A stunned fashion world froze as Faith Kates, co-founder of Next Model Management, quietly stepped back from her role on November 24, 2025, amid resurfaced 2017 emails with Jeffrey Epstein that ignited scrutiny.
Kates, who launched Next in 1989 and shaped careers of stars like Milla Jovovich and Anja Rubik, announced her “retirement” in a staff email, citing her 30-year cancer survivorship and desire to focus on philanthropy. “36 years after starting Next by accident, I have decided it’s the right moment to step back and retire from a job I loved,” she wrote, signing off with “cheering you on from the sidelines.”
The timing—days after Epstein’s emails surfaced in the Transparency Act disclosures—raised eyebrows. The 2017 exchanges, friendly and casual (Kates asking about Thanksgiving plans, Epstein name-dropping Trump and others), contrast her prior claims of limited contact post-conviction. Insiders told Page Six her exit was “forced,” not voluntary, as agencies grapple with Epstein ties amid Giuffre’s Nobody’s Girl (October 21, 2025) exposing elite complicity.
Next Models, representing talents like Billie Eilish for fashion, issued no comment. Kates’ lawyer denied wrongdoing, stating she “never witnessed inappropriate conduct.” The fashion industry, already reeling from Epstein-linked recruiters like Jean-Luc Brunel, faces renewed questions about due diligence.
Kates’ departure—quiet yet seismic—marks another elite reckoning, as Epstein’s shadow lingers.
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