I’m not quite sure where to begin. There really isn’t any one woman who has affected me more on a beauty or fashion level than Kate Moss. When I was a tween/ teen, Kate Moss was the ultimate. Remember those CK ads with Marky Mark (aka Mark Wahlberg)? I really wasn’t sure which one I liked more – Marky and his buff abs or Kate and her lanky limbs.

Coming off of a decade of supermodel superpower where amazonian curvaceous women graced the pages of magazines and the runways, Kate Moss was, in my opinion, a much needed change.

Kate was shorter than your average model – by many inches, definitely bonier, perhaps even with a boy-like body (absolutely no boobs) and she had these crooked teeth, a head too big for her body, massively wide-set eyes that were almost alien, ultra thin brows – everything seemed all wrong yet somehow it was the wrongness that made her so right. She was far from perfect, thus making her more relatable. So unlike the Cindy’s, Naomi’s, Stephanie’s and Christy’s that we were used to. She made me feel like maybe one day, I too, could be a model with my imperfect teeth, double A boobs (that’s beyond flat, for those not in the know), 5’6″ frame and skinny, boyish figure.

I was instantly mesmerized. It was the first time that I had become intrigued by a model for more than simply her looks. I wanted to know about Kate’s wardrobe (her boho-chic style was envy inducing), her boyfriends (Johnny Depp!? – I spent too many hours thinking about how beautifully sexy their children would be), her wild partying ways (yes, Kate can be credited for coining the term “heroin-chic,” and then a flock of other 1990′s models joined the crew). She seemed to live such a fast, sexy life and I wanted in on it. If I couldn’t be Kate, I wanted to be her best friend (and raid her closet). In some weird way, Kate Moss seemed like the approachable supermodel.

And then there were her pictures. Those editorial images shot by the likes of every major fashion photographer: the way Kate was like a chameleon – she could look girlie and sweet in one picture and vampy and seductive in the very next. She looked beautiful bare faced and beautiful with a full face of makeup. Kate’s success is truly unparalleled – even with “bad boy” boyfriends, a child out of wedlock and a drug scandal, she has stood the test of time. And perhaps that has to do with the uniqueness of her look, but there are many unique looking girls in the world. Perhaps, it’s a testament to her keen business sense – she is so much more than just a model (take, for example, her design deal with Top Shop). But I like to believe that Kate Moss is still relevant because, at the end of the day, what a model needs most of all is a beautiful photograph. And there is no one that photographs quite like Kate… she sure knows how to work a camera, and that’s something you’re born with, something that comes from the soul – not something you can be taught or poked and prodded to look like. Her style, confidence, humor and unique sense of beauty make Kate Moss my beauty and style maven.

Here are a few of my favorite iconic Kate Moss images:

AND…. here’s a really cool video of a very young Kate Moss auditioning for L’Oreal in the beginning of her modeling days (she didn’t get the gig)… a very interesting example of Kate’s confidence and natural sexuality.

Everyone has a favorite Kate Moss photo or story –

What’s yours?

Tell us in the comment section below…

(Bonus points if you can send us a link to a photo that we’ve never seen!)

*all images from sarahrhoward.tumblr.com