CATO VAN EE
With a Cheshire Cat quality and punk rock flare, the Bentveld, Holland native, is probably one of the most unique models in the fashion industry today since her stellar debut on the Prada Runway in 2008. Discovered at the age of 15 by hairdresser in a salon, Cato van Ee knew very little about fashion and never dreamed of becoming a model:
“Vincent, one of the employees of the hairdressing salon Rob Peetoom in Amsterdam, sent me to a modeling agency. I was fifteen at the time, so I took my sister with me because I had no idea what was happening! At the agency everyone was super nice and before I knew it I was in front of a camera.”
A heart of stone, a smoking gun
I can give you life, I can take it away
A heart of stone, a smoking gun
I’m working it out
Why’d you feel so underrated?
Why’d you feel so negated?
Although Cato’s parents were at first apprehensive about her becoming a model and feared the pitfalls associated with fame, there was no denying her latent talent for the profession. “My parents and I both felt it was important for me to finish secondary school. I was eighteen the first time I traveled abroad for a modelling job. From that point on, I worked full time.”
Even with Cato finishing as a finalist in the Dutch Elite Model Look competition in 2004, her big break wouldn’t come until she walked in Prada’s Fall 2008 Ready-To-Wear show in February of that year and appeared in the Miu Miu’s Fall 2008 Ready-To-Wear show in the following month of March.
In 2008 Cato had some of her first magazine covers and editorial work with L’Officiel, Dazed Magazine, and Numero. Cato’s already blossoming career would go into hyperdrive in 2009 when she went onto walk for everyone from DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, and Alberta Ferretti, along with gracing the cover of Elle France and doing editorial work for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Cato would be bestowed with one of her greatest honors yet in 2009, when she received the Dutch Model of the Year. Since then, Cato has gone onto to walk in numerous shows, repeatedly gracing the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, dazzling in countless editorials, and working with some of the most iconic fashion photographers in the industry like Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier, Annie Lebovitz, and Gilles Bensimon.
“My career ensures that I travel all over the world, I see the most beautiful locations, I meet great people and I really live in the ‘now’. Every day is a new surprise and every assignment is different from the previous one, they are great experiences and it offers me great opportunities to learn things.”
Even with Cato’s slow start, temporary absence, and lack of fanfare from the media, what Cato has accomplished in her nearly decade career is nothing short of amazing. Cato never seems to have a shortage of work in her native home of Amsterdam as she loves local fashion and goes above and beyond to promote the fashion industry in Holland and her favorite designer from the Netherlands is KLM.
Turning away from the light, becoming adult
Turning into myself
I wanted to bite not destroy, to feel her underneath
Turning into the light
Although runway work isn’t much of Cato’s style, her editorial work are some of the most imaginative, fun, and eye-catching editorials that are out there. No matter if she’s wading through ocean water, running through tall grass, throwing kicks, lifting weights, or posing in avant-garde to risqué glamorous poses, Cato always brings so much personality and fun to her shoots.
But one of the things I admire most about Cato is her bubbly down-to-earth personality and rocker attitude. In most of Cato’s interviews, she talks about how much she loves her family, Holland, traveling, and how much she enjoys modeling. Cato also seems like an uber strong and confident person. It’s like nothing can get her down and she has an unrelenting can-do attitude.
Like her longtime friend Doutzen Kroes, Cato is also a feminist, and when Doutzen recommended Cato be an ambassador for Dance4life to bring awareness to sexual health and HIV prevention, she jumped at the opportunity to make a difference:
She don’t think straight
No, no, no, she don’t think straight
She’s got such a dirty mind and it never ever stops
And you don’t taste like her and you never ever will
And we don’t read the papers, we don’t read the news
Heaven’s never enough, we will never be fooled
“We have been friends for ten years – and I have heard her all these years talk about her experiences. I always found it inspiring, but the penny never fell that I could also become an ambassador. I thought it was a great honor that she asked me to do this.”
Turning away from the light, becoming adult
Turning into myself
I wanted to bite not destroy, to feel her underneath
Turning into the light
After modeling Cato would love to pursue a degree in psychology as she’s intrigued with sexuality and the mind. As an avid traveler thanks to her modeling profession, Cato loves music and always has an airplane playlist:
“To me, the most important thing is listening to music that makes me happy. I love rock music, but I also like house and dance music as well.”
And if you feel (And if you feel)
A little left behind (A little left behind)
We will wait for you on the other side
And if you feel (And if you feel)
A little left behind (A little left behind)
We will wait for you on the other side
Cato van Ee is such a wonderful and unique model. She has so much passion for her profession and she brings so much creativity and warmth to modeling while elevating her craft. She’s like the cool art teacher you never had with a big of a personality as Invader Zim. She can be as wild as your favorite hardcore punk band, yet still sweeter than most. A Superlove that’s a true personification of love and light, Cato van Ee.
‘Cause I’m on fire
‘Cause you know I’m on fire when you come
‘Cause you know I’m on fire
‘Cause you know I’m on fire so stomp me out
‘Cause I’m on fire
‘Cause I’m on fire
‘Cause I’m on fire
‘Cause I’m on fire
Super Love Unknown 
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