Dutch supermodel Karen Mulder has posed for the cover of Vogue magazine for the first time since 1995 following sexual harassment allegations.
The 57-year-old model was among the first high-profile figures in fashion to speak out about sexual misconduct in the industry when she made public accusations in 2001. At the time, she accused Prince Albert of Monaco of rape, but public figures and authorities dismissed her claims.
Mulder rose to prominence in the 1990s as a high-fashion model and a former angel for Victoria's Secret, the American lingerie retailer known for its global fashion shows. Prince Albert II is the ruling monarch of Monaco, a sovereign principality located on the French Riviera.
Allegations and Psychiatric Treatment
Following her accusations in 2001, Mulder's family placed her in a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment, citing alleged drug abuse problems. Mulder said in a recent interview that she was forced during her hospital stay to withdraw her accusations against the royal.
She added that she was compelled to admit publicly that she had invented the claims. She explained that she had believed her celebrity status would persuade people to listen, stating that her sole goal was to stop the abuse and prevent men in power from acting without consequences.
Her psychiatric treatment was paid for by Gérald Marie, the former head of the Paris office of Elite Model Management. Mulder had also accused Marie of sexual violence. Elite Model Management is an international modeling agency headquartered in France that represents prominent fashion models worldwide.
Legal Complaints and Return to Fashion
Marie has denied all legal complaints filed against him. Following Mulder's claims, at least 30 other models came forward with similar accusations of sexual misconduct against the executive.
In July 2026, French prosecutors formally charged Marie with rape and human trafficking. The executive had previously faced multiple suspicions of sexual violence over several years while avoiding legal accountability.
Reflecting on her decision to return to the fashion industry after three decades, Mulder said she believed now was the appropriate moment to return. She stated that she is no longer the person she was in the past and looks toward the future with optimism.
