She’s repeatedly been acclaimed model of the year, has lent her talents to Beyonce videos – and even the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics – as well as fronting campaigns for every brand from Burberry to Yves Saint Laurent, amassing nearly four million followers on Instagram and appearing on Forbes’ list of top-earning models.
It’s scarcely a shabby record, especially for someone who, as a schoolgirl, dismissed herself as ‘tall and lanky’ – only to catch the eye of a model agency scout in the Hammersmith branch of Primark aged just 15.
But what is happening with the seemingly unstoppable and impossibly glamorous Jourdan Dunn’s brand ambitions?
The question’s prompted by the fate of the 35-year-old’s company, Silly Rabbit Ltd, which she’s just put into liquidation – a detail which might appear inconsequential but for the fact that it has debts of nearly £750,000. Of that sum, £173,453 is owed in unpaid VAT.
But that’s dwarfed by an outstanding bill for £561,870 owed in corporation tax.
This sorry state of affairs seems bewildering in view of Jourdan’s undoubted earning power which was reflected in the last set of accounts filed by the company.
These disclose that, on June 30, 2024, Silly Rabbit held funds of £706,373 – pretty close to the entire amount now owed in unpaid taxes.
The supermodel’s representatives decline to respond to repeated requests for comment – a silence which only intensifies the mystery, especially given the scale and scope of Jourdan’s ambitions.
Jourdan Dunn has been acclaimed model of the year and fronted campaigns for major brands
In 2024, she outlined her vision for her own brand – inspired, in part, by her online cookery show, Well Dunn, in which she prepared meals with fellow supermodels, including Cara Delevingne.
‘I want to be the UK’s black Martha Stewart,’ she said, referring to America’s indomitable ‘homeware’ retail queen.
‘That’s the next step to building an empire and creating generational wealth, and having the Dunn name live on past me.’
Will Wills introduce Kate to Christina?
American pop princess Christina Aguilera, 45, is to perform in August at Sandringham
Back in his hard-partying days, a young Prince William reportedly exchanged telephone numbers with Christina Aguilera when she visited Whisky Mist, one of his favourite Mayfair nightspots, with her heiress friend Paris Hilton.
Has she finally got round to ringing him back? I ask only because the American pop princess, 45, is to perform in August at Sandringham, where William, 43, and Catherine, 44, have a country retreat.
It would be a first meeting for the princess, who was not at Whisky Mist the night Wills introduced himself to Christina, pictured, whose hits include Genie In A Bottle and What a Girl Wants.
Morrissey: My misery in the Maldives
David Morrissey admits that he once treated himself to a luxurious Indian Ocean holiday – but couldn’t escape the guilt
The Walking Dead star David Morrissey struggles to enjoy the fruits of his labour. The cobbler’s son from Liverpool admits that he once treated himself to a luxurious Indian Ocean holiday – but couldn’t escape the guilt.
‘I booked the Maldives, and that was quite extravagant,’ explains the actor, 61. ‘It was a lovely holiday, apart from the fact that the whole time I was there, I was thinking, “I can’t believe how much this has cost”.’
David, who has three children with his novelist ex-wife Esther Freud, adds: ‘I couldn’t enjoy it because I kept thinking, “Oh, my God, how much is this? How much is that?” It was just really weird.
‘I didn’t love the fact that something had cost me so much money. I got guilt and I just felt that it was a bit too over the top, really.’ Torture…
Once, luvvies threatened to quit Britain if the Tories won power. Now, it’s Nigel Farage who could spark an exodus.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor, 76, discloses: ‘My wife says she’s leaving the country if he gets in, and I don’t blame her.’ Taylor does not say if he will follow South African-born Sarina, who married the rocker in 2010, to pastures new.
Madonna stops the traffic in NY
Madonna brought traffic to a standstill when she staged a surprise concert in New York’s Times Square to kick off Pride Month and promote her new album, Confessions II.
During her performance, the Queen of Pop, 67, straddled a speaker box and played air-guitar.
Sean Lennon was supportive, if alarmed. ‘She looks a little unhinged,’ says John Lennon’s musician son, 50.
He adds, however: ‘Surely she has earned the right to do whatever the hell she wants.’
Daniel Mays was left needing counselling recently after playing black-cab rapist John Worboys in ITV’s acclaimed drama Believe Me. The Bafta-nominated actor, 48, has, however, drawn the line at ITV’s latest request.
Discussing his guilty pleasure when he’s not in character, he reveals, ‘I do like a bit of that I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! They have asked me, but I wouldn’t last five minutes.’
Mays has previously said the growth of reality television was a ‘worrying thing’.
