Kate Moss | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Moss in 2019 | |
| Born | (1974-01-16)16 January 1974 (age 52) |
| Occupations | Model, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Lila Moss |
| Relatives | Lottie Moss (half-sister) |
| Modelling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1] |
| Hair colour | Blonde (dyed) |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Agency |
|
| Website | katemoss |
Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is an English model.[6] Arriving towards the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of theheroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations withCalvin Klein brought her to fashion icon status. She is known for herwaifish figure, and role insize zero fashion. Moss has had her own clothing range, has been involved in musical projects, and is also a contributing fashion editor forBritishVogue. In 2012, she came second on theForbes top-earning models list, with estimated earnings of $9.2 million in one year.[7] The accolades she has received for modelling include the 2013British Fashion Awards acknowledging her contribution to fashion over 25 years, whileTime named her one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2007.[8]
A subject of media scrutiny due to her partying lifestyle, Moss was involved in a drug use scandal in September 2005, which led to her being dropped from fashion campaigns.[9] She was cleared of charges and soon resumed modelling. She has inspired cultural depictions including a £1.5m ($2.8m) 18 carat gold statue of her, byMarc Quinn, sculpted in 2008 for aBritish Museum exhibition.[10]
Kate Moss was born on 16 January 1974[11] inCroydon,Greater London,[12] the daughter of Linda Rosina Moss (née Shepherd), a barmaid, and Peter Edward Moss, an airline employee, and raised in theAddiscombe andSanderstead areas of the borough.[13] She has a younger brother, Nick, and a half-sister namedLottie (Charlotte).[14][15] Moss's parents divorced when she was 13. She attended Ridgeway Primary School and Riddlesdown High School (nowRiddlesdown Collegiate) inPurley. She worked several local retail jobs in her early teens.[16]
Moss was recruited as a model in 1988 at age 14 by Sarah Doukas, founder ofStorm Management, atJFK Airport inNew York,[17] after a holiday inThe Bahamas.Corinne Day shot black-and-white photographs of her, styled by Melanie Ward, forThe Face when she was 16, in a shoot titled "The 3rd Summer of Love". Moss was presented as a young unknown, and Day described the pictures as "dirty realism" or "grunge".[18]
Moss then featured in theLevi's campaign 'Levi's for Girls',[19] with great success, set up by The Design Corporation and again shot byCorinne Day. A further shoot followed forThe Face, by Tony Briggs, entitled "Haute Coiffure",[20] Moss went on to become the "anti-supermodel" of the 1990s in contrast to the models of the moment,[21] such asCindy Crawford,Elle Macpherson,Claudia Schiffer andNaomi Campbell, who were known[21] for curvaceous and tall figures.
Moss featured in the fashion lookheroin chic in 1996[22] (which prompted speculation over her weight) with a campaign forCalvin Klein. Then-US PresidentBill Clinton spoke out against the trend.[23] Moss said, "It was just the time. It was a swing from more buxom girls likeCindy Crawford and people were shocked to see what they called a 'waif'. What can you say? How many times can you say 'I'm notanorexic'?"[24]
On 20 September 2005, the Swedish fashion retailerH&M dropped her from its campaign of autumn clothes designed byStella McCartney after pictures were published of Moss usingcocaine.[25] The contract was reportedly worth £4 million a year.[26] A day later,Chanel said it would not renew its contract with Moss, which was to expire that October, although its decision had nothing to do with the drug scandal. Burberry dropped Moss's campaign with them.[27] Moss apologised, though stopped short of admitting drug use.[28] In 2022, she commented "everybody I knew took drugs".[25]
Moss appeared in ad campaigns forDior.[21] She was on the cover of the November 2005W and also inside in a multi-page fashion shoot. She was defended by designerAlexander McQueen, who, during his walk-out after a fashion show, wore a T-shirt saying "We love you Kate".[29] In March 2006, she appeared in the finale of his showThe Widows of Culloden, asa life-sized illusion projected into a glass pyramid.[30][31] ArtistStella Vine also supported Moss, and paintings by Vine, painted during the scandal, were exhibited and reproduced in the press.[32]
On 5 January 2006, the LondonMetropolitan Police asked Moss to return from the US to Britain to answer questions about the September 2005cocaine scandal.[33] On 16 June 2006, British police dropped the charges for lack of evidence.[34] Ultimately, Moss was cleared of all charges and resumed her modelling career.[21] In 2015, Moss was escorted off anEasyJet flight by police after she became disruptive.[35]
Moss has been featured in ad campaigns withChanel,Louis Vuitton,Balmain,Versace,Balenciaga,Burberry,Stuart Weitzman,Rag & Bone,Alexander Wang,David Yurman,Givenchy,Roberto Cavalli,Kerastase,Isabel Marant,Yves Saint Laurent,Dior,Gucci,Dolce & Gabbana,Calvin Klein,Alexander McQueen,Equipment,Rimmel,[36] andBulgari. She has been on the cover and in fashion spreads for most magazines including UK, US, and FrenchVogue (as well as other international versions ofVogue),Another Man,Harper's Bazaar,Vanity Fair,the Face, andW. She has been on the cover ofBritishVogue 30 times, shot the inaugural covers for both RussianVogue withAmber Valletta and JapaneseVogue, in addition to dozens of other internationalVogue covers.[37]
Moss has been on the cover of 17 issues ofW, including one with nine different covers that featured her.W named Moss itsmuse (September 2003 issue). Moss has also featured on the inaugural covers ofNuméro,Numéro Tokyo and SpanishL'Officiel. She has worked extensively with photographers such asMario Testino,Mario Sorrenti,Steven Klein,Juergen Teller,Steven Meisel andPeter Lindbergh, and won theVogue/CFDA award from the Fashion Designers of America in July 2005 as Fashion Inspiration.[21][38]April 2005 saw the launch of aRimmel London mascara TV ad featuring leather-clad Moss motorcycling through London to the rock song "Another Cold Beer" by Steven Crayn.
Twelve months after her cocaine scandal, Moss signed 18 contracts for autumn-winter 2006 including Rimmel,Agent Provocateur,Virgin Mobile, Calvin Klein andBurberry. Moss designed a collection, with Katy England, forTopshop.[39] Moss launched afragrance and body lotion range bearing her name in association withCoty in 2007.[40]In November 2006, Moss was model of the year at theBritish Fashion Awards, the top accolade in British fashion, but the award stirred fresh controversy.[41]
On 1 May 2007, clothes designed by Moss for Topshop were launched in the chain's 225 UK stores. A Moss "countdown to launch" board filled a window of the company'sOxford Street store and on 30 April Moss launched the clothing there, briefly appearing in the window modelling a red dress from the collection just before the shop opened.[42] Topshop reportedly paid Moss £3 million.[42] The 50 designs included clothes, bags, shoes and belts, prices from £12 for a vest top to £150 for a cropped leather jacket. Clothes includedskinny jeans, one-shoulderminidresses and T-shirts withK woven into the design.[43] In a collaboration with Coty, Moss has released four fragrances.[44]
In early 2010, she designed handbags forLongchamp.[45]In 2012, Moss modelled for the spring-summer collection forSupreme.Moss has representedMango since 2011.[46] In November 2012, Australian modelMiranda Kerr replaced Moss for spring/summer 2013.[47]
In January 2012, having seen Dutch illusionistHans Klok on the BBC'sThe One Show, Moss recommendedStella McCartney book him forLondon Fashion Week the following month.[48] It was planned that Moss, a magic fan, would be Klok's assistant, and she rehearsed three illusions, a levitation, asawing in half and aguillotine illusion. However, she dropped out with temporary paralysis of her right arm due to a trapped nerve, and her place was taken byAlexa Chung.[48][49]
Also in 2012, Moss appeared in the video ofGeorge Michael'sWhite Light, inspired by hispneumonia.[50]Moss performed withNaomi Campbell in the closing ceremony of the2012 London Olympic Games on 12 August 2012.[51]
.jpg)
Moss posed nude for the 60th-anniversary issue ofPlayboy in December 2013.[52] That same month, she received a Special Recognition award at theBritish Fashion Awards to acknowledge her contribution to fashion during her 25-year career.[53] At the2014 Brit Awards in February, Moss collectedDavid Bowie's Brit Award for Best British Male, while wearing a one-piece printed "woodland creatures" costume, as worn originally by Bowie.[54] On 30 April 2014, Moss's second collection forTopshop was unveiled. Her first collection with Topshop resulted in a long-lasting relationship with the brand.[55]
In September 2016, Moss founded Kate Moss Agency (KMA).[25] Her clients includeRita Ora,Jordan Barrett andEsmé Creed-Miles.[56]
Moss was voted 9th ofMaxim's "50 Sexiest Women of 1999" and 22nd inFHM's "100 Sexiest Women of 1995".Arena named her sexiest woman in its 150th issue. She was on the November 1999 Millennium cover of AmericanVogue as one of the "Modern Muses".[57] In March 2007, Moss won theSexiest WomanNME Award.[58] In 2012 she was included on MODELS.com's 'The Supers' list.[59]
While not officially confirmed by either,Noel Gallagher was speculated to have written the popular Oasis single "Sunday Morning Call" about her. The song reached number 4 in theUK and number 3 inScotland.
Moss was the subject of an expressionist nude painting by artistLucian Freud, who painted her in 2002 while she was pregnant. The work sold atChristie's in 2005 for £3.93 million.[60] In 2007,Chuck Close created a portrait of her, translatingdaguerreotypes of Moss intoJacquard tapestry.[61] In October 2010, she appeared on the cover ofBryan Ferry's albumOlympia. TheNational Portrait Gallery, London maintains seven portraits of Moss among its collections, shot by photographers includingMario Testino,Corinne Day andSølve Sundsbø.[62]
A £1.5m ($2.8m) 18 carat gold statue of Moss in 2008 was part of aBritish Museum exhibition.[10] EntitledSiren, the 50 kg (110 lb) hollow statue was made byMarc Quinn,[63] who described Moss as "the ideal beauty of the moment". The statue is said to be the largest gold statue to be created since the era ofAncient Egypt.[64]Quinn had previously made a painted-bronze, life-size sculpture of Moss in a contorted yoga pose, titledSphinx.[65]
Thecello rock groupRasputina had a song entitled "Kate Moss" on their 1996 albumThanks for the Ether.
Moss has earned awards for style, including theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America's fashion influence award and a place on theVanity Fair international best-dressed list.[66][67] In the early part of the 21st century, she was, together with actressSienna Miller, one of the main proponents ofboho-chic.[68] She appeared on the cover ofVanity Fair's September 2006 style issue. In recent years, she has popularised denim cutoff shorts,[69]Ugg boots and theBalenciaga handbag.[70]
In 2008, Moss was added toPETA's 'Worst-Dressed' Celebrities of 2008'[71] because of her frequent use of fur. In 2012, Moss was among theBritish cultural icons selected by artist SirPeter Blake to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork – the Beatles'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires.[72]
In 2013, the Belgian pop singerStromae wrote Kate Moss into the lyrics of the song "Tous les mêmes", singing "il n'y a que Kate Moss qui est éternelle", translating into English as, "there's only Kate Moss who is eternal".[73]
Moss was interviewed byWomen's Wear Daily in 2009 and was quoted saying the phrase "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels", which she described as a "motto". She was heavily criticised for the phrase, being "accused of encouraging eating disorders". Moss later regretted saying it.[74]
Moss appeared onOasis singles "Don't Go Away" (1998) and "Fade Away" (1994), and on theBe Here Now album (1997), playing tambourine,Johnny Depp playing a guitar.She has appeared in music videos such as "Kowalski" byPrimal Scream, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" bythe White Stripes, "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" byElton John, "Sex with Strangers" byMarianne Faithfull, "Love Don't Bother Me" byStage Dolls, "Delia's Gone" and "God's Gonna Cut You Down" byJohnny Cash, and "Queenie Eye" byPaul McCartney.
She has also provided vocals for songs by Primal Scream (the 2003 version of "Some Velvet Morning"),Babyshambles ("La Belle et la Bête") andthe Lemonheads ("You're a Dirty Robot"). Prior to breaking up withPete Doherty, Moss co-wrote four songs on Babyshambles' second albumShotter's Nation—"You Talk", "French Dog Blues", "Baddie's Boogie", and "Deft Left Hand".
In 1999, Moss played a non musical role in the British screen comedyBlackadder: Back & Forth, appearing both asMaid Marian and as a fictional Queen of England. Director and writerRichard Curtis said in the "making of" video that they wanted "the best looking woman in England" to play the role.[75] In 2014, she made an acting cameo as herself inThe Boy in the Dress.[76]
Moss has put her name to four perfume lines. Her first one, the original, is named "Kate Moss". Other perfumes include Vintage Muse, Lila Belle and Love Blossoms.[77]
A planned biopic film byJames Lucas titled "Moss and Freud" about the creation of Freud's painting of Moss was announced in 2022.[78] The film will featureEllie Bamber as Kate Moss andDerek Jacobi as Lucian Freud.[79]
Moss supportedWar Child.[80] She also designed a charm in a necklace for Wallis in 2007 in aid ofCancer Research UK and said "I am happy to give my support to help fund crucial research, as so many lives are affected by this terrible disease."[81]
She has also helped to launch the SamandRuby charity in March 2006. The charity was started to provide funding for the education and shelter of Thai children. The SamandRuby organisation is named after a friend of Moss's, Samantha Archer Fayet, and her 6-month-old daughter Ruby Rose who were killed by thetsunami while visitingThailand.[82]
Moss also supports theElton John AIDS Foundation, the Hoping Foundation, the Lucie Blackman Trust,Make Poverty History,Comic Relief and Homes of Hope.[83] On 22 November 2006, Moss recorded an appearance in aLittle Britain sketch for Comic Relief at theHammersmith Apollo as a character called Katie Pollard, sister ofVicky Pollard played byMatt Lucas.[84]
Moss made a short film withMisery Bear for the March 2011Comic Relief event entitled "Misery Bear's Comic Relief Starring Kate Moss".[85]
In November 2014, Moss designed aPaddington Bear statue, one of fifty created by various celebrities which were located around London prior to the release of the filmPaddington, with the statues auctioned to raise funds for theNational Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).[86][87]
Moss was in a relationship with actorJohnny Depp between 1994 and 1998.[88] She has a daughter,Lila Moss (born Lila Grace Moss Hack, and who is also a model),[89][90][91][92] born in September 2002, withDazed & Confused editorJefferson Hack, with whom she was in a relationship for a number of years in the early 2000s.[93] She is godmother toSadie Frost andJude Law's daughterIris Law.[94]
Moss had a relationship withLibertines memberPete Doherty, first meeting him at her 31st birthday party in January 2005.[95] On 11 April 2007, Doherty announced Moss as his fiancée during one of his concerts in London, at which Moss also performed.[96][97] In July 2007, Moss and Doherty split.[98]
Moss marriedJamie Hince, guitarist ofThe Kills, on 1 July 2011 atSt Peter's Church,Southrop, Gloucestershire; she wore a dress byJohn Galliano.[99] Moss and Hince split in 2015 and settled their divorce out of court in 2016.[100] She has since been in a relationship with British photographerCount Nikolai von Bismarck of the German aristocratic family.[101][102][103][104]
In 2011, Moss bought3, The Grove, Highgate, as her London home, selling it in 2022 to relocate to theCotswolds.[105]
According toForbes, her 2004–2005 earnings were $5 million[106] and her 2005–2006 earnings were $8 million.[107] In 2007, with estimated earnings of $9 million,Forbes magazine named her second on the list of the World's 15 top-earning models list.[108] She made her first appearance in the British women'sSunday Times Rich List in 2007, where she was estimated to be worth £45 million. She ranked as the 99th richest woman in Britain.[109]In the 2009 Rich List, she was ranked as the 1,348th richest person in the UK, with a net worth of £40 million.[110]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Blackadder: Back & Forth | Maid Marian |
| 2014 | The Boy in the Dress | Herself |
| 2016 | Ab Fab: The Movie | |
| Zoolander 2 | ||
| 2017 | Red Nose Day Actually |
In 2012, Rizzoli Publications released,Kate: The Kate Moss Book. written by Moss in collaboration with creative director Jefferson Hack, Fabien Baron, and Jess Hallett. The book is a personal retrospective of her career, tracing her evolution from "new girl with potential" to one of the most iconic models of all time.
Kate: The Kate Moss Book includes photography by Arthur Elgort, Corinne Day, Craig McDean, David Sims, Hedi Slimane, Inez & Vinoodh, Juergen Teller, Mario Sorrenti, Mario Testino, Mert & Marcus, Nick Knight, Patrick Demarchelier, Peter Lindbergh, Roxanne Lowit, Steven Klein, Terry Richardson and others.[112]
