London: Kate Moss has been named Britain's Model of the Year - despite a trail of cocaine allegations that lost her millions in modelling contracts.
Thirty-two-year-old Moss won out over two other finalists, Erin O'Connor and Alek Wek, at the British Fashion Awards.
"Kate Moss is a fashion icon and without doubt one of the most prolific models in the industry," the awards panel said yesterday in naming her the winner. "She has now been modelling for over 15 years and remains at the top of her game."
The British Fashion Council refused to comment on the potential controversy of Moss's nomination.
Moss lost contracts with H&M, Chanel, Gloria Vanderbilt and Burberry after the Daily Mirror newspaper published images of the model allegedly snorting cocaine with British rocker boyfriend Pete Doherty last year and dubbed her "Cocaine Kate."
After the pictures were published, Moss made a public apology and went to a drug rehabilitation clinic in Arizona. Prosecutors decided in June there was insufficient evidence to charge Moss.
Since then, she has made a huge comeback, appearing frequently in fashion magazines and winning back contracts.
Still, some say giving an award to someone whose career has been pocked by drug allegations sets a bad example.
"To me it's baffling ...," said Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos, speaking in Britain this week during an anti-drug campaign.
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