FOURTH FIRM MAY BLOW OFF MODEL MOSS

Runway rebel Kate Moss was nearly stripped of yet another modeling
gig yesterday, but experts predict the furor over her alleged cocaine
use will blow over soon.

Coty-owned cosmetics giant Rimmel became the latest firm to express
"shock" over tabloid photos showing Moss apparently arranging and
snorting lines of white powder. Rimmel said yesterday it was
"currently reviewing her contract."

The move comes after Burberry, Chanel and H&M dumped the proto-waif
earlier in the week and London's Metropolitan Police said it was
looking into the damaging drug allegations.

Moss, 31, finally broke her silence yesterday and released a public
apology taking "full responsibility for my actions" and acknowledging
"that there are various personal issues I need to address."

The supermodel's dramatic fall is "hypocritical" - and almost
certainly temporary, said two fashion-industry experts. "This is not
news. Most models do cocaine. And Chanel and Burberry hired her for
the fact that she is a cutting-edge personality who brings a whiff of
rock 'n' roll to their brands," said Michael Gross, author of "Model:
The Ugly Business Of Beautiful Women."

"Of course she'll bounce back," Gross added, expressing respect for
her work. "I predict either Dior will triple her contract or some
jeans company will come along and give her a giant deal that
generates a huge blast of publicity."

Others pointed out that Moss was allegedly "hoovering" cocaine during
her spare time, not on a major client's dime.

"This woman wasn't missing deadlines or snorting with a baby in her
right hand. This didn't affect her professionally," said Donal
McIntyre, the British documentarian behind the 1999 fashion-industry
expose "Undercover: Fashion Victims."

"I hope she gets better for her own health. But the people who gave
her these contracts are as immersed in the world of excessive alcohol
and drug abuse as she is," he said. "She's probably a hotter property
now than ever before. If not for the media firestorm, she'd still
have all her contracts."