Supermodel Karen Mulder breaks 30-year silence to say she suffered 'horrible, inhumane things'

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 19:03 EDT, 18 August 2026 Cindy, Christy, Naomi, Linda – so famous were these supermodels in the 1990s that no surname was required.Decades later, they're still enjoying the fruits of their highly successful catwalk careers.Alas, the same can't be said of one of their closest contemporaries. Say 'Karen', and few would think of Karen Mulder, who was one of the highest-earning models of the Nineties, commanding over $10,000 (£7,400) a day and working extensively for Chanel, Dior, Versace and Victoria's Secret, as well as appearing on the cover of Vogue nine times.Since disappearing from the spotlight in 2000, the Dutch star once known as 'the blonde with class' has opted not merely to live a quiet life, but a silent one. Until now.Ms Mulder, 57, has been unveiled as the new cover star of German Vogue's prestigious September issue, breaking her 30-year silence to give an exclusive interview that sheds light – though not much – on why she disappeared from the fashion world at the height of her career.Glamorous as her life seemed after being talent-spotted aged 15, the reality was very different. Ms Mulder was an early whistleblower whose accusations of sexual abuse pre-empted the 'Me Too' movement by many years. In 2001, aged 32, she appeared on a French talk show and spoke of coercive behaviour within the industry, including severe abuse, drug use and threats. While the show never aired, Ms Mulder repeated her allegations to French police in a statement. Several days later, she was admitted to a psychiatric facility in Paris. Leaving after several months, she told police she 'fabricated' her accusations. Pictured: Karen Mulder as the cover star of German Vogue's prestigious September issue this year Karen Mulder walks the runway at the Hermes Pret a Porter show in Paris in October 1989In the Vogue interview, Ms Mulder details how she was 'locked away' and 'silenced', saying: 'I was forced to say I had made it all up.' She does not specify by whom, other than to speak of 'horrible, inhumane things' that happened to her.'I thought that because I was famous, people would believe me,' she tells German Vogue. 'All I wanted was for those terrible things to stop – for men to stop thinking they could do whatever they pleased.'While Ms Mulder claims she never met Jeffrey Epstein in person, her name has surfaced in relation to the Epstein files and their exposure of the supply of women to powerful men via modelling agents.Ms Mulder's agent was Gerald Marie, owner of Elite and former husband of her contemporary Linda Evangelista.In July, it was revealed Marie, 76, was facing rape allegations by six women, some of whom were models who worked for him in the 1980s and 1990s. In March, 15 former models wrote to the Paris prosecutor claiming to have legal documents linking Marie to Epstein. Marie denies all claims.Ms Mulder says she feels 'now is the right time to come back. I'm looking to the future with nothing but positivity'.A catwalk appearance is planned for next month. Never mind 'the blonde with class' – Karen Mulder is 'the blonde with bravery'.