Post date: Jan 16, 2014 1:29:40 AM
Arguably Britain's most famous supermodel and muse, Kate Moss, turns 40, nearly a quarter of a century after making her debut and inspiring a generation of photographers and fashion designers.
PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 9, 2011) (REUTERS) - British muse and supermodel Kate Moss turns 40 on Thursday (January 16), marking nearly 25 years at the top of the modelling world since her debut in 1996 as a 16-year-old posing for Calvin Klein.
The face of the early 1990s "heroin chic" fashion, Moss has since graced countless magazine covers and defined a generation since becoming emblematic of the waif look in her early years..She began her professional career as an ultra-slim 16 year-old and quickly became one of the best known and top-earning models in the world.
Since then she has had campaigns for high profile brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs, as well as some of the world's most famous photographers.
British cosmetics giant Rimmel has had Moss as its spokesmodel for 12 years.
Forbes magazine named her as one of the world's highest earning models in 2011, and launched a fragrance, body lotion range and collaborated on a line of clothing for British high street fashion retailer Topshop that bore her name that became one of the most popular in the shop's history.
Her private life has been the source of much media interest, from high profile boyfriends like Johnny Depp and Pete Doherty to her implication in a cocaine scandal in 2005 that forced fellow models and friends including Naomi Campbell to jump to her defence.
Moss married The Kills frontman Jamie Hince in 2011 in a small ceremony in a small English country church, the only time she ever wed.
She had a daughter in 2002 with Dazed & Confused magazine editor Jefferson Hack.
As she turns 40, Moss continues to be front and centre in the world spotlight.
Playboy celebrated its 60th anniversary in November by putting Moss on the front cover, following in the footsteps of Marilyn Monroe.
Moss has repeatedly been voted among the world's sexiest women by publications including Maxim and FHM
A Christie's auction of an exclusive collection celebrating her career went under the hammer in September, with works such as Allen Jones' 'Body Armour' piece, which saw Moss covered in gold, commissioned especially for the sale.
Other images at the auction included high quality prints of some of Moss' most iconic photo shoots - like 1993's picture for Calvin Klein's Obsession perfume campaign.
In 2008 sculptor Marc Quinn unveiled a 50kg solid gold statue of Moss at the British Museum, entitled "Siren".