kate moss

Katherine Moss, who has become one of the most recognized and highest paid supermodels of the '90s, was born in Croydon, Surrey, England, on January 16, 1974.

Kate's entry into the fashion industry all started in 1988, when she and her family were in JFK Airport on their way back from a vacation in the Bahamas. The then 14-year-old Kate caught the eye of Sarah Ducas of Storm Agency, who approached her. This chance encounter was the launching pad of Kate's hugely successful career.

Kate signed with three different modeling agencies -- Women in New York, Marilyn in Milan, and Storm in London. Her first modeling job was a topless appearance on the cover of the British magazine, The Face.

After that, Kate was on her way to becoming the latest "It" girl, whose face and body would show up everywhere. The long list of magazine covers she has graced include Allure and Harper's Bazaar in the U.S.; Arena, Elle and The Face in the UK; as well as the American, British, Australian, Italian, and Brazilian editions of Vogue.

If someone could possibly not recognize Kate Moss from the slew of magazine covers she has graced, they surely would from all the advertisements she has appeared in. Kate practically became a staple in Calvin Klein ads, such as those for fragrances like Obsession, CK Be and CK One. The man behind these controversial ads, Calvin Klein, can be credited with launching Kate Moss' career in the early '90s.

In addition to Calvin Klein ads, she has also appeared in ads for Burberry, Cerruti 1881, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, L'Oreal, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Kate has also strutted her stuff on the catwalks for such big-name designers as Calvin Klein, Chanel and Versace.

Moss also made her way onto the small and big screens. She appeared as herself in several episodes of the British comedy series French and Saunders in 1996, as well as in movies like Isaac Mizrahi's Unzipped (1995), Catwalk (1996), Beautopia (1998), and Original Copies (1999). In 1999, she appeared as Maid Marian/Queen Marian in Blackadder Back & Forth.

In keeping with the tradition of supermodels being cast in music videos, such as Linda Evangelista and Helena Christensen, Kate Moss wins the prize for the most music video appearances. She has been in Johnny Cash's "Delia's Gone," Primal Scream's "Kowalski" and Elton John's "The Way You Look Tonight."

Also leaving her mark in the publishing world, Kate released a book called Kate: The Kate Moss Story, which is a collection of her favorite pictures of none other than herself.

Although Kate's career has been multi-faceted to say the least, not all has been rosy Kate Moss' story. Mostly known for her unhealthy image (her rail-thin figure refueled the "heroin chic" waif look of the early '90s and she is known as a heavy smoker), Kate checked into the Priory Clinic in 1998, suffering from exhaustion.

Having been romantically linked to fellow partier Johnny Depp for four years, Kate also dated Calvin Klein photographer Mario Sorrenti. Recipient of the VH1 Award for Model of the Year in 1996, Kate Moss is unquestionably one of the most successful and controversial models of the '90s, having earned an income of approximately $10,000 per day.

On September 29, 2002, she became a mother with the birth of daughter Lila Grace, whose father is Kate's boyfriend Jefferson Hack. During her pregnancy, she posed nude for a near life-size portrait called "Naked Portrait 2002," which is estimated to fetch up to $6.5 million at Christie's auction house.