Karen Jill Elson (b. 1/14/79) is an English model, singer, and songwriter. She was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and attended North Chadderton School as a child. She has a fraternal twin sister, filmmaker Kate Elson.

Modeling
Karen was discovered at age 16 in Manchester, began modeling locally, and left Oldham a year later. She was on the cover of Italian Vogue on her 18th birthday. She’s worked with most of the world’s major fashion photographers and fashion designers; her runway modeling credits are many. She has over 30 magazine covers to her credit. In 1997, Karen won the title of Model of the Year at the VH1 Fashion Awards; she’s won many other such awards. In 2008 she was the new face of British department store John Lewis and in 2009, she appeared on billboards internationally for H&M. She has a lengthy modeling CV! Wikipedia has a wealth of info about Karen’s modeling.

Karen has appeared in many short films and videos, including the music video for the White Stripes song, “Blue Orchid.” She’s appeared in fashion films: War Opera, Nick Knight’s Andy Warhol-inspired series More Beautiful Women, Craig McDean’s 48 Girls, and Bruce Weber’s Petit Fleur, Harlequin, Voodoo Daddy, Closer Walk With Thee and Karen’s Boogie (all films were made as a tribute to New Orleans.) She acted in the short film Lay Down Lean, a project by the experimental film-making team Belles of the Black Diamond Field. Karen has contributed to Nick Knight’s fashion site SHOWstudio.com since 2002. She has designed her own line of shoes, bags and jewelry for fashion brand Nine West.

Music
Karen is a founding member and performer with the NY-based political cabaret troupe the Citizens Band, since 2004. Critical response to Elson’s performances have been un-equivocally positive, with the press frequently commenting on her striking vocal skills. In addition to performing many cover tunes, she has also written and co-written songs for the troupe’s performances.

Karen contributed backing vocals to a remix of Robert Plant’s “Last Time I Saw Her” in 2002. In 2005, a personal recording of Elson singing “Coming Down” was made available on a CD accompanying the August 2005 issue of Uncut magazine. She sang a duet with Cat Power of “I Love You (Me Either)” for Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited, a tribute album to French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.

Personal life
Karen was married to American musician Jack White from 2005-2013, with whom she has two children. Their daughter, Scarlett, walked on the runway at Paris Fashion Week 2025. In 2024, Karen married Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster. They reside in Nashville, TN.

She is an ambassador for Save the Children and has traveled to Sierra Leone, the Middle East and the Ivory Coast. She has written articles and appeared on CNN to advocate for child rights.

Karen published an autobiography, The Red Flame (2020,) in which she details her childhood eating disorder, personal struggles and her career.

Discography and Filmography
Films = 2
Albums = 3
EPs = 1

artist’s official website

Source: wikipedia