Jodie Kidd
A towering English model who swapped catwalks for racetracks, becoming a fiercely competitive professional driver and adventurous TV host.
Born 1978 (age 48)·English fashion model, racing driver and television personality·Birthday: September 25·Generation X
Biography
Jodie Kidd defied the predictable trajectory of a fashion model. Discovered at 15, her statuesque frame and striking features made her a favorite of designers like Versace and Valentino, landing her on magazine covers worldwide. But the confines of the fashion world couldn't contain her. A lifelong petrolhead, Kidd channeled her competitive spirit into motorsport, progressing from celebrity charity events to the professional racing circuit. She competed in the British GT Championship, tackling endurance races with a seriousness that surprised those who knew her only from glossy pages. This duality defined her public persona: equally at home discussing tire compounds on Top Gear as she was judging Britain's Next Top Model. Her later career embraced television presenting, often focusing on travel, adventure, and the countryside, revealing a down-to-earth character far removed from her high-fashion origins. Kidd rebuilt her life as a publican and entrepreneur, proving her brand was built on grit, not just glamour.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jodie was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jodie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jodie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed as a professional racing driver in the British GT Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
- Co-presented the iconic motoring show 'Top Gear' during its 21st series.
- Was a featured model for major fashion houses including Versace, Chanel, and Alexander McQueen.
- Won the 'Celebrity MasterChef' competition in the UK in 2014.
Did You Know?
She comes from an aristocratic family; her father is a former Guards officer and her mother is a descendant of the Earl of Kimberley.
She is a qualified pilot and has flown helicopters.
She and her brother co-own and run The Half Moon pub in Kirdford, West Sussex.
She played polo for England at youth level and was a county-level tennis player as a teenager.
“I've always been a tomboy. I'd rather be covered in oil than in makeup.”
