Cokehead Kate Moss wins fashion award, some people angry

[Grimmlok]

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Supermodel Kate Moss, at the center of a cocaine scandal just over a year ago, has won the top accolade in British fashion, but the award has divided opinion and stirred fresh controversy over the celebrity.

The Model of the Year prize at British fashion's answer to the Oscars late on Thursday sealed Moss's recovery from a newspaper story that briefly threatened her career.

In September, 2005, photographs of the 32-year-old model apparently snorting cocaine appeared on the front page of British tabloid The Daily Mirror. Since then, "cocaine Kate" as she was dubbed has returned to the pinnacle of her profession and she was not charged over the allegations.

Some commentators and drug charities are concerned over what the award says about fashion and what signals it sends to young people tempted to use drugs.

But fellow models and celebrities have defended Moss, pointing to her commercial success and her willingness to apologize for her behavior.

"I think it's a bad reflection on the world of fashion," said Jane Ennis, editor of celebrity magazine Now.

"The fact that she has become an even bigger icon since getting into all this trouble is fantastically decadent. Sometimes commercial interests should be set aside to look at the wider picture."

George Ruston, director of Hope UK, a drug education charity in Britain, called the award "unhelpful" and said advertisers were as much to blame as Moss.

But he added that for every young person who looks up to Moss as a role model, many do not, and the problems of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis abuse are worse than that of cocaine.

World celebrity
Bryan Roberts, analyst at London trend spotting agency Planet Retail, said Moss was one of the world's top celebrities, and, rightly or wrongly, guaranteed column inches.

"She's become a bigger name since the scandal and anyone who affiliates himself with her name will reap the publicity."

And fellow celebrities like actress Sharon Stone and photographer Mario Testino have urged people not to judge a person for what may have been an isolated mistake.

The fashion world remains unapologetic for using Moss as its cover girl and awarding her for professional achievements rather than her private life.

Several fashion houses quickly dropped her from their advertising campaigns, since then she has clawed back contracts and featured in at least 18 major campaigns this season.

Industry experts say she is earning more now than she did before the scandal broke.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/eu...eut/index.html

Like this is any surprise

[sprynkles]

ITA...she is awful and I just don't get it.

[AgentOrange]

The president of Colombia, I believe his name is Francisco Santo, has criticised Moss by name. He says that it's scandalous that she should be rewarded for her behaviour, while he has to fight an ongoing drug war. Don't worry El Presidente, marrying Pete Doherty, and bearing his child, is more than enough punishment for any woman.

[AliceInWonderland]

^ hey Agent! I saw your posts on Perezhilton I always leave gossiprocks.com as my URL...

[Elisa]

Why are we so surprised? We are a society that rewards druggies like Kate and arrogant assholes like Kanye. And we wonder why the world is so screwed up!

[ediebrooks]

She may be a dissipated druggie, but there's no denying she's a great model and has good fashion sense. So maybe she did deserve the award, although she would be a terrible role model for young people.

[Elise]

I disagree. I think she has TERRIBLE fashion sense & no clue what it is that people see in her. She consistently looks disheveled & horrible & people praise her for looking amazing.

[bite me spidey]

I can think of 100 models who deserve that award more than she does.

[AgentOrange]

^I nominate Milla Jovovich!

[leapinglilies]

kate moss looks so dirty! i'm so glad i'm too poor to support any of the retailers she represents...

[MrsDark]

I'm no fan of Kate Moss. Like about 99% of all "hot" models she looks like hammered shit until the extremely talented stylists and artists get their hands on her. And after that many years in the business even a retarded monkey should be able to have that catwalk strut down pat. So IMO Model of the Year is a bullshit award at best. But so is the bitching about her not deserving it for being a druggie, since they're ALL coked out whores! And even if there are a few who aren't, the entire industry promotes, rewards and worships the coked out whore look.

Modeling world, turn your industry around to where at least naturally thin women don't have to snort themselves down to the size that belongs on a 5 ft tall female and then you can bitch about someone who happened to get caught doing something all those bitches do. Until then, talk to the hand.

[Elvira]

I remember the days when models had to be fairly attractive.

I love to post this photo in Kate Moss threads.

[sprynkles]

Dear gawd...holy crap...hurling now.....

[sputnik]

it's a FASHION award. fashion is by definiton superficial and vain. who cares about the drugs or her behaviour, the prize is for dress sense and modelling skills, not being a positive role model.

[suede]

Originally Posted by Elise

I disagree. I think she has TERRIBLE fashion sense & no clue what it is that people see in her. She consistently looks disheveled & horrible & people praise her for looking amazing.

^ I agree with you.

She was just funny looking girl that boned the right photographer at the right time.

Originally Posted by Elvira

I remember the days when models had to be fairly attractive.

I love to post this photo in Kate Moss threads.

DEAR GOD
Worse than previously thought....