Top 10 Most Popular Israel Top Models

Gottex bathing suits modeled at the Sheraton Hotel in Tel Aviv. Photo by Israeli GPO photographer – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Most Popular Israel Top Models

Israeli supermodels Bar Refaeli and Esti Ginzburg are well known to anyone who’s seen the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition or Victoria’s Secret ads. Former Miss Israel Gal Gadot has risen from supermodel to superstar as she is poised to play Wonder Woman in Batman versus Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Though these women and others listed in ISRAEL21c’s 2011 look at Israeli top models are still at the height of their careers, we decided the time has come to introduce readers to the latest crop of Israeli models storming the world’s catwalks.

We compiled this list of 10 standouts with the help of Maya Kramer, formerly a model booker for DNA Models in New York and currently co-founder and chief stylist in Israel.

1. Israela Avtau won an Elite Top Models contract when she was just 16 years of age

Original WonderBra Model. This photograph was taken on Dec. 20, 2006, of a model wearing a rare 1950s Wonder Bra. This brassiere was manufactured by D’Amour in the US. This Bra is part of the Wonderbra history and is based on Israel Pilot’s 1941 Paten. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

The Ethiopian-Israeli Avtau is 5’9 tall and was born in 1988. He was raised in Eilat and planned to become a flight attendant.

She won an Elite Top Models contract at age 16 and four years later sought her fortune in New York, where she now resides except for frequent visits to Israel.

Avtau was the face of multimillion-dollar campaigns for Avon cosmetics in the US and Vichy cosmetics in Paris. She is said to be the highest-earning Israeli-born model after Bar Refaeli.

2. Noam Frost was introduced to the industry by her father, a reality TV show director

Jerusalem. Models model Pierre Cardin’s fashion in the Billy Rose Sculpture garden. Photo by Boris Carmi – Wikimedia Commons

Noam Frost is 5’11 tall and born in 1993. She has been featured on the covers of magazines from ELLE Mexico to SCMP Style in China and has walked the runways of designers such as Christopher Kane, Calvin Klein, Victoria Beckham, Mulberry, and Veronique Branquinho.

 Over the past four years, Frost has become a hot international model represented by agencies in Paris, Barcelona, Milan, New York, Copenhagen, and London. She was introduced to the industry by her father, a reality TV show director.

3. Shani Zigron is just beginning her military service.

 Two models, Epi and Gertie, in the Amsterdam Fashion House Hirsch.jpg
Ippy (1895-1964) and Gertie (1895-1975) Wehmann posing at fashion house Hirsch, Amsterdam. Photo by Isaac Israëls – Wikimedia Commons

Making her debut on runways and in advertising shoots from Paris and New York to London and Alexandria (Australia), this 18-year-old Ra’anana resident is just beginning her military service.

She is 5’10 tall and was born in 1996. She is however fast on her way to becoming Israel’s next supermodel thanks to her tanned exotic looks and curvaceous body.

4. Tahounia Rubel was the winner of the fifth season of Israel’s version of Big Brother

A model wears a silver necklace made by an immigrant from Yemen. Photo by Moshe Pridan – Wikimedia Commons

Born in Ethiopia in 1988 and is 5’9 tall. Rubel won an Israeli modeling pageant in 2012 and represented Israel at the World Supermodel Pageant in Fiji.

That same year, she lived in London for eight months and appeared in ad campaigns for Sleek Makeup, MAC Cosmetics, and Diesel.

Last year, she was the winner of the fifth season of Israel’s version of Big Brother. She has been referred to as a “young Iman.”

5. Bar Paly began modeling at 17

Fashion Week Moscow 2018. Photo by Bargreenzaid – Wikimedia Commons

Bar Paly, 5’7, was born in 1985. She is a cover girl for magazines including Maxim, Rolling Stone, and GQ in three countries, Paly was born in the Ural Mountains and raised in Tel Aviv. She began modeling at 17 and also is an established TV and movie actress now residing in Los Angeles.

She most recently acted alongside Jon Hamm in The Million Dollar Arm and opposite Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore in Non-Stop. Last year, Paly was the face of Oliver Peoples Eyewear’s 25th-anniversary campaign with Ray Liotta.

6. Michael Lewis has been an actor since he was 15 years of age

Israeli model Nataly Dadon hosting a fashion show. Photo by Yoavetiel – Wikimedia Commons

Tel Aviv-born  Michael Lewis 1987  is also an actor, started modeling at age 15. He has modeled alongside Israeli supermodel Esti Ginzburg for the Israeli clothing company Fox and did fashion shoots for Castro and Lee Cooper.

He’s been on the cover of several Israeli magazines and appeared on Israeli reality shows Dancing with the Stars and Survivor. In 2010, Lewis was named one of the sexiest men in the world by “E!” Channel and currently lives and works in New York.

7.  Liraz Dror was on the cover of Italy’s Maxim magazine in 2007

Flickr – Government Press Office (GPO) – Fashion Show at the Hilton.
A model at a fashion show at Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel, part of the Israel Fashion Week. Photo by  Yaakov Saar – Wikimedia Commons

Liraz Dror is 5’9 tall and was born in 1991. He represented in Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Milan, London, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Dror has been featured in print ads for Beba, Carolina Herrera eyewear, Fight Sin, Moschino, TAG and Trussardi Jeans.

She was on the cover of Italy’s Maxim magazine in 2007 and on the cover of the French Cosmopolitan magazine last March.

8. Idan Roll a former intelligence officer in the IDF, and a spokesman for Israel and social causes

Pnina Rosenblum models a white synthetic battle dress by Tadmor during the Israel Fashion Week at Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel. Photo by Moshe Milner – Wikimedia Commons

Idan Roll is 6’1.5 and was born in 1985. He represented in Israel, London and Paris, Roll has done campaigns in several countries for brands including Esprit, Lee Cooper, aussieBum, American Apparel, Strellson, Sela, Celio, and S-Wear.

 Oh, and he’s also a practicing lawyer, a former intelligence officer in the IDF, and a spokesman for Israel and social causes.

9. Alisa Basyuk has modeled in many countries including the Dominican Republic and Canada

The mannequins Ippy and Gertie at Hirsch, Amsterdam. Photo by Isaac Israëls – Wikimedia Commons

Alisa Basyuk was born in 1988 and is 5’10 tall. Basyuk is the fresh face of Shakaroff Jewelers, Castro clothing chain, Galit Levi and Saha swimwear, Point Zero and PeaceLoveWorld, among other fashion brands.

She’s been on the cover of Femina and Burda Style magazines and has modeled in countries including the Dominican Republic and Canada.

 She is represented in New York, Germany, Milan, Netherlands, Sweden, and Miami.

10. Neta Mark admits that kids used to make fun of her disproportionate body and thick lips

Karen Donsky and Miri Oren D541-106 (cropped).jpg
Models Karin Dunsky (r) & Miri Oren in Spanish style dresses, during the Israel fashion week, held at the Hilton hotel in Tel Aviv. Photo by Yaakov Saar – Wikimedia Commons

Neta Mark who is 5’9 was born in 1997 and at just 17 years old, Mark is making her mark in international modeling circles and is represented in Tel Aviv and Paris. She told an Israeli interviewer earlier this year that kids used to make fun of her disproportionate body and thick lips, but agencies love her unusual look.