Kate Upton named model of the year, covers Vanity Fair

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Kate Upton poses with the award for Sexiest Woman at the People Magazine Awards in Beverly Hills on Dec. 18. (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Kate Upton watches her boyfriend, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers, pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Oct. 3. Detroit lost, 7-6. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the Daily Front Row’s 2nd Fashion Media Awards at Park Hyatt New York on Sept. 5 in New York City. (Rommel Demano / Getty Images for The Daily Front)

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Kate Upton attends a game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees in the Bronx as her boyfriend, Justin Verlander of the Tigers, looks on from the dugout at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 4. (Mike Stobe / Getty Images)

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The model, who signed with fast-fashion brand Express in 2014, poses with her campaign poster at the Express and Kate Upton campaign launch event in New York on July 8. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Express)

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Images from Kate Upton’s Express campaign. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Express)

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Kate Upton leaves Milk Studios in New York on June 24. Also in June, the model was featured in Lady Antebellum’s music video for “Bartender” with “Veep’s” Tony Hale. (Rob Kim / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton wears a Dolce & Gabbana dress to the Los Angeles premiere of “The Other Woman” at the Regency Village Theater in Westwood. (Nina Prommer / EPA)

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Nicki Minaj, from left, and Leslie Mann, Cameron Diaz, Taylor Kinney and Kate Upton arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Other Woman.” (Matt Sayles / Invision / AP)

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Leslie Mann, from left, Kate Upton, Cameron Diaz and Nicki Minaj attend the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

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Costars Leslie Mann, left, Cameron Diaz, Nicki Minaj and Kate Upton present at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for MTV)

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Kate Upton, left, Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann for “The Other Woman” at the Park Hyatt on April 15, 2014, in Sydney, Australia. (Caroline McCredie / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the German premiere of her film “The Other Woman” at Mathaeser Filmpalast on April 7, 2014. (Hannes Magerstaedt / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton, left, joins Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann, who costar in “The Other Woman,” at the film’s London premiere on Wednesday. Upton is wearing a vintage William gown and Christian Louboutin pumps, Diaz is wearing a leather dress by the Row and Manolo Blahnik pumps, and Mann is wearing a Giles dress and Roger Vivier shoes. (Anthony Harvey / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the London premiere of her comedy “The Other Woman” on Wednesday, wearing Adler earrings. (Anthony Harvey / Getty Images)

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Upton’s rumored boyfriend, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, joins her courtside as the Orlando Magic takes on the New York Knicks at the Amway Center. (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel)

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Kate Upton attends “Club SI Swimsuit” at LIV Nightclub hosted by Sports Illustrated at the Fontainebleau Miami in Miami Beach. The model appeared on the back cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2014 swimsuit issue and was featured in the magazine’s “zero gravity” spread. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Sports Illustrated)

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and model Kate Upton cheer during the first half of an NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux / Associated Press)

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Model Kate Upton wears a Dior dress and Jimmy Choo heels for GQ’s pre-Super Bowl party in New York sponsored by Patron Tequila, Van Heusen and Miller Fortune. Upton previously posed for the men’s magazine’s July 2012 cover. (Craig Barritt / Getty Images for GQ)

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Amid rumors that Kate Upton and Justin Verlander rekindled their romance, the model snuggles up to the Detroit Tigers pitcher at the GQ magazine pre-Super Bowl party in New York on Friday. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for GQ)

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Kate Upton arrives at the “50 Years of Beautiful” television event celebrating the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’s 50th anniversary at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Dan Steinberg / Invision / AP)

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Kate Upton attends a basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Elsa / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton arrives in an Antonio Berardi during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Australia. At the event, Upton joined Canadian fashion model Coco Rocha and tweeted, “With the winner!! @cocorocha and I are having way too much fun! #melbcupcarnival @emirates @flemingtonVRC” (Ryan Pierse / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton arrives in a Nina Ricci peplum suit as an invited guest of the VRC Oaks Club Luncheon at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the 30th Night of Stars presented by The Fashion Group International at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. (Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton joins Team Gillette in New York City for “Movember,” a monthlong effort to get men to grow out their facial hair while raising funds and awareness for men’s health issues. (Craig Barritt / Getty Images for Gillette)

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Kate Upton attends the premiere of “Mademoiselle C” in Paris on Oct. 1. The documentary film chronicles the career of former French Vogue editor-in-chief and fashion stylist Carine Roitfeld. (Ian Langsdon / EPA)

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Kate Upton arrives at Chanel’s ready-to-wear spring/summer 2014 show at Paris Fashion Week. (Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)

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Kate Upton visits “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” at Rockefeller Center on Sept. 20 in New York. (Theo Wargo / Getty Images)

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Carine Roitfeld, left, editor of CR Fashion Book, and model Kate Upton attend the Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards at Harlow on Sept. 6 in New York. (D Dipasupil / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton stops by the Moet & Chandon Suite at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York on Sept. 7. (Brad Barket / Getty Images)

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Models Kate Upton and Karolina Kurkova at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 7 in New York. (Brad Barket / Getty Images)

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Model Kate Upton accepts an award for Model of the Year at the 10th annual Style Awards during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week spring 2014 at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

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Models Lily Aldridge and Christie Brinkley, winner of Model of the Year Kate Upton, host Nicole Richie, model Lindsay Ellingson and a guest attend the 10th annual Style Awards during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week spring 2014 at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton and actress Cameron Diaz appear on the set of their comedy “The Other Woman” in New York on June 21, 2013. (SMXRFNY-Star Max / FilmMagicGetty Images)

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Actresses Leslie Mann, Kate Upton and Cameron Diaz film a scene for “The Other Woman” in Central Park on June 27, 2013. (Ray Tamarra / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton smiles while standing for the National Anthem before the New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox game at Yankees Stadium in the Bronx. (Jason Szenes / EPA)

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Kate Upton puts on a Yankees hat during the Yankees and Red Sox game. (Jason Szenes / EPA)

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Kate Upton attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit celebrating “Punk: Chaos to Couture” in New York. (Charles Sykes / Associated Press)

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Actress Kate Upton enters her trailer at “The Other Woman” movie set in Tribeca in New York City. (Ray Tamarra / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton arrives at Christie’s post -war and contemporary art auction in New York. (Peter Foley / EPA)

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Model Kate Upton lands the July 2013 cover of American Vogue. (Vogue / AP)

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Kate Upton attends the Samsung Spring 2013 launch at the Museum of American Finance in New York City. (Jemal Countess / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends Samsung’s 2013 television line launch event at the Museum of American Finance in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images)

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Model Kate Upton attends the Mercedes-Benz/GQParty at The Elms Mansion in New Orleans. (Craig Barritt / Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

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Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Kate Upton attends Club SI Swimsuit at 1 OAK Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sports Illustrated )

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Maria Menounos and Kate Upton act goofy at the grand opening of Andrea’s at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. (Denise Truscello / WireImage / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton is seen arriving at JFK Airport at Streets of Manhattan in New York City. (Alo Ceballos / FilmMagicGetty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the premiere of “No” during the 50th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on Oct. 12, 2012 in New York City. (Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the “No” premiere during the 50th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. (Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images)

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Actress Nina Arianda, actress Debra Messing, designer Michael Kors, actress Nikki Reed and model Kate Upton celebrate Fashion’s Night Out at Michael Kors in New York City. (Larry Busacca / Getty Images for Michael Kors)

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Kate Upton attends the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 launch event at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy / WireImage / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends Zoo York and Stoked Mentoring Clean Up Brooklyn event in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy / WireImage / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton arrives for the screening of “On the Road” presented in competition at the 65th Cannes film festival. (Valery Hache / AFP / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton arrives at amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS 2012 reception during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap in Cap D’Antibes, France. (Dave J Hogan / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Larry Busacca / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the “On the Road” premiere in France. (Venturelli / WireImageGetty Images)

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Kate Upton on board the 2012 SI Swimsuit Models New York to Las Vegas Flight in New York City. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton visits Caesars Palace to mark Swimsuit Launch Week in Las Vegas and the celebration of boxer Muhammad Ali’s 70th Birthday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Kate Upton poses with her magazine cover at the SI Swimsuit Launch Party at Crimson in New York City. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton participates in the 2011 Taco Bell All-Star Legends &; Celebrity Softball Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton walks the runway at the Beach Bunny Swimwear show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim at The Raleigh in Miami Beach, Florida. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

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Kate Upton arrives for Victoria’s Secret 2011 SWIM collection launch party at Club L in West Hollywood, California. (Mark Sullivan / WireImage/Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends a MSG Network promo shoot at MSG’s midtown studio in New York City. (James Devaney / WireImage / Getty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the premiere of “The Bully Project” during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival at AMC Loews Village 7 on in New York City. (Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images)

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Cover girl Kate Upton attends the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue launch party at Pranna Restaurant in New York City. (Gilbert Carrasquillo / FilmMagicGetty Images)

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Kate Upton attends the SI Swimsuit Fashion & Beauty Roundtable at The Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

By Nardine Saad

Sept. 3, 2013 2:09 PM PT

Kate Upton has been named model of the year and will pick up her pretty prize Wednesday at the 10th annual Style Awards that kick off New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion week.

Reality-star-turned-fashion designer Nicole Richie will host the event, which also honors designer Zac Posen, celeb stylist and designer Rachel Zoe, and New York Giants wide receiver (also turned designer) Victor Cruz. The awards will air on CNN on Sept. 14, according to Glamour.

Upton, the curvaceous, self-promoting honoree, got her start in Florida at age 12, but really catalyzed her career by landing the highly coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover spot (twice), having her Dougie YouTube video go viral and embracing the millennial age by becoming an Internet personality.

PHOTOS: Kate Upton: Cover girl to glamour girl

“It’s just me sharing my life,” she explained to Vogue about tweeting. “I like it if it’s authentic and in the moment and happening.... I didn’t buy the magazines [growing up] that had models on the covers, because I didn’t know them. So I think this kind of gives me, as a model, a personality that people can connect with.”

But the 21-year-old has been turning heads in the high-fashion realm too, since she’s graced the cover of American Vogue and international versions of the sartorial codex, Elle and now Vanity Fair’s 100th anniversary issue, on which she’s seen carrying the magazine’s celebratory cake.

“I’m not going to name names, but one agency told me, ‘You’re too American, and everybody knows American women are lazy,’” she said in Vanity Fair. “I was so offended! I’ve never been so offended! I was like, ‘You know that you’re in America, right?’ And it wasn’t ‘American models’ — it was ‘American women are lazy,’ period! I feel like a lot of women would disagree with that. A lot!”

PHOTOS: 50 most beautiful female celebrities

The girl with a signature mole has also become the face of jeweler David Yurman and already has her sights set on Hollywood: She’ll star alongside Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Nicki Minaj in “The Other Woman,” to be released in 2014.

In Vanity Fair, Upton is photographed by Annie Leibovitz and is styled in the epitome of old Hollywood glamor, complete with pinup-girl locks and a vintage bathing suit. She even made the cover her Twitter avatar for her more than 1 million followers to see.

Inside the special issue, she mimics the magazine’s original cover from Oct. 1, 1913, that showed an illustration of a woman lounging on the moon.

The October issue of Vanity Fair hits New York and L.A. newsstands on Sept. 5, and its e-version will be available Sept. 10.

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