The Freedom Five: Where Are George Michael's Iconic 'Freedom! 90' Video Models Now?

The "Freedom! '90" music video, released on October 23, 1990, stands as one of the most revolutionary and culturally significant moments in pop history. More than just a promotional clip, it was an artistic statement by George Michael, who, as of late 2025, remains one of the greatest recording artists of all time, choosing to completely absent himself from his own video.

Instead of appearing, Michael famously enlisted the world's five most in-demand supermodels—the 'Super 5'—to lip-sync his lyrics, effectively turning his personal struggle with fame into a global fashion event. Directed by a then-rising star, David Fincher, this video for the second single from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 not only cemented the supermodels' status as household names but also offered a powerful visual metaphor for George Michael's desire to break free from his carefully constructed pop image. This article delves into the biographies of these iconic figures and reveals the freshest updates on their lives today.

The Iconic Cast: George Michael and The Freedom Five Supermodels

The groundbreaking concept for the video came after George Michael saw the now-legendary 1990 British Vogue cover photographed by Peter Lindbergh, which featured Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz. Their collective star power was the perfect replacement for Michael's own image, which he was actively trying to shed.

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George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou)

• Born: June 25, 1963, East Finchley, London, England
• Died: December 25, 2016, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
• Career Highlights: Co-founder of Wham! (1981), Solo debut album Faith (1987), Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), Winner of two Grammy Awards.
• Legacy: A global icon known for his soulful voice, songwriting prowess, and outspoken LGBTQ+ activism. The "Freedom! '90" video was a pivotal moment in his career, marking his refusal to participate in the image-driven pop machine.

Naomi Campbell

• Born: May 22, 1970, Streatham, London, England
• Career Highlights: One of the six original supermodels, first Black model on the cover of French Vogue (1988), Co-founder of the Fashion For Relief charity.
• Role in Video: Dramatically posing and singing in a bathtub.

Cindy Crawford (Cynthia Ann Crawford)

• Born: February 20, 1966, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
• Career Highlights: Signature mole, face of Revlon, host of MTV's House of Style (1989–1995).
• Role in Video: Striking a sensual pose in a bathtub, famously wet but wearing a leather jacket.

Linda Evangelista

• Born: May 10, 1965, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
• Career Highlights: Known as the "Chameleon" of the fashion industry for constantly changing her hairstyle, famously quoted, "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day."
• Role in Video: Posing with a trench coat and her famously cropped blonde hair.

Christy Turlington (Christy Nicole Turlington Burns)

• Born: January 2, 1969, Walnut Creek, California, USA
• Career Highlights: Face of Maybelline, major advocate for global maternal health through her organization Every Mother Counts.
• Role in Video: Posing elegantly on a chaise lounge and in a white sheet.

Tatjana Patitz (Tatjana Patitz)

• Born: May 25, 1966, Hamburg, Germany
• Died: January 11, 2023, Santa Barbara, California, USA
• Career Highlights: Known for her natural, athletic, and European look, a favorite of photographer Peter Lindbergh.
• Role in Video: Posing in a white shirt and lighting a match.

Behind the Scenes: The Untold Anecdotes of the Iconic Shoot

The making of "Freedom! '90" was as legendary as the final product, primarily due to the unique casting and George Michael's absence. Director David Fincher, who would later become an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, ensured the video was a cinematic masterpiece, but the models themselves brought unexpected drama and detail to the set.

The 'Oil Bath' and the Camera Tricks

One of the video's most memorable scenes features Cindy Crawford, seemingly taking a steamy bath, wearing a black leather jacket. The reality was far less glamorous. The "water" in the tub was actually a mixture of oil and a camera trick to create the illusion of heat and steam. Crawford was soaked down, but the scene was a technical marvel designed to look impossibly sensual without being overtly explicit. This clever use of misdirection perfectly mirrored Michael's own attempt to control his public image.

Naomi Campbell's Power Nap

Supermodel Naomi Campbell, already famous for her relentless work ethic, has revealed that she shot her entire portion of the video on little to no sleep. Her dramatic, sultry performance in the bathtub, lip-syncing the powerful lyrics, was a testament to her professionalism and ability to deliver high-impact glamour under pressure. Her scene is one of the most widely recognized shots from the entire production, encapsulating the video's high-fashion aesthetic.

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The Destruction of Wham! Symbols

The video’s true meaning was Michael's liberation from his pop-star past. To symbolize this, the video features the destruction of iconic props from his earlier career. The famous leather jacket from the "Faith" era ignites, the classic Wurlitzer jukebox from "I Want Your Sex" explodes, and his iconic guitar is seen smashing. By having the supermodels embody the song while his own symbols of fame were destroyed, Michael made an unmistakable artistic statement about the price of celebrity and his desire for creative control.

Beyond the Catwalk: Where The Freedom Models Are Now (2025 Updates)

Decades after the video's release, the careers of the "Freedom Five" continue to evolve, with many of them focusing on activism, entrepreneurship, and their collective legacy. Their story gained renewed attention with the 2023 release of the Apple TV+ docuseries, The Super Models, which brought the four surviving stars back into the cultural conversation.

Naomi Campbell: Motherhood and Global Activism

Naomi Campbell remains a force in the fashion world, walking runways and starring in campaigns well into her 50s. Her most significant recent life update is her journey into motherhood, having welcomed two children, a daughter in 2021 and a son in 2023. She continues her extensive philanthropic work with Fashion For Relief, which has raised millions for various causes.

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Cindy Crawford: Entrepreneur and Legacy

Cindy Crawford has successfully transitioned from supermodel to entrepreneur. She is the founder of Meaningful Beauty, a successful skincare line. Her daughter, Kaia Gerber, has followed in her footsteps, becoming a highly successful model, ensuring the Crawford name remains synonymous with high fashion. Crawford is a key figure in the The Super Models docuseries, offering a reflective look at the '90s era.

Linda Evangelista: Health and Advocacy

Linda Evangelista's recent years have been marked by her brave public discussion of her health. In 2024, she revealed that she has been quietly battling metastatic breast cancer since 2018. Despite this, she has returned to modeling, starring in major campaigns and reaffirming her status as a fashion legend. Her participation in the docuseries was a powerful moment for fans, showcasing her resilience.

Christy Turlington: The Humanitarian

Christy Turlington has dedicated the majority of her post-supermodel career to global health advocacy. She is the founder of Every Mother Counts (EMC), a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Her work as a humanitarian and filmmaker (she directed the documentary No Woman, No Cry) has solidified her legacy far beyond the modeling world, though she still occasionally appears in high-profile fashion campaigns.

Tatjana Patitz: A Lasting Tribute

The world of fashion mourned the loss of Tatjana Patitz in January 2023, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer. Her contribution to the "Freedom! '90" video and the '90s supermodel era is celebrated as a testament to her unique, natural beauty and her role as a muse to photographers like Peter Lindbergh. Her legacy is honored by her peers and fans as one of the most soulful and enigmatic faces of the era.

The Male Models: Where Are They Now?

The video also featured several male models who, while less prominent than the 'Freedom Five,' were crucial to the video's dynamic. Key figures included John Pearson, who has since become a co-founder of the men's lifestyle platform Mr. Feelgood; Mario Sorrenti, who is now one of the world's most famous fashion photographers; and Scott Benoit, who continues to model under his legal name, William Scott Benoit. Their inclusion further cemented the video as a complete showcase of the era's top talent in front of and behind the camera.