Beginning a successful career as a slender fashion model at the age of 16, Kate Dillon was widely hailed as “the next Cindy Crawford.”
At 17 she won a $75,000 Elite modelling contract.
Bullied at school, being called “overweight Kate” she was secretly battling anorexia, desperate to keep her 5′ 11″ body at an underweight size 6.
However, when she started eating, it got her modelling agencies and managers complaining that she was now too fat.
Disgusted with their responses Kate Dillon decided to quit modelling.
In her own words;
“I gave myself the freedom to be who I was, the freedom to screw up, the freedom to be fat, the freedom to be smart — the freedom to just be.“
She saw her weight fluctuate between a size 14 and a size 18, and it was then that she decided to begin modelling again – this time, though, as a plus-size model.
She originally signed with the Wilhelmina Agency.
Her plus-size career saw her become one of the most famous faces of the industry, and a major role model for the acceptance of plus sizes.
It was around this time that she also became one of People’s magazine’s “50 most beautiful people” several times.
Currently though, Kate Dillon has lost so much weight that she is almost down to a regular-sized model.
With the industry currently attempting to prove they are listening to public demand to use regular sized women as models, Kate Dillon seems to be one of the best “faux plus” models.
Over the years she has modelled for Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior, L’Oreal, Nine West, Playtex and many more.
When she left modelling the first time round she obtained an International Studies degree from the University of Texas.
She is currently studying for a Masters in International Development from Harvard.
Dillon also lectures nationwide about eating disorders.
She is also the founder of Echo, a not for profit organization that benefits art programs for children.
After originally having a 2-pack a day habit, Dillon is now a non-smoker, and keeps fit by running and black-belt training in marshall arts.
She has been the face of plus-size modelling for over a decade.
“My goal is to stay right where I am, forever,” she declares.
However the industry uses her, she is proof that if you stick to your dreams and follow your own ambitions you can achieve everything you want.
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