The true date and year of American Janice Doreen Dickinson's birth are still highly contested. Most records, however, put it on February 15, 1955. Today, at 53 years old or thereabouts, Dickinson claims that she is the first supermodel as it was she herself who coined the term. There are those, however, who dispute such contention, citing several names who reached apparent supermodel status even before Dickinson was born.
What's undisputable, though, is her mark in today's fashion industry. Commonly described as harsh and bitchy, she was judge in the CW reality show
America's Next Top Model alongside younger supermodel
Tyra Banks . After which, she opened her own modeling agency, named after herself, and likewise made it into yet another reality show,
Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, on the Oxygen network.
In 2005, Dickinson was cast in VH1 reality show
The Surreal Life season 5. The show features celebrities who are said to be past their primes and puts them in a Hollywood Hills mansion for two weeks. In this season's circus/carnival theme, Dickinson was introduced, indeed as “the World's First Supermodel.” Her wild side, however, was put to the test in an episode where the cast was made to put on a burlesque show in a Hollywood night club. Dickinson refused to do it and threatened to leave the show. Very memorable, too, was Dickinson's tiff with The Apprentice alumna
Omarosa Manigault when a photo shoot had the former pointing a knife at the latter. This time, Omarosa reached the point of packing her bags, ready to leave while Dickinson defended her actions, saying it was all a joke. Later on, however, the icy Dickinson broke down on the phone, recounting painful childhood experiences.
The long-standing row lasted well into the last episode, with Dickinson pointedly leaving the house during the final dinner.
(Photo courtesy of VH1)