Fashion world shakeup! Faith Kates, co-founder of Next Model Management, is stepping down after three decades, but insiders are whispering it’s not just about retirement.

Did the resurfacing of friendly emails between Kates and the late, disgraced Jeffrey Epstein play a role? Sources are saying it's more than just a coincidence.

Kates, who helped launch Next in 1989, announced her exit on November 24th via an email that, according to some, could have used a little editing. Was it a hastily written goodbye?

In the email, obtained by Page Six, Kates stated that after 36 years, she decided it was the "right moment to step back and retire from a job I loved." You can read the full report here.

Kates attributed her decision to her status as a "30 year cancer survivor," explaining a desire "to step back in, in order to give back."

She cited her work with a foundation focused on early diagnosis of gynecological diseases, potentially aided by AI. Noble cause, right?

"I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines," Kates concluded in her farewell to Next.

But an industry source tells Page Six there's more to the story. "She's spinning it as if she's retired," the source said, "but it's no coincidence that it's happening while her name is being riddled through all of the currently released Epstein files." Ouch.

Another insider seemed bewildered by the "retirement" narrative, emphasizing that it was "hers and hers alone." Was this a carefully crafted exit strategy?

Next Model Management declined to comment, leaving the rumor mill churning.

The emails in question date back to 2017, two years before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. He was later found dead in jail, an apparent suicide, while awaiting trial.

One particular email shows Epstein name-dropping Honeycomb Hedge Fund's David Fiszel, and even "Trump," while discussing Thanksgiving plans. Talk about name dropping!

Further down the email chain, Kates reportedly gushes about "always want[ing] to see" Epstein and inquires about his return to NYC. A little too friendly for some people's taste, perhaps?

Sources tell Page Six that Epstein was spotted around the Next offices back in the 2000s. "He just seemed like some dude," the source stated. "No one knew him."

But now, those sightings and emails are under intense scrutiny, casting a shadow over Kates' departure and raising questions about the fashion industry's connections to Epstein.

Did these resurfaced emails expedite her exit? Or was it simply the right time for her to move on and focus on her philanthropic endeavors?

Whatever the real reason, the timing is certainly raising eyebrows.

And the industry is definitely watching to see what happens next.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. One thing's for sure: the aftershocks of the Epstein scandal continue to ripple through high society.

Is this truly the end of an era for Next Model Management? Or the start of a new chapter?

Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: this is one retirement that’s anything but quiet.

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