Author: Gina Wendessere

Exclusive: Kate Moss ‘shovelled up so much cocaine and vodka friends nicknamed her ‘THE TANK’

In this article, Doug Wright explores Kate Moss’s book written by Laura Collins who had gathered all her information from conversations with friends and relatives of the model.

This article is a biographic piece that explains the struggles the star has experienced throughout her career. Wright and Collins both have biased judgments when writing as it would not be the first time journalists and authors based themselves on the opinions of outsiders rather than the person directly concerned. The book was written from a third-person perspective not allowing this article to access the possibility that Kate had a moment of vulnerability. The nicknames used throughout the article are harsh and confirm the idea that this article was not written from a place of wanting to inform but a place of wanting to expose. This tabloid story uses a high level of sensationalism to lure the reader in through being controversial.

The article explains that her drug use started after dating Johnny Depp briefly with the relationship ending tragically with Depp calling her a “Crazy b*tch”. Afterward, Kate went down a spiral which led her to be nicknamed “The Tank” by her friends as she allegedly could snort up to 30 big lines of cocaine and finish a whole bottle of Vodka all by herself. In the book, the “heroin chic” model is labeled as a homewrecker while also being accused of willingly targeting her friends’ partners. Doug dehumanises Kate throughout the article rather than sympathising with the star who at the time was most likely struggling with her mental health. The Daily Mirror wrote controversial articles about Kate Moss’s demise on multiple occasions including the controversial cocaine Kate article which led to the supermodel to get a lot of backlash. 

Bibliography:

Wight, D. (2014) Can you guess why Kate Moss was dubbed the tank in her wild days?, The Mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/kate-moss-shovelled-up-much-4378250 (Accessed: 04 February 2025). 

Maya Jama is a radio host, Dj, and Television presenter. Her mother is of Swedish and Scottish descent and her Father is Somali. She was born on the 14th of August 1994 making her 30 years old in 2025. 

Maya explained that growing up her family situation was challenging specifically due to her father being involved in illegal businesses as well as being in and out of jail most of her childhood. However, she explained that her family members ensured she never felt abandoned allowing her to have a safe space and experiencing a great childhood and teenage life despite the challenges. One episode that struck her as a child was telling the police where to find her father which led her to years of guilt from the star. 

Originally from Bristol, she decided to take her chance in London after contemplating whether it was the place for better opportunities. At 16 years old her ex-boyfriend was brutally shot and killed in a pub in Bristol which she confessed confirmed her decision to move to London and start anew.

Although the start of her life did not indicate that she would find success Maya never gave up. From a young age, her dreams of being famous made her take as many opportunities as possible such as auditions for the show Skin which she unfortunately did not get the part for. The star was a finalist in the audition which she confessed motivated her and reassured her that she was different from the rest.

 In London, Maya moved with family members which she explained was not easy as they were involved in criminal activities. Many of her personal belongings had been potentially stolen by them which made it hard for her to feel comfortable.

 At the time she had started working for JumpOff for free which led her to film her first few Youtube videos with a borrowed company camera. She confessed that it did not bother her as she was content to be in a space she had been looking forward to being in. Juggling between her dream and her retail job Maya eventually started to get paid by the company leading her to drop out of college. After a screening test for Cooper 90, she landed her first big job a mini-series called “Football Virgin” which led her to stay in Brasil for 2 months. Coming back from filming Maya realised that her camera was missing from her personal belongings which was the final straw that led her to move out and live with a friend for a while. Afterward, Maya described her opportunities as a spiral as she was presented with many more.

Today she is one of the most wanted British Public personalities with a net worth estimated at 1.5 million pounds. She is the business owner of MIJ Masks, the presenter of Love Island, a judge on The Masked Singer, and the cover of British Vogue in August 2023. Maya’s favourite saying is “Everything will be okay in the end and if it’s not okay it’s not the end” a few wise words that are reflective of her courage and resilience. 

Bibliography:

(2018) Overcoming Obstacles | Maya Jama | TEDxYouth@ISA. Available at: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=maya+jama+youtube&&mid=27259349A257A9226ED627259349A257A9226ED6&&FORM=VRDGAR (Accessed: 06 February 2025).

161385360554578 (2023a) Maya jama breaks down in tears as she reveals childhood tragedy and heartbreaking moment with her dad, The Sun. Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/23320835/maya-jama-childhood-dad-channel-4/ (Accessed: 06 February 2025).

Heart (2025a) Maya jama facts: Love island presenter’s age, height, boyfriend and career explained, Heart. Available at: https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/maya-jama-facts-age-height-net-worth-her-rise-to-fame/ (Accessed: 06 February 2025).

Your skin having a lovely time! (no date) MIJ Masks. Available at: https://mijmasks.com/ (Accessed: 06 February 2025).

What was it like growing up in London during the ‘90s and early 2000s?

You played with your action man. There were no devices so you used your imagination a lot more. We spent more time with our families which was nice. I remember there was one computer in the house. For the wifi, you had to use a special device called dial-up which made this funny sound. I used to play a game called Neo Pets you could say it was like a Pokemon game you could feed them fufu haha! It was a built-in gaming mechanic which was good for the time when I think about it. Another game I used to play was Habbo Hotel it was pretty cool too!

If you could bring back one thing from that era, what would it be and why?

Spending more time with the people you love. Nowadays I feel like it’s all superficial. Back then it was just “Yo let’s go there and do that”.  Now people want entertainment all the time instead of just spending time with each other. 

Is there a particular memory from your childhood that has stayed with you to this day?

 I almost drowned in a canal in Manchester when I was younger. We used to visit my grandma often. That day we went to the canal with my siblings. I remember just jumping in.

I think that at the time I wasn’t a good swimmer. I started drowning my big brother saved me from that day. But that didn’t stop me from going to the canal and continuing to swim there. I went many times afterwards and then we stopped visiting as much when I turned 13 years old so I haven’t gone back in almost 10 years. 

Which piece of technology had the biggest impact on you as a young boy when it was first introduced ?

 Mobile phones! Blackberry Messenger were it back when they came out. Obviously, now they’re sh*t… But back then everyone would message everyone. There was a broadcast on there and nobody had wifi because it was really expensive. It was only £5 a week it was so cool.

If you could take one thing from 2025 back to your childhood, what would it be and how do you think it would have changed things?

 Maybe…I’d take back 75 inch TV! The TVs back then were tiny, you couldn’t even experience cinematic moments. You had to go to the cinemas which is probably why they were super popular back then. Today you can have that experience at home so this is the reason why I would bring a TV back.

Is there an activity you used to enjoy back then that you still enjoy nowadays?

Bike riding I used to ride my bike a lot. Just on the estate with my friends, we used to make them louder by putting an empty plastic bottle at the back of it to make it sound louder like my car now haha! I know it’s a bit nerdy but…Good times.

On the 27th of November 2023, Hackney’s council announced that everyone was more than welcome to join in the celebration of Diwali. The council has organised family-friendly activities for those who want to join in. The local library has also joined in and offered services of their own. Amongst the celebration were Bollywood dancing, henna, refreshments and more… 

One library worker said:

“Diwali is an occasion for people to come together and celebrate the tradition of Indian culture.” The council had also been funding the temple to provide the services and has allowed the locals to attend it for free.

In 2024 Hackney did it again by organising a celebration of Diwali to which anyone interested could get tickets on the platform EventBrite.

The event took place on the 25th of October, it was a great success as approximately 3800 people attended it. The library EventBrite account currently still has 398 followers which only confirms how successful and positive their efforts on inclusivity have been.

 Since the 50s a large percentage of the area has been populated by the South Asian community with the largest percentage of them being Indian. The majority of the community coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan follow Islam however there are several Hindu and Sikh locals. Shirdi Sai Baba the only temple in Hackney has hosted a free show where those interested can learn more about the message, religious belief, and culture behind the celebration.

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Diwali is a celebration of lights, a victory of the Lord Rama over the demon Ravana after a 14-year exile. It is a celebration of joy meant to be shared with many hence why the local community is willing to celebrate with as many people as they possibly can. The celebration was created to bring the community together in a joyous celebration. It is also a celebration of knowledge winning over ignorance which may also be a motivator for the many to educate themselves and others about the traditions and culture.

In India Diwali lasts about 5 days, the Festival of Lights is a time of renewal, prosperity, and unity, celebrated over five enchanting days. The festivities begin with Dhanteras, families cleanse their homes and make auspicious purchases to welcome prosperity. The second day sees homes illuminated by multiple diyas (clay lamps), while vibrant rangoli designs adorn doorsteps, symbolizing hope and good fortune. The heart of Diwali unfolds on the third day with Lakshmi Puja, a sacred tradition where families gather to seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and success. The celebration continues on the fourth day with gifts and sweets, strengthening bonds and spreading joy.

 Finally, Bhai Dooj honors the bond between siblings, reinforcing love and lifelong commitment. Diwali is more than a festival it is a celebration of light, unity, and new beginnings, bringing communities together in a spirit of joy and renewal.

This makes it easier to understand the clear message from both Hackney council and the south asian hindu community has been clear. Everybody is welcome to celebrate Diwali and enjoy the celebration.

Bibliography:

Diwali: A festival of lights and joy (no date) Incredible India. Available at: https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/festivals-and-events/diwali#:~:text=Diwali%20is%20a%20jubilant%20proclamation%20of%20light%27s%20triumphant,rituals%20and%20festivities%20that%20you%20can%20experience%20firsthand. (Accessed: 03 February 2025). 

Diwali: A festival of lights and joy (no date) Incredible India. Available at: https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/festivals-and-events/diwali#:~:text=Diwali%20is%20a%20jubilant%20proclamation%20of%20light%27s%20triumphant,rituals%20and%20festivities%20that%20you%20can%20experience%20firsthand. (Accessed: 03 February 2025). 

Hackney Council (2023) News, Hackney’s free family-friendly Diwali celebrations are open to all. Available at: https://news.hackney.gov.uk/hackneys-free-family-friendly-diwali-celebrations-are-open-to-all/ (Accessed: 03 February 2025). 

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