Gisele, Adriana, Karolina, Alessandra, Jourdan, Claudia… These are just a few of the gorgeous supermodels who are currently or have very recently sported the season’s hottest, new accessory: A baby bump.

On the catwalk of Jean Paul Gaultier 2010

Pregnant models seem to be on the boom at the moment. Everywhere I look I see pictures and news of more and more models getting pregnant with their first, second or even fourth child. For that reason I wanted to gather some lowdown on some of the fashion world’s leading ladies for you to feast your eyes and minds on.

Gisele Bündchen, THE Brazilian stunner, started modeling at an early age of just 14 while being spotted at a mall shopping with a friend. Never dreamed of being a model, she soon became one of the leading ladies of modeling front, walking down the runway for major designers. She is still considered one of the top earners in the business. The latest news on Gisele is that she has given birth to her first child in December 2009 with husband and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Congrats are in order!

Gisele Bündchen. From left: On the catwalk for Colcci Jeans/ A very pregnant Gisele pictured in October 2009.

Adriana Lima, a beauty from Brazil who, just like Gisele, never thought about becoming a model, and who eventually managed to excel as one of the world’s leading fashion models, is now probably best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret and as one the Victoria’s Secret Angels. She has made quite a name for herself as one of the world sexiest, most desired women.  In 2009, she married Serbian basketball player Marko Jaric, and the couple had their first child, a girl, named Valentina Lima Jaric, in November, 2009.

A heavily pregnant Adriana Lima. Photo by Wenn.com

Alessandra Ambrósio, also one the Victoria’s Secret Angels, who has been called the ”future of the modeling world” by supermodel Tyra Banks, has been one of the leading models of the 21st century. Not only has she been praised for her beauty and great personality, but she is also managed to prove her staying power by continuing modeling after the recent birth of the her first child with California businessman Jamie Mazur. Thereafter Alessandra has appeared on various shows, as well as in a spread with Sasha Baron Cohen in Marie Claire to promote Cohen’s 2009 film Brüno.

One of the Victoria's Secret Angels, Alessandra Ambrosio, pictured while pregnant.

Let’s move onto yet another Angel, Karolina Kurkova. In the words of Mario Testino : “The proportions of her body and her face, as well as her energy level, make her a model who could fit almost into any moment.” Karolina has appeared in almost 20 Vogue covers since beginning her modeling career, and in 2008 she was named the sexiest woman in the world by E! Entertainment Television. With just 25 years behind her, she has conquered the modeling world by storm and still continues to be one of the most sought after models. Last year, she and fiancé, Archie Drury, announced that they are expecting their first child, and come October, a baby boy, Tobin Jack Drury, was born.

Karolina Kurkova at the Elle Style Awards 2009

Heidi Klum, probably one of the world’s most well known and photographed fashion models of the last decade, has been in the business longer than some of the featured models put together. No stranger to the public eye, Ms Klum, or Ms Samuel as she is currently known as, has graced the covers of several leading fashion magazines, such as Elle, Vogue and Marie Claire. She has been one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels since 1999, longest running time out of all the Angels, and she even hosted the 2009 Victoria’s Secret show.  While showing plenty of success as a top fashion model and with shows of her own, like Project Runway, she is a full-time mother of… 4. Yes! Believe it or not, this gorgeous model has given birth now four times! At the end of last year, Heidi gave birth to her and husband Seal’s fourth child, a baby girl. That’s some girl-power.

Heidi Klum pictured in 2009, carrying her fourth child-to-be. Photo courtesy of Maxim.com

Plenty of other models have recently given birth, like model Jourdan Dunn, and other topmodels are currently sporting a new babybump, a not so tiny addition to their frame but an ultimate must-have of the season. In the words of Karolina Kurkova: ”It’s probably the new thing to be pregnant. it’s not to have the Chanel python bag. It’s to be pregnant.” Other expecting models include Claudia Schiffer, who recently announced her pregnancy, as well as supermodel Camila Alves who will give birth this year.

From left: Jourdan Dunn for Jean Paul Gaultier Spring-10/ A very pregnant Camila Alves/ Supermodel Claudia Schiffer who has recently announced her third pregnancy is looking as radient as ever.

While going deeper into to topic of pregnant models, I found two peculiar things: One of them was the fact, while taking note of the models who gave birth at the end of 2009, I realised that pretty much all of them were Victoria’s Secret Angels. Quite interesting, isn’t it? Has anyone checked the water vending machine backstage to see if it’s some sort of fountain of fertility? A funny little detail, I thought! The second thing I came across were modeling agencies for pregnant women. This I found quite interesting, and I wanted to know more. I always thought that surely some pregnant women are signed with modeling agencies, but I actually never thought that some agencies would exist solely for mothers-to-be.

Pregnant model working the catwalk for Albanian designer Merita Tocila during a fashion show in Durres, Albani. Photo courtesy of EPA.

Several modeling agencies for women who want to model while pregnant are surprisingly readily found online. One of the leading modeling agencies I came across for pregnant models was Model Scouts.com, which is said to be the modeling industry’s Number 1 pregnancy model scouting service and the only modeling service for pregnant models that can guarantee that all testshots would be viewed by a professional.  Their professionalism helps aspiring as well as established pregnant models with their careers as topmodels.  Other agencies for pregnant models is UK based Beautiful Bumps Agency, and Expecting Models which only sign with aspiring models who are pregnant.  As promoted by these modeling agencies, modeling while pregnant is seen as a good way to do something you love, improve finances, or just maybe earn a bit extra for the coming of the new bundle of joy.

MotherClub 08- collection in One Utama Fashion Week

So who said that you should go on maternity leavewhen you are pregnant, when you can actually have plenty of opportunities to utilise the fact that you’re expecting a child? From what I found out, there seems to be quite a big market for pregnant models who are often used for marketing ads in print, billboards and for television.

Pregnant model showcasing maternity clothes in the Egg Baby Blues Fashion Show.

In addition, pregnant models can also be seen on catwalks showcasing the latest maternity wear. As I spotted one fashion designer quoting, and others pointing out, ”people should  understand that  a woman’s sense of style doesn’t change just because her body does ”, and to illustrate that, there is a need for pregnant women.  So basically, as long as there is demand for maternity clothes, there is a need for pregnant models. That’s quite a comforting thought for models who love their work and who don’t want to stop modeling for the duration of their pregnancy.

Are you working as a model and thinking of having children? Or a pregnant woman who wants to get into modeling? Why don’t you tell us about it!