Karen Elson

Karen Jill Elson, born 14 January 1979, is an English fashion model, singer, and songwriter. She was raised in Oldham, Greater Manchester, where she attended North Chadderton School alongside her fraternal twin sister, filmmaker Kate Elson. She began her modeling career locally after being discovered at age 16 by Debra Burns of Boss Model Management, leaving Oldham a year later.

Elson's international modeling career launched on her 18th birthday when photographer Steven Meisel shot her for the cover of Italian Vogue. She went on to work with prominent photographers such as Mario Testino, Peter Lindbergh, Helmut Newton, and Bruce Weber, as well as high-profile fashion houses including Chanel, Dior, Versace, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. Over her career, she has appeared on more than 30 magazine covers, including international editions of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and W.

Throughout her modeling career, Elson received several key industry honors. She was named Model of the Year at the 1997 VH1 Fashion Awards and won the British Fashion Award for Best Model in 2005. She was featured as one of American Vogue's "Models of the Moment" in 2004 and appeared on the September 2008 cover of British Vogue as "Fashion's Red Queen." In 2012, she was one of eight British models chosen to walk during the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in London.

In addition to editorial work and runway shows, Elson has fronted campaigns for brands such as St. John, Banana Republic, H&M, and John Lewis, and serves as the global face of Jo Malone London. She has also contributed to fashion films and media projects, including work with Nick Knight's SHOWstudio.com, designed a line of shoes, bags, and jewelry for Nine West, and appeared in music videos such as The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid."

Beyond modeling, Elson established a career in music. In 2004, she became a founding member of the New York-based political cabaret group the Citizens Band, writing and performing material for the troupe. She later launched a solo recording career, releasing her debut album, The Ghost Who Walks, in May 2010 through Third Man Records. Her musical career continued with the release of her second album, Double Roses, in 2017, followed by her third album, Green, in 2022. She has also recorded various cover songs for tribute albums, films, and television soundtracks.

Elson is active in charitable work and advocacy. As an ambassador for Save the Children, she has traveled to Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, and the Middle East to advocate for children's rights. She published an autobiography, The Red Flame, in 2020. Elson was previously married to musician Jack White from 2005 to 2013, with whom she has two children. In 2024, she married Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster, and they reside in Nashville, Tennessee.