Kate Dillon Levin

Kate Dillon Levin (born March 2, 1974, in Washington, D.C.) is an American model and activist.

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.

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.

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.

Kate Dillon was born to Tom Dillon, a scientist, and Carol Dillon, a school teacher, near Washington, D.C., on March 2, 1974.

She has an older brother named Dan.

Dillon's family moved to San Diego when she was 10.

Dillon was teased by peers in adolescence because of her size.

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.

Dillon graduated from La Jolla Country Day School and was accepted in the University of California, Berkeley.

After graduating high school, Dillon decided to model full-time instead of attending college.

Dillon was discovered by a San Diego photographer at 16 while sitting in a cafe.

She modeled in Los Angeles while finishing high school.

Dillon 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.

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.

Dillon was on the cover of Mademoiselle in November 1992.

She also appeared in editorials for many magazines including U.S. Elle, Marie Claire and French Glamour in 1993.

Dillon also walked for designers including Alberta Ferretti, Emporio Armani, Fendi, and Salvatore Ferragamo in the Autumn/Winter 1993 season.

She also walked for Dior in 1993.

She left fashion modeling in 1993 to recover from her eating disorder and find a new career path.

In 1995, Dillon returned to New York City to study elementary education.

A friend advised Dillon to try plus-size modeling while in New York.

Dillon applied to Wilhelmina Models, and was signed immediately.

Dillon became the face of Elisabeth by Liz Claiborne in 1996, appearing on a Times Square billboard.

She also appeared in a nationwide advertising campaign for Playtex that year.

Glamour featured Dillon 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.

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.

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.

Dillon was named Model of the Year by Mode magazine in 1998.

Richard Avedon photographed her for an advertising campaign for Avenue in 1999, where she appeared as different types of women, including Aphrodite.

Dillon became the first plus-size model Avedon photographed.

Dillon appeared in Gucci's Spring 2000 campaign, becoming one of the first plus-size models to appear in a mainstream fashion ad. In 2000, Dillon became the second plus-size model named to People's Most Beautiful People list.

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.

In November 2001, Dillon appeared in a Vogue Paris editorial photographed by David Armstrong and styled by Carine Roitfeld.