How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment

0:00Hello, I'm Lauren LeVern. Welcome to Desert Island Disks 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 an economy somewhere and Simon, who was Sarah Duke's 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 close 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 her? 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, 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 to slog then. You were given an 8-Z and a list of addresses and there was 8 a day from 9 to 6. And I was just like in awe of everything that was in the office, it was just so busy and I'm a model's 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 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.

2:05What kind of thing did you have to deal with? I had a horrible experience, we're a bra catalogue and I was only 15 probably and he said to take your top off and I took my top off and I was really shy then and about my body and he said, take a bra off and I could feel there was something wrong. So I got myself 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 and a mile away. Kate Moss, who's had to use her shop instincts plenty of times during her career. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds, just search for Kate Moss Desert Island Disks.