age well before its time, the nails – no matter how well manicured – will carry the tell tale signs of nicotine staining, and the hair will never be as lustrous as it was before having been subjected to the ravages of nicotine. Yet in spite of all this, searches that include the pameters “Victoria’s Secret models + smoking cigarettes” are highly rated. The odds are good that it is not the ladies who are looking up these models smoking but quite possible a larger segment of the male population that finds them sexy.

Glamorous smoking models know how to sport their smokes in between the photo shoots in such a manner that it is not reminiscent of the huddled masses around the outsides of bars and office buildings, but instead the smoking models make a minor production of their habits, just as they do of the socks and shoes they may wear outside the catwalk. It is an open secret in the industry that women models smoking is their mode of coping with stress, impossible hours, and the temptation to reach for a piece of candy or an order of fries. Gradually the smoking models inch their way up and before long they are smoking upward of four packs of cigarettes a day. This will quickly affect their voices, which for some is a welcomed effect.

Sadly, smoking models model smoking to those who are most susceptible to the influence: teens. Smoking teen models often state that their idols before them have smoked, and thus they understood that cigarettes were a way that the successful models coped with the difficulties of the job. While it may be surprising to see how many models smoke, it is not surprising that some smoking models are recruited specifically for tobacco ads. Take for example the female cigar smoking models that are displayed on the covers of Cigar Aficionado or the smoking model that is part and parcel of the Newport ads. While a cigar smoking model is used to showcase sophistication, a cigarette model might be looked to for a healthy countenance and a fun attitude.