In Part 1 of our 5-part series on the life and career of the world's most famous supermodel, we travel back to the beginning. This is the story of how a chance encounter changed the fashion industry forever.

In the next installment, we will look at other superstars who got their start in the pages of Dolly , including Victoria's Secret model and actress Pia Miller .

Dolly initially refused Lucia’s business card, convinced it was a pyramid scheme. It took three follow-up letters and a promise of a free train ticket to Manhattan before Dolly agreed to a test shoot. That test roll—featuring Dolly eating a pickle in a dirty apron—remains the most pirated contact sheet in agency history.

Will Dolly ever walk again? Can a supermodel survive the advent of heroin chic without losing her soul?

No conversation about the "top" of the Dolly Supermodel list begins without Laura Csortan. When Laura won in 1997, she redefined the prize. She didn't just win a contract; she conquered the entertainment world. She went from the Dolly cover to hosting Great Outdoors to becoming a global pageant queen (Miss Universe Australia). Laura proved that the Dolly Supermodel "top" spot was a springboard to a multi-hyphenate career.