Kate Dillon Levin

Kate Dillon Levin (born March 2, 1974 in Washington D.C.)[1][6] is an American plus-size model, activist and actress. She is best known for her work as a plus-size model where she appeared in multiple editorials in fashion magazines, appeared in cosmetics, plus-size, and designer campaigns. She also worked with top photographers on campaigns and in editorials and appeared in many mass media outlets.[7] Levin was the first plus-size model to appear in U.S. Vogue and was the first plus-size model to appear in a Gucci campaign. Dillon has also been involved with many non-profit organizations, and is an advocate for eating disorder awareness and treatment, sustainability, global poverty reduction, and social justice.[7][8] She received her bachelor's degree in political science and international studies from University of St. Thomas and master's degree in international development from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.[1]

Kate Dillon Levin
Born
Kate Dillon

(1974-03-02) March 2, 1974
Washington, D.C., United States[1]
NationalityAmerican
OccupationModel, non-profit corporate partnerships for Code REDD[2]
Spouse(s)Gabe Levin, December 21, 2008-August 5, 2014 (Divorced)[3]
Modeling information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[4]
Hair colorBrown[4]
Eye colorBlue[4]
AgencyFord Models[5]
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Dillon/146451424452

Early life

Kate Dillon was born to Tom Dillon, a scientist, and Carol Dillon, a school teacher, near Washington D.C. on March 2, 1974.[7] She has an older brother named Dan. Dillon's family moved to San Diego when she was 10.[9] Dillon was teased by peers in adolescence because of her size.[7] A documentary that Dillon watched at age 12 influenced her to lose an unhealthy amount of weight and triggered an eating disorder which lasted seven years.[7] Dillon graduated from La Jolla Country Day School and was accepted in the University of California, Berkeley.[10] After graduating high school, Dillon decided to model full-time instead of attending college.[10]

Modeling

Dillon was discovered by a San Diego photographer at 16 while sitting in a cafe.[7][11] She modeled in Los Angeles while finishing high school. Kate placed third in the 1991 Elite Look of the Year currently (Elite Model Look) contest and won a 75,000 dollar contract with Elite Model Management.[7] In her early years of modeling, she worked with photographers such as Richard Avedon and Peter Lindbergh and appeared in campaigns for Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Christian Dior, L'Oreal, and Missoni.[1][11][12] Dillon was on the cover of Mademoiselle in November 1992.[12] She also appeared in editorials for many magazines including U.S. Elle, Marie Claire and French Glamour in 1993.[13][14][15] Dillon also walked for designers including Alberta Ferretti, Emporio Armani, Fendi, and Salvatore Ferragamo in the Autumn/Winter 1993 season.[12] She also walked for Dior in 1993.[14] She left fashion modeling in 1993 to recover from her eating disorder and find a new career path.[1]

In 1995, Dillon returned to New York City to study elementary education.[1] A friend advised Kate to try plus-size modeling while in New York.[1] Kate applied to Wilhelmina Models, and was signed immediately.[1] Dillon became the face of Elisabeth by Liz Claiborne in 1996, appearing on a Times Square billboard.[16] She also appeared in a nationwide advertising campaign for Playtex that year. Glamour featured Kate in an editorial "The Comeback Kid" in November 1996, which was the second appearance of a plus-size model in the magazine. MODE began publishing in Spring 1997, and Dillon appeared in an editorial in its first issue. Dillon appeared on several covers of MODE and in many editorials. She was profiled and often mentioned by name in her appearances in the magazine. Dillon also began modeling for Lane Bryant, and appeared in many advertising campaigns for the brand.[15]

She became a Lane Bryant Venezia Jeans V Girl in 1998, along with Mia Tyler, Sophie Dahl, basketball player Kym Hampton, and former MTV news reporter Abbie Kearse.[17] Dillon walked in Lane Bryant's first runway show in 1998 and appeared in other runway shows for the brand until Lane Bryant discontinued the shows in 2003.[17][18][19] Dillon was named Model of the Year by Mode magazine in 1998.[20]

Richard Avedon photographed her for an advertising campaign for Avenue in 1999, where she appeared as different types of women, including Aphrodite.[21] Dillon became the first plus-size model Avedon photographed. Kate appeared in Gucci's Spring 2000 campaign, becoming one of the first plus-size models to appear in a mainstream fashion ad.[22] In 2000, Dillon became the second plus-size model named to People's Most Beautiful People list.[22] Dillon appeared in the campaign for Isabella Rosselini's Manifesto perfume, becoming one of only a few plus-size models to appear in a cosmetics campaign.[23]

In November 2001, Dillon appeared in a Vogue Paris editorial photographed by David Armstrong and styled by Carine Roitfeld.[24] In April 2002, Dillon appeared in an editorial photographed by Helmut Newton in US Vogue's first Shape Issue, becoming the first plus-size model to appear in a US Vogue editorial.[25][26]

Dillon was a featured guest during season 3 of the US network show America's Next Top Model, talking to contestants about body image and self-esteem.[27] In 2004, Dillon appeared in a campaign for Nine West.[12] Dillon was the face of Marina Rinaldi campaigns from Spring/Summer 2004 to Spring/Summer 2008.[28] She also appeared in the Spring/Summer 2009 campaign.[28] Her most recent Marina Rinaldi campaign was Fall/Winter 2011 campaign with Crystal Renn.[29]

Dillon walked in Elena Miro's first runway show in Milan Fashion Week(Elena Miro was the first plus-size brand to present at Milan Fashion Week) and appeared in many other runway shows for the brand.[12] In February 2006, Dillon appeared in an editorial for French Vogue photographed by Mario Testino and styled by Carine Roitfeld.[30] She appeared in editorials for French Elle and Jane in 2007.[29]

Glamour Magazine featured Dillon along with plus-size models Amy Lemons, Anansa Sims, Ashley Graham, Crystal Renn, Jennie Runk, and Lizzie Miller in a nude photo referencing Herb Ritts' famous photo of 90's supermodels in 2009.[5] She appeared in US Vogue for a second time in the April 2010 Shape Issue, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, and interviewed by Sally Singer.[1] Dillon became the spokesmodel for Suki, an eco friendly cosmetics line in 2010.[31] In 2011, Dillon appeared on the cover of Organice Your Life along with her son Lucas.[5]

Sustainability and Fair-Trade

Dillon wrote about eco-friendly lifestyle tips for an article in Glamour April 2010. She also wrote several blogs on glamour.com on eco-friendly fashion and lifestyle tips in 2010.[32][33]

Dillon currently works as VP Sales & Marketing for Natural Climate Solutions company Ecosphere+, a London-based B Corporation that works to preserve forests and reduce global carbon emissions.

Education

Dillon enrolled in the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas at age 28, and graduated with a degree in political science.[1] She then enrolled in Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and received a Master's degree in Public Administration and International Development.[1] Dillon co-authored a prize-winning thesis and received a Dean's award for teaching statistics.[1] The MPAID program is considered the most rigorous at the Kennedy School.

Humanitarian Work

Dillon has founded several charities including ECHO Prosocial Gallery, Curves for Change and the Komera Project. Echo was founded in 1999, and provided arts programs for children in New York City.[34][35] Dillon co-founded the Komera Project in 2008, which funds secondary education and mentoring to girls in Rwanda.[8] Curves for Change was founded in 2010.[8] The charity helps the Komera Project and other charities helping women through fundraising and increasing awareness of these non-profit organizations.[8]

Dillon also works with charities such as Half the Sky, an organization sponsoring women's rights.[8]

Dillon has been an advocate for eating disorder awareness, prevention and treatment by speaking about her eating disorder in public appearances and interviews. She appeared in NOVA's 2000 documentary, Dying to be Thin.[22] Dillon became the Eating Disorder Coalition's first spokesperson in 2001.[36] Dillon also has appeared on several panels related to eating disorders, including at Harvard Medical School in 2000.[20][22]

Dillon is also involved with causes related to sustainability. She presented in a panel and walked in the sustainable fashion show at Ecochic, a sustainable fashion event sponsored by the United Nations and held in the UN's European headquarters in Geneva.[8] Dillon also supports Global Green.[8][37][38]

Personal life

Dillon was married to real estate investor Gabe Levin from 2008–2014. Their son Lucas was born in 2010.[3]

Dillon is an avid athlete. She has completed triathlons and enjoys yoga, hiking and bike riding. Levin also paints and plays the guitar. Her favorite TV shows are Mad Men and Top Chef.[8]

Video Game Roles
  • Palace Pets App - Snowpaws

References
  1. "A Life in Full". Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  2. "The Team". coderedd.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. Pham, Thailan (December 22, 2010). "Model Kate Dillon Welcomes a Son". people.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  4. "Kate Dillon". fordmodels.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. "Kate Dillon". models.com. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  6. "Glam and Curvy:Kate Dillon". vogue.it. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  7. "Kate Dillon:Model". people.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  8. Liverani, Martina (18 June 2010). "Curves for Change". vogue.it. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  9. "Answers from Kate Dillon Set #3". pbs.org. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  10. "Plus-size supermodel proves beautiful inside and out". La Jolla Light. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  11. Casteneda, Katania (22 February 2002). "Plus-size model challenges people's attitudes". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. "Kate Dillon". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  13. "US Elle September 1993". bwgreyscale.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  14. Berg, Rona (21 March 1993). "The Waif Farers". New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  15. "Lane Bryant". bwgreyscale.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. "Liz Claiborne". bwgreyscale.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  17. Sampey, Kathleen (16 October 1998). "Retailers targeting plus-size women". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  18. "Noth joins Lane Bryant models". Middlesboro Daily News. Associated Press. 2 February 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  19. "Bigger models strut larger lingerie". Boca Raton News. Associated Press. 7 February 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  20. "Model Kate Dillon, filmmaker Jean Kilbourne, and executives from Anne Klein Co. and Kellogg USA speak on "Culture, Media and Eating Disorders" at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, February 23". gse.harvard.edu. 15 February 1999. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  21. "Avenue Campaign, 1999". TruthandFashion.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  22. "Ask the Experts". pbs.org. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  23. "Positive Sizes:Model Emme Breaks Ground In Defining What Beauty Is". The Chicago Tribune. New York Times News Service. 29 September 1999. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  24. "Vogue Paris, November 2001". TruthandFashion.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  25. Orecklin, Michele (25 March 2002). "People: Mar. 25, 2002". Time Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  26. "Kate Dillon". Ocala Star-Banner. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  27. Moline, Peg (February 2011). "Kate Dillon". fitpregnancy.com. Fit Pregnancy. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  28. "History & Philosophy". marinarinaldi.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  29. "Kate Dillon". truthandfashion.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  30. "Vogue Paris February 2006". truthandfashion.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  31. "Beauty Booty: Suki Kramer And Kate Dillon, Power Duo". style.com. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  32. Dillon, Kate (22 April 2010). "3 Ways to Go Green That Will Save You Money (Plus 4 More That Won't Make Your Wallet Bleed Green!)". glamour.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  33. Dillon, Kate (22 April 2010). "5 Stress-Free (Yes, Really) Ways to Green Up Your Style". glamour.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  34. Kate Dillon Levin (2012). "Kate Dillon Levin". Linkedin. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  35. Laughlin, Natalie. "Kate and Natalie's Tête à Tête". onlyreal.com. Archived from the original on 2001-02-04. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  36. "EDC Awards 2002". www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  37. Doan, Abigail (26 January 2010). "Eco-Fashion, Biodiversity Share the Runway at EcoChic Geneva". ecouterre.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  38. Scrimshaw, John (19 January 2010). "Geneva event to showcase 'eco-chic' fashions". ei.wtin.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
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