The Model of the Year prize at British fashion's answer to the Oscars late on Thursday sealed Moss's recovery from a newspaper story that briefly threatened her career.

In September, 2005, photographs of the 32-year-old model apparently snorting cocaine appeared on the front page of British tabloid The Daily Mirror. Since then, "cocaine Kate" as she was dubbed has returned to the pinnacle of her profession and she was not charged over the allegations.

Some commentators and drug charities are concerned over what the award says about fashion and what signals it sends to young people tempted to use drugs.

But fellow models and celebrities have defended Moss, pointing to her commercial success and her willingness to apologize for her behavior.

"I think it's a bad reflection on the world of fashion," said Jane Ennis, editor of celebrity magazine Now.

"The fact that she has become an even bigger icon since getting into all this trouble is fantastically decadent. Sometimes commercial interests should be set aside to look at the wider picture."

George Ruston, director of Hope UK, a drug education charity in Britain, called the award "unhelpful" and said advertisers were as much to blame as Moss.