Model Celia Hammond and her cats (14 photos)

Many celebrities are known not only as talented and successful people, but also as animal rights activists. Among them is British model Celia Hammond, whose popularity peaked in the 1960s. She speaks out against violence against all animals, but pays particular attention to cats.





Celia Hammond was born in 1943 in the UK. She spent her childhood in Australia and Indonesia, where her father, a tea businessman, owned plantations. Celia began her modeling career in 1960 at the Lucy Clayton Charm Academy.



Celia initially worked under contract with Queen Magazine, then moved on to modeling on the Paris runways. Her modeling career began rapidly. In the early 1960s, Celia Hammond quickly gained popularity thanks to her sophisticated appearance and natural charm.





Celia became one of the leading models of her time. Her success in the modeling industry was largely due to her work with photographer Norman Parkinson, who became her mentor and helped her career take off.



Her photographs graced the covers of leading magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. One day, the model caught the eye of Vogue photographer Terence Donovan, which secured her work with the popular glossy magazine for many years.



At first, Hammond was a regular, "fur" model and happily posed in real fur coats and leather jackets. But over time, her attitude toward natural materials changed. She began to refuse to wear fur and increasingly made animal rights statements in interviews.



Then the model began actively speaking out against the use of fur, which was quite unusual for a time when fur was considered a symbol of status and wealth.



In the early 1970s, Celia Hammond abandoned her modeling career entirely and dedicated herself to animal rights. She began campaigning against the use of fur, supporting animal welfare charities, and giving lectures on the topic.



Celia Hammond campaigns for farm animals. London. March 25, 1970.

In honor of the model's activism, singer-songwriter Donovan wrote the song "Celia of the Seals," dedicated to Celia and her fight against animal cruelty.





In 1986, the model founded her own charity, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, which focused on addressing the problems of urban homeless animals. One of the foundation's goals was to sterilize stray cats to control their population.



In 1986, Celia took an important step by founding her own charity, the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. This foundation was created with the goal of rescuing and treating homeless animals, as well as finding them new homes. Celia was actively involved in the work of her organization, personally helping rescue animals, organizing spay and neuter campaigns, and advocating against animal cruelty.



Celia wanted to open a clinic where cats and dogs could be spayed and neutered affordably, thereby reducing the number of homeless animals. The first clinic opened in Lewisham, London, in 1995, and the second in Canning Town in 1999.



The foundation now operates several clinics across the UK. After retiring from her career, Celia Hammond dedicated herself entirely to animal rescue. She was especially proud of the animal shelter in Breda, East Sussex.



Celia Hammond has been obsessed with cats her entire life. That's why she appears in dozens, if not hundreds, of photos with these animals.