In short
Kate Moss describes how her modelling break began unexpectedly while she was travelling in economy, and how she navigated early castings as a teenager.
Guests
Kate Moss (supermodel).
Guest background
Moss was 14 when an agency started sending her to castings; her mother sometimes accompanied her, then told her she’d be on her own.
Key claims
She didn’t think she wanted to be a model and assumed nothing would come of the meeting; she learned to trust her instincts after uncomfortable experiences.
Notable examples
A bra-catalogue casting at around age 15 where a man demanded she remove her top and bra; she felt something was wrong, grabbed her things, and ran away.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOKate Moss's Unexpected Modelling Break
0:30 to 2:47
Kate Moss shares the story of her unexpected breakthrough in modeling.
“she revealed how her big break came at an unexpected moment.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:13Hello, I'm Lauren Laverne. Welcome to Desert Island Discs Postcards, where we share funny, moving and memorable moments directly from our desert island with you every weekday. Today's castaway is the supermodel Kate Moss. When I spoke to Kate in 2022, she revealed how her big break came at an unexpected moment. I was sitting in economy somewhere and Simon, who was Sarah Dukes' brother, came up to me on the plane and said, my sister owns a model agency, she'd like to meet you. So I went to meet her in her seat and I recognised her from the closed show live. And so I knew she was a real model agent and they gave me their card and said, when you get home, come and see us.
1:00And what did you think in that moment? Did you think something would come of it? No. I would never ever have said to anybody I want to be a model because I just thought that was just vain and somebody who said that just thinks they're beautiful and I never did. I just thought, oh my God, I'm just going to take a chance. The agency started sending you off on castings. You were still 14. I mean, did anybody come with you? My mum came with me one day. And then she said, you're on your own. Because it was hard slog then. It was like, you know, you were given an A to Z and a list of addresses. And there was eight a day from nine to six.
1:41And I was just like in awe of everything that was in the office. It was just so busy and there were models everywhere and beautiful people and shouting and, you know, a lot of atmosphere. So I was, wow, this is so cool. And my mum said, you're on your own. And I was like, fine, I'll do it on my own then. So what about going from casting to casting, especially on your own? I mean, you must have ended up in some difficult situations. What kind of thing did you have to deal with? I had a horrible experience for a bra catalogue. And I was only 15, probably. And he said, take your top off. And I took my top off.
2:19And I was really shy then about my body. And he said, take your bra off. and I could feel there was something wrong, so I got my stuff and I ran away. How did that affect you, that experience? I think it sharpened my instincts. I was, I'm very, I can kind of tell a wrong-un a mile away. Kate Moss, who's had to use her sharp instincts plenty of times during her career. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds. Just search for Kate Moss, Desert Island Discs.
2:59The End
From the publisher
The model Kate Moss was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
Her career began after a chance encounter with a model agent on a flight. She describes attending castings on her own as a teenager, which led to some inappropriate requests. Although unpleasant at the time, she says that they have sharpened her instincts, enabling her to "tell a wrong 'un a mile away".
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
