Kate Upton Emerges Like A Tanned Blonde Phoenix To Claim Model Of The Year Title

In news that everyone saw coming, Kate Upton has been named the 2013 Model of the Year. This begs the question however, does anyone remember reading about any other model this year? Miss Upton didn’t really face abundant competition in that department. Nevertheless, it is quite the achievement.

To think that it all started from her joke dance video.

The Sports Illustrated alumna will receive the award on Wednesday, at the 12th Annual Style Awards, E!News reports. Besides her physique and her classic “girl next door” features, Upton mostly owes her big break to photographer Terry Richardson and Sports Illustrated. Now a three-time SI cover veteran, she made her first big appearance on the cover of the 2012 swimsuit issue. While she had been a working model for four years prior and achieved viral fame with a video of her doing the “dougie” at an LA Clippers game, it was the Sports Illustrated cover that really cemented Miss Upton into the public’s consciousness, and reaffirmed herself as the biggest emerging name in the business.