Just when the world thought Jeffrey Epstein’s shadow had finally faded, a forgotten email chain from 2007 exploded back into public view — and at the very top sat Faith Kates, the iron-fisted co-founder of Next Model Management, personally thanking Epstein for “opening doors” to his private island.
Yesterday, without warning or public explanation, the 74-year-old mogul who discovered Gisele, Anok Yai, and half of Victoria’s Secret’s golden era quietly relinquished all operational power at the agency she built into a billion-dollar empire. Insiders are whispering about frantic emergency board meetings, shredded documents, and supermodels demanding answers about what, exactly, Kates saw — and did — on Little St. James.
The resurfaced messages are raw, unfiltered, and chilling in their casual tone.
Just when the world thought Jeffrey Epstein’s shadow had finally faded, a 2007 email chain—buried for 18 years—detonated across the internet late Thursday night. At the very top: Faith Kates, the legendary co-founder of Next Model Management, writing to Epstein with breezy familiarity: “Jeff, the island was pure magic. Thank you for opening every door—my girls are still buzzing.”
Less than 36 hours later, Kates, 74, abruptly surrendered all control of the agency she built from a SoHo loft into a global juggernaut. No press release. No farewell note. Just a terse internal memo announcing her “immediate retirement for personal reasons.” By sunrise Friday, Next’s crisis team was in full lockdown.
The emails, leaked by an account calling itself “RunwayZero,” are devastating in their nonchalance. Kates gushes about “exclusive casting opportunities” on Little St. James, mentions “bringing a fresh group next month,” and signs off with kisses. Epstein responds with flight schedules on his private jet and a single line: “The younger the better for the clients you mentioned.” Kates replies with a heart emoji.
For three decades, Faith Kates was untouchable. She discovered Gisele Bündchen eating McDonald’s in a Brazilian shopping mall at 14. She turned Anok Yai from a Howard University student into fashion’s new blueprint overnight. She ruled Victoria’s Secret castings like a general, hand-picking every Angel from 1999 to 2013. Next represents over 1,200 models and books more than $400 million in contracts annually. Kates didn’t just shape beauty standards—she monetized them.
Now that empire is cracking. Bella Hadid posted, then deleted, a black square with the caption “Silence = Complicity.” Arizona Muse and Joan Smalls openly called for transparency on Instagram Live. One current Next booker, speaking anonymously, said half the staff spent Friday crying in the bathrooms. “We idolized her,” she said. “Now we’re asking which of our own origin stories started on that island.”
Wall Street smelled blood immediately. Next’s parent company saw shares drop 18% in pre-market trading. LVMH and Estée Lauder, major clients, have paused all upcoming campaigns featuring Next talent until “clarity emerges.”
Kates has vanished. Her East Hampton estate is dark; her Manhattan penthouse doorman claims she hasn’t been seen since Wednesday. Her lawyer issued a one-sentence statement: “Ms. Kates is cooperating with authorities and will address these matters at the appropriate time.”
But the leaks keep coming. A second batch, posted at 3 a.m., includes calendar invites titled “Next Island Retreat 2008” with 27 model names attached—several of whom were minors at the time.
The fashion world that once worshipped at Faith Kates’ altar is now staring into the abyss she may have helped dig. And everyone is asking the same question: If the woman who controlled access to every major runway and campaign was this close to Epstein, who else still sitting in corner offices today owes their throne to the same devil?
The story is still unfolding… and the next email drop is already scheduled for midnight.
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