# Faith Kates
## Summary
Faith Kates is a co-founder and modeling agent at Next Model Management, one of New York's prominent modeling agencies. The archive contains [6,984 emails](/person/faith-kates-extmodels) between Kates and Jeffrey Epstein spanning from 2009 to 2019,2019.revealingThese emails reveal a sustained personal and professional relationship that extended well beyond typical business interactions. Kates served as a gateway between Epstein and the modeling world, organizing photo shoots for young women in Epstein's social circle, vetting models for his review, and maintaining regular social contact with him throughout his 2008 conviction and subsequent investigations. The relationship was characterized by deep emotional dependency on Kates's part, professional collaboration involving teenage subjects, and Kates's positioning as a trusted confidante on Epstein's personal and financial entanglements with women. While she appears to have been unaware of Epstein's sex trafficking operation, she facilitated access to young models and coordinated professional services that Epstein funded, raising questions about how much legitimate modeling professionals knew—or should have known—about his predatory behavior.
## Background
Faith Kates co-founded Next Model Management (also referred to as Next Models) with her business partner, running the New York office at 15 Watts Street. The agency represented fashion models and maintained offices in multiple cities. Kates held the title of modeling agent and worked directly with clients on bookings, photo shoots, and career development. Her professional network included fashion photographers, hairstylists, and connections to the entertainment industry.
By 2010, her personal assistant Anna Parker [interviewed at Epstein's townhouse](/drive/vol00011-efta02420561-pdf) for potential employment on October 20, 2010, with [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) coordinating and Rich Barnett and Janusz Banasia (Epstein's household staff) [copied on the notification](/drive/vol00011-efta02420561-pdf). Anna Parker continued working with Kates at least through 2017, when she was referenced in connection with US Open tennis tickets that Epstein purchased.
Kates had at least two sons; one had a Bar Mitzvah on February 22, 2014 at Central Synagogue in New York at 11:30am, followed by dinner and dancing at The Edison Ballroom at 7pm, which [Epstein's staff noted on his calendar](/drive/HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_001186.jpg)—the same day Epstein was departing for Little St. James—though there is no evidence he attended. Another son, Dylan, was a tennis player who attended a privileged school and applied to the University of Pennsylvania in fall 2018. When Dylan was deferred, his guidance counselor wrote that ["they love him and don't understand why he was deferred other than to say that with penn is who you know"](/thread/EFTA02612572) and noted he was ["not a student who needs to prove anything. Has the scores, has the grades and curriculum, has school support"](/thread/EFTA02612572). In December 2018, Kates forwarded the counselor's letter to Epstein seeking help with his admission. Epstein responded by asking ["Ron perlman, nina wexler? Who is this person? Dr port also having a fit"](/thread/EFTA02612572),fit"](/thread/EFTA02612572).suggestingHeheappearedwasto be considering which of his Penn connections could help, and notinghe noted that another parent (Dr. Port) was also upset about a deferred admission and seeking his influence.
Kates appears on Epstein's master [PEOPLE LIST](/drive/vol00009-efta00309068-pdf), a personal contact document that places her alongside figures including Leon Black, Alan Dershowitz, [Glenn Dubin](/person/glenn-dubin), [Eva Dubin](/person/eva-dubin), Jean Luc Brunel, Naomi Campbell, Harvey Weinstein, Ramsey Elkholy, Peggy Siegel, Prince Andrew (Duke of York), Michael Milken, Larry Summers, and Jes Staley. This establishes her as a member of Epstein's core personal network rather than a peripheral professional contact.
## Correspondence with Epstein
Kates maintained an active correspondence with Epstein from at least 2009 through May 2019, just weeks before his final arrest. The relationship was both professional and personal, characterized by frequent phone contact, social meetings, and collaborative projects involving young women in Epstein's orbit. The emotional tenor of their correspondence reveals Kates treated Epstein as one of the most important people in her life.
### Depth of Personal Relationship
On November 25, 2010 (Thanksgiving), Kates wrote to Epstein: [**"Kisses to the entire Epstein family we have so much to be thankful for me more than anyone because I have you in my life XOXO"**](/drive/vol00011-efta02414729-pdf). Three days later, when Epstein apparently stopped responding, she sent an anxious message: ["I don't understand y u r not answering my calls or emails is everything ok? Should I worry??? Xoxo Me"](/drive/vol00011-efta02414746-pdf). In December 2016, after receiving a gift from him, Kates wrote: ["Thank you for the beautiful bag it wasn't and never is about a present the small things are what's important in life **Forgiven** Where are you this week? Are you in pb?"](/thread/EFTA02664068). Epstein responded ["Pb"](/thread/EFTA02664068) (Palm Beach), and she asked ["Until when?"](/thread/EFTA02664068), tracking his movements between New York and Florida. The word "Forgiven" in the gift message suggests there had been some conflict or slight that needed resolution, which the gift accomplished.
### Professional Services and Photo Shoots
A significant portion of their correspondence involved Kates organizing modeling photo shoots for young women connected to Epstein. In March 2010, Epstein wrote that he would ["be in fla from mar 26 - apr 4.. i would love it if could do a model shoot. ( this is what she wants ) I obviously will pcik up the expense"](/drive/vol00011-efta02428688-pdf). The subject's name was partially redacted but is consistent with Celina Dubin, the teenage daughter of Epstein's close friends Glenn and Eva Dubin. Kates responded offering photographer options, noting ["when I did this for other friends they wanted bruce weber ant it cost north of 1OOk or we can do it for less than 1Ok"](/drive/vol00011-efta02428688-pdf). Bruce Weber, whom Kates suggested as the elite option, later faced sexual misconduct allegations, though this reference appears to be simply an industry standard at the time rather than evidence of Kates's awareness of such issues.
The March 2010 shoot was initially planned for Florida during Epstein's visit there, but in June 2010, Epstein asked Kates to ["orgainze celinas photo shoot for the 9-10th or 23-24"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413713-pdf). He later thanked her for ["organizing the shoot"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413162-pdf), telling her to ["coordinate directly with eva"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413162-pdf) and copying Eva Dubin's email address, making Eva directly involved in the coordination. On June 11, 2010, Kates reported that ["She is having the best time █ just emailed me to say thank you and its amazing"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413382-pdf). On June 16, 2010, [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) asked Epstein whether ["Faith Kates would like to send you the invoices for ████ test photo shoots. Would you like her to send the invoices to Bella?"](/drive/vol00011-efta02412976-pdf), referring to Bella Klein, an Epstein financial employee. Epstein confirmed ["yes"](/drive/vol00011-efta02412976-pdf), establishing that he directly funded these shoots through his accounting infrastructure.
### Vetting Models for Epstein
Kates also provided assessments of models at Epstein's request. In February 2019, Epstein sent Kates what appears to be a photo or portfolio with a single question mark; Kates responded: ["Thumbs down not there kind of girl the real issue is she has been around for a while people know here. If she wants to work she should go back to Tokyo where she killed it. Her look and height is super limiting"](/thread/EFTA02634577). Epstein replied ["appreciated thx"](/thread/vol00009-efta01032811-pdf). That same week, Epstein pressed Kates multiple times about feedback on an unnamed model during London Fashion Week, asking ["Feedback on [redacted]? London?"](/thread/vol00009-efta01032967-pdf). She told him the ["Last day of London shows talking to them in the am"](/thread/vol00009-efta01032923-pdf).
In 2014, a model emailed Epstein explaining that she was unhappy with her agency and that Barry (likely Barry Diller, a close Epstein associate) ["said he knows Faith Kates at NEXT and that he gonna write her about me.. Also he said that you know Faith as well and he told me to ask you to write her as well.. since she would listen to you. Please can you write Faith to see if she can meet me someday next week?"](/thread/EFTA01926671). The model noted Faith ["would listen to you"](/thread/EFTA01926671),you"](/thread/EFTA01926671).suggestingThis indicates Kates valued Epstein's recommendations.
In May 2011, Epstein asked whether ["Kamila Wawrzyniak see someone today in NExt Direct.. she is a friend of ramsesys„ one time IMG. now 25"](/drive/vol00009-efta00911202-pdf) could get an appointment at the agency. "Ramsesys" was Ramsey Elkholy ([email protected]), who appears on [Epstein's PEOPLE LIST](/drive/vol00009-efta00309068-pdf) alongside Kates herself. Kates immediately responded ["Sure I'm not in today what time does she want to come in"](/drive/vol00009-efta00911213-pdf). Elkholy replied ["How about 1pm?"](/drive/vol00009-efta00911213-pdf), Epstein confirmed ["taken care of"](/drive/vol00009-efta00911213-pdf), and Elkholy responded ["thanks :)"](/drive/vol00009-efta00911213-pdf). This exchange demonstrates the pipeline: Epstein associate → Epstein → Faith Kates → Next Models appointment, with Kates facilitating access on the same day as the request.
### Model Referrals and Nadia Marcinkova Connection
In May 2009, Epstein told an unidentified woman with an online portfolio at www.etoiles.ro (a Romanian website) that his ["friend that owns next models"](/drive/vol00009-efta00775001-pdf) would see her. The full message reveals a critical detail about the referral process: ["I spoke to my friend that owns next models, she will see you... also **Nadia** said she could shoot you any morning, she is learning to fly airplanes in the afternoon"](/drive/vol00009-efta00775001-pdf). The "she is learning to fly airplanes" refers to [Nadia Marcinkova](/person/nadia-marcinkova-nmarcinkova), who was known to be training as a pilot and who was herself a victim of Epstein who later became complicit in his operation. This directly connects the model referral to Nadia Marcinkova's offer to photograph the woman. Epstein wanted to speak with the woman and review her "book" before she met with Kates at Next,Next.demonstratingThis demonstrates controlling behavior where he vetted models before allowing them to see his modeling agent friend.
**Note:** An earlier version of this email thread ([EFTA02442502.pdf](/drive/vol00011-efta02442502-pdf)) was more heavily redacted and created the misleading impression that Kates herself was "learning to fly airplanes." The less-redacted version ([EFTA00775001.pdf](/drive/vol00009-efta00775001-pdf)) clarifies that "Nadia" was the subject learning to fly, not Kates.
### Social Relationship and Regular Contact
Beyond professional matters, Kates and Epstein maintained regular social contact. In May 2017, [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) coordinated an afternoon visit where Epstein would ["come down town and see you"](/thread/EFTA02213507) at Kates's office. Groff confirmed he would ["leave the house at 1:30 to come see you at 2pm"](/thread/EFTA02213507), later messaging ["Jeffrey is on his way!!"](/thread/EFTA02213507). In March 2018, Kates arranged for someone (possibly a hairstylist) to visit Epstein's townhouse, telling Groff ["unless I hear from you he will be at your house at 830"](/thread/EFTA02240690).
In December 2010, Epstein invited Kates shopping, asking ["What is your schedule this weekend? Andrew and I are going to go shopping at BArneys,-- want to come?"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413782-pdf). When Kates asked ["By the way who is andrew? Farkas???"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413788-pdf) (guessing Andrew Farkas, another Epstein associate), Epstein clarified ["Prince"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413784-pdf), referring to Prince Andrew. Kates replied enthusiastically ["Sure with 2 princes what's the plan?"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413784-pdf). The shopping trip took place on December 4, 2010. They agreed to ["meet us at Barneys, at 12"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413910-pdf) at the ["barneys first floor mad entrance"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413910-pdf) (Madison Avenue entrance). Kates confirmed ["Ok c u there"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413930-pdf). Shortly before the meeting, Epstein messaged ["5 minutes"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413946-pdf). That evening at 10:33pm, Kates reported: [**"Fun day he is lovely ill explain later we had a good laugh(chuckle) at lunch Xoxo"**](/drive/vol00011-efta02414045-pdf),Xoxo"**](/drive/vol00011-efta02414045-pdf).indicatingThis indicates they had lunch together (likely at Fred's as Kates had initially suggested) and that she found Prince Andrew charming. The next day, December 5, 2010, Kates wrote ["Read page 8 in ny times today"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413759-pdf), possibly referring to coverage related to the Prince Andrew connection. This shopping trip occurred approximately two weeks before the December 2010 paparazzi photographs of Prince Andrew walking with Epstein in Central Park that caused a major political scandal in the United Kingdom.
The two exchanged holiday communications and personal updates. In December 2016, Kates thanked Epstein for ["the beautiful bag"](/thread/EFTA02664068) and wrote that ["the small things are what's important in life"](/thread/EFTA02664068). She frequently updated him on personal matters; in May 2010, she [forwarded information](/thread/vol00009-efta00891911-pdf) about a new multiple sclerosis drug for his cousin. In May 2019, weeks before Epstein's arrest, Groff sent a gift to Dylan (Kates's son), and Kates responded warmly that ["Dylan tried to call him but he's not answering his phone he will try again tomorrow"](/thread/EFTA02288874), showing her son had Epstein's personal phone number and felt comfortable calling him directly.
Kates appeared on Epstein's call lists and was in regular phone contact with him. A December 2011 reminder showed [Kates among five people](/thread/EFTA02038705) Epstein needed to call that day. Staff messages frequently noted ["Please call Faith Kates"](/thread/EFTA02352122) with her office number.
### Financial Matters and Personal Confidences
In June 2010, [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) asked Epstein whether Kates should ["send you the invoices for [redacted] test photo shoots"](/drive/vol00011-efta02412976-pdf) and whether he wanted her to send them to Bella, apparently Bella Klein, an Epstein financial employee. Epstein confirmed ["yes"](/drive/vol00011-efta02412976-pdf). This indicates Epstein directly paid for photo shoots Kates arranged through proper invoicing channels rather than personal payments to Kates, with professional invoices processed through his accounting infrastructure.
In May 2009, Epstein discussed a financial dilemma with Kates regarding "Tatiana," a woman Kates clearly knew personally, explaining: ["when she first started seeing the moron, if you recall she wasn't working, and needed money.. so she signed tow promissorr notes and i loaned her 60k// She used it for the two of them.. now that she has a recovery. I have to decide whether to ask her for the money. or . forgive the note. she will have income taxes to pay..even if i do that. The fact that he has stopped her from speaking to me, influences my decision"](/thread/EFTA02442734). Kates responded ["Lets talk in the am let me have a think on it"](/thread/EFTA02442734),it"](/thread/EFTA02442734).demonstratingThisshedemonstratesservedsheaswas a trusted confidante on Epstein's financial and personal entanglements with individual women. The phrase "if you recall" indicates Kates had prior knowledge of Tatiana and her circumstances. The detail that Tatiana's boyfriend (whom Epstein called "the moron") ["has stopped her from speaking to me"](/thread/EFTA02442734) suggests the boyfriend recognized the inappropriate nature of Epstein's relationship with Tatiana and intervened to cut off contact. Tatiana's identity remains unknown.
In June 2010, Epstein and Kates discussed someone named "Keith" who both felt ["needs to do more"](/drive/vol00011-efta02411919-pdf). Kates wrote ["? he is coming to see me tomorrow I have a few ideas but im afraid to make the intros thoughts"](/drive/vol00011-efta02411919-pdf),thoughts"](/drive/vol00011-efta02411919-pdf).suggestingThis suggests Keith needed introductions to people in the fashion/modeling industry but Kates was reluctant to make them. Earlier that month, Kates had noted ["Never heard back from keith"](/drive/vol00011-efta02413298-pdf). This exchange demonstrates collaborative business activities between Kates and Epstein beyond photo shoots, with Kates consulting him on whether to help advance someone's career.
During the March 2010 Celina Dubin photo shoot planning, Kates mentioned ["Ok ill call u after breakfast with steven"](/drive/vol00011-efta02428764-pdf), referring to a breakfast meeting with someone named Steven whose identity and connection remain unclear.
### Professional Courtesies and Woody Allen Connection
Kates kept Epstein updated on service providers. In May 2019, she wrote that ["Patrick (the hairdresser) is now working at JOHN Barrett across from the 4 seasons hotel the salon is big and beautiful"](/thread/EFTA02285447), to which [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) replied thanking her for the update.
In February 2012, Kates sent Epstein a professional biography of ["The Honourable Lady CLARA PAGET"](/thread/EFTA01809498), a British aristocrat (daughter of Lord and Lady Uxbridge) who was acting and modeling, with credits including roles in *One Day* and *Johnny English 2*, and appearances in British Vogue and American Vogue. Kates wrote: ["This is for woody she is so cool and so right you can't pretend To be a princess!!! She is the real deal"](/thread/EFTA01809498), referencing filmmaker Woody Allen. Epstein responded by asking whether Paget would ["be in paris, ? i suggest you choose two or three others, either ny or paris"](/drive/vol00011-efta02550400-pdf). This demonstrates that Kates was not simply suggesting one model to Epstein but was being asked to curate a selection of multiple young models/actresses for Epstein to arrange meetings with Woody Allen in either New York or Paris. This occurred in February 2012—years after Epstein's 2008 conviction—and Kates was serving as a model-selector for meetings arranged by a convicted sex offender with a filmmaker who himself faced allegations of sexual abuse of a child.
### Tennis Tickets and "The Girls"
Kates had extensive correspondence (221 emails) with Vijay Paul and (186 emails) with Ray Benton. These individuals are not mysterious Epstein associates as the volume of correspondence might suggest; rather, Vijay Paul is the Senior Manager of Business Development at JTCC (Junior Tennis Champions Center) in College Park, Maryland, and Ray Benton is the CEO of JTCC. The correspondence relates to Kates purchasing [US Open tennis tickets](/drive/vol00011-efta02227562-pdf) through the tennis center.
On September 5, 2017, Kates ordered 4 courtside tickets ($2,800 total) for the US Open, with delivery arranged to ["9 east 71st it's a town house"](/drive/vol00011-efta02227562-pdf)—Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) told Rich Kahn: ["Jeffrey bought US Open tickets for the girls...but I have not seen any request for payment until now...Anna had only mentioned it to me in passing that Jeffrey was going to purchase them tickets"](/drive/vol00011-efta02226854-pdf). Epstein directed Kahn to ["Ok to pay"](/drive/vol00011-efta02226854-pdf). The reference to "the girls" is ambiguous—the identity of who these expensive courtside tickets were for remains unclear from the archive. The "Anna" referenced is Anna Parker, Kates's assistant, who was aware of the ticket purchase arrangement.
### Continuity Through Scandal
Notably, Kates's correspondence with Epstein continued uninterrupted after his 2008 guilty plea and continued through the period of mounting public allegations against him. In March 2019, Epstein sent her a link to [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/opinion/letters/jeffrey-epstein.html](/thread/vol00009-efta01031587-pdf)—the New York Times opinion letters section about his case—without comment,demonstratingcomment.heHe trusted her enough to share coverage of his own legal situation with her. This was approximately four months before his July 2019 arrest. Their final documented exchange was in May 2019, just weeks before his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, when they were coordinating the gift for her son Dylan.
## Connections
Kates's primary correspondent was [Jeffrey Epstein (alias)](/person/jeffrey-epstein-alias) himself, with 5,477 shared emails. She communicated regularly with Epstein's assistants [Lesley Groff](/person/lesley-groff-nameonly) (174 emails) and occasionally with [Sarah Kellen](/person/sarah-kellen) (7 emails). She had substantial correspondence with [Vijay Paul](/person/vijay-paul-jtcc) (221 emails) and [Ray Benton](/person/ray-bent-n) (186 emails), both of whom were professional contacts at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland for purchasing US Open tickets, not Epstein associates. Her interactions with [Rich Kahn](/person/rich-kahn) (186 emails), Epstein's accountant at HBRK Associates, related to invoicing and payments for modeling services, including the US Open tickets Epstein purchased. Other correspondents included various professionals in Epstein's orbit including [Joel Wilkenfeld](/person/joel-wilkenfeld-sharefile) and [Gary Press](/person/gary-press-texas).
Despite both being modeling industry figures in Epstein's orbit and both appearing on his [PEOPLE LIST](/drive/vol00009-efta00309068-pdf), no direct emails between Faith Kates and Jean-Luc Brunel have been found in the archive,archive.suggestingTheytheymay have operated in separate spheres of Epstein's modeling accessaccess, or their communications were not preserved.
## Document References
The DOJ archive contains numerous emails between Kates and Epstein preserved as PDF documents. A [June 2010 email](/drive/vol00011-efta02412976-pdf) shows Epstein approving payment of Kates's invoices for photo shoots. The [December 2010 exchange](/drive/vol00011-efta02413782-pdf) captures the shopping invitation with Prince Andrew, with subsequent messages documenting the [meeting logistics](/drive/vol00011-efta02413910-pdf) and Kates's [enthusiastic report](/drive/vol00011-efta02414045-pdf) that Prince Andrew was "lovely" and they "had a good laugh at lunch." The archive includes a [February 2012 email](/drive/vol00011-efta02550400-pdf) where Kates sent Epstein information about Lady Clara Paget for potential meetings with Woody Allen, with Epstein asking her to select ["two or three others"](/drive/vol00011-efta02550400-pdf). The [May 2009 email about Tatiana](/thread/EFTA02442734) reveals Epstein consulting Kates on a $60,000 loan to a woman he knew. The [May 2011 Kamila Wawrzyniak referral](/drive/vol00009-efta00911202-pdf) documents the pipeline from Ramsey Elkholy through Epstein to Kates for a same-day Next Models appointment. Staff schedules and calendar reminders reference Kates throughout, including a [September 2012 calendar reminder](/thread/EFTA02160018) noting ["1:30 Depart for Faith Kates office"](/thread/EFTA02160018).
Kates appears in the metadata of Epstein's financial records showing he funded photo shoots she organized. Her name surfaces in multiple staff communications where Epstein's assistants note she called or requested he return her call. The volume and consistency of these references—spanning a decade and continuing through Epstein's conviction and mounting public scrutiny—document an unusually close relationship between a modeling professional and a convicted sex offender.
## Criminal Exposure Assessment
The archive contains no evidence that Faith Kates knew about or participated in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Extensive searches found no emails containing "massage" in connection with Kates, no references to "young," "teen," "school," or "age" in concerning contexts, and no evidence of visits to Palm Beach, Little St. James, New Mexico ranch, or Paris apartment. Kates does not appear in any court documents, victim depositions, or legal proceedings, nor in any flight logs or guest lists for Epstein properties outside Manhattan. Her correspondence focuses entirely on matters consistent with legitimate modeling industry activity: photo shoots, agency representation, professional assessments, and social interactions.
However, several aspects of the relationship warrant scrutiny:
**Visits to Epstein properties:**
The evidence documents meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, but specific dates and frequency are difficult to enumerate from the available materials:
- Manhattan townhouse: Multiple confirmed visits
1. May 18, 2017 - Epstein visited her office downtown ([thread](/thread/EFTA02213507))
2. September 12, 2012 - Calendar shows ["Depart for Faith Kates office"](/thread/EFTA02160018) at 1:30pm
3. March 23, 2018 - Arranged for someone to visit his house at 8:30am ([thread](/thread/EFTA02240690))
4. December 4, 2010 - Shopping trip with Prince Andrew involved meeting at Barneys and lunch, suggestingwhich suggests social familiarity with his residence
5. Anna Parker, Kates's assistant, interviewed at the townhouse in October 2010 ([document](/drive/vol00011-efta02420561-pdf)), with Epstein's household staff (Rich Barnett and Janusz Banasia) notified of her visit
6. September 5, 2017 - US Open tickets delivered to ["9 east 71st it's a town house"](/drive/vol00011-efta02227562-pdf)
- Palm Beach, Little St. James, New Mexico ranch, Paris apartment: No evidence found of visits
**Knowledge of Epstein's history:** Kates maintained active correspondence with Epstein throughout the period after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. She continued to provide modeling services, refer women to him, and maintain a social friendship. The absence of any protective or cautionary language in a decade of correspondence with a convicted sex offender about young models is notable—no emails have been found containing words like "worry," "concern," "careful," "young," "appropriate," "chaperone," or "safe" in relation to models or young women. While many in elite circles continued relationships with Epstein post-conviction, a modeling agent's continued close association with a registered sex offender raises ethical questions about duty of care to young women in the industry.
**Facilitating access to young women:** Kates organized professional photo shoots and meetings for women in Epstein's social circle, including Celina Dubin (then a teenager) and various models Epstein referred to her. She vetted potential models at his request and facilitated introductions, including same-day appointments for women referred by Epstein's associates like Ramsey Elkholy. The March 2010 photo shoot for Celina Dubin was initially planned for Florida during Epstein's visit there, though the June 2010 shoot appears to have taken place in New York with Eva Dubin directly copied on coordination emails. While these activities appear to have been legitimate modeling services, they functioned to give Epstein ongoing access to young women through professional channels. The extent to which Kates understood Epstein's motives versus viewing these as normal industry requests cannot be determined from the emails.
**Professional boundaries:** The relationship extended well beyond normal client-vendor interactions. Shopping trips with Prince Andrew where Kates found him "lovely" and they "had a good laugh at lunch," personal gifts including an expensive bag, advice on $60,000 loans to models, curating multiple models for Epstein to arrange meetings with Woody Allen, Thanksgiving messages expressing gratitude that ["I have you in my life"](/drive/vol00011-efta02414729-pdf), anxious messages when he didn't respond to her calls, tracking his movements between New York and Palm Beach, and intimate knowledge of each other's family lives (including her son having Epstein's personal phone number) suggest Kates viewed Epstein as a close personal friend and was emotionally dependent on the relationship rather than treating him merely as a client who occasionally paid for photo shoots.
**Institutional access:** Kates's willingness to facilitate Epstein's requests even after his conviction demonstrates how his continued access to the modeling industry operated. When Epstein wanted a model to get a Next appointment, it happened the same day. When he wanted multiple models curated for meetings with Woody Allen, Kates selected them. When he wanted photo shoots organized for teenagers in his social circle, she coordinated with elite photographers and with the parents directly. The pipeline functioned smoothly: Epstein associate → Epstein → Kates → modeling industry access.
**Overall assessment:** Faith Kates appears to have been a legitimate modeling professional who maintained an inappropriately close relationship with a convicted sex offender that was characterized by deep personal attachment on her part and professional facilitation of his access to young women. There is no evidence she knew about trafficking or abuse. However, her decade-long willingness to facilitate Epstein's access to models, organize photo shoots for teenagers in his social circle (including shoots initially planned for Florida where Epstein would be present), provide same-day appointments for women referred by his associates, curate multiple models for meetings with controversial figures like Woody Allen, and maintain a warm, emotionally dependent personal friendship with him through years of public allegations demonstrates, at minimum, a serious lapse in professional judgment. The modeling industry's failure to establish clear boundaries with Epstein—exemplified by Kates's decade-long relationship with him that continued uninterrupted through his conviction, continued public allegations, and right up until his final arrest—representsarrest—is a broader institutional failure to protect young women from predators who used professional opportunities as cover for exploitation.
