Modelling Exec’s Decades-Long Friendship with Epstein Revealed in Files
The modeling industry is reckoning with the long shadow of Jeffrey Epstein, as newly released documents reveal a decades-long relationship between the convicted sex offender and Faith Kates, founder of Next Management. Kates, who quietly stepped down from the agency in November 2025, shortly before the release of the Epstein files, appears to have not only maintained a close personal friendship with Epstein but also actively connected him with models on her books.
The revelations, reported initially by The Guardian and subsequently confirmed by multiple sources, paint a picture of a deeply intertwined relationship spanning nearly 40 years. Emails released by the Department of Justice show Kates offering Epstein support and “unconditional” friendship even after his 2009 conviction for soliciting a minor. The correspondence continued for years, with Kates offering advice, discussing potential business ventures, and even sending personal gifts.
While Kates’s connection to Epstein was previously known, the extent of their relationship – and her role in potentially introducing him to young women – is now coming into sharper focus. The files detail numerous instances where Kates discussed models with Epstein, providing their measurements and details, and even arranging meetings. In one 2011 email, Kates responded to Epstein with a list of women she could provide, stating, “I can obtain 2 that’s what you asked me for stand by.”
Former Next model Barbara Stoyanoff recounted an unsettling encounter with Epstein at Next’s offices in the 2010s, where he allegedly asked her to lift her dress to assess her physique. “He told me to stand up … and hoik my dress up to see my legs, then he asked me to lift my dress from behind to see how my butt was,” Stoyanoff told The Guardian. Kates’s spokesperson disputed the account, calling it “not credible.”
Another former model, Sena Cech, recalled being sent to Epstein’s New York home in 2004 by Kates, who allegedly provided his address on a Post-it note, with the suggestion that Epstein might assist with travel arrangements for fashion shoots. Cech described a dismissive encounter with Epstein, who criticized her appearance. Sara Ziff, founder of Model Alliance, stated that while she wasn’t directly sent to Epstein by Kates, she believes the agency provided him with her home address in the early 2000s.
The documents also reveal Epstein’s interest in leveraging Kates’s connections for access to other influential figures. In 2011, he inquired about “aspiring actresses” for a dinner with Woody Allen. Emails suggest Kates was actively involved in facilitating these connections.
Beyond introductions, the files suggest Epstein offered Kates financial assistance and business advice. He proposed a $6 million loan to help her buy out Next’s co-owners, Golden Gate Capital, with a strict condition of secrecy. He also provided advice on the negotiations, even scripting what Kates should say to Golden Gate’s managing director, Neale Attenborough. While Kates’s spokesperson maintains that none of these loans materialized, the correspondence reveals a significant level of financial entanglement.
In response to the revelations, Next Management issued a statement distancing itself from Kates, stating that her relationship with Epstein “was completely and absolutely unknown to Next management and its top executives.” The company said it is working to sever all legal ties with Kates. A spokesperson for Kates maintained that she “never put a model in harm’s way” and characterized Epstein as a “master manipulator.”
The timing of Kates’s departure from Next, just weeks before the release of the Epstein files, has raised eyebrows. While she publicly stated her intention to focus on charity work, the newly revealed details suggest a more complex motivation. The unfolding story underscores the pervasive reach of Epstein’s network and the potential for abuse within the fashion industry, prompting renewed calls for greater transparency, and accountability.
The revelations come as saw the release of further documents detailing Epstein’s activities in the Hamptons, highlighting his connections to powerful figures in business and politics. The ongoing scrutiny of these files continues to expose the extent of his influence and the individuals who enabled his behavior.