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_It’s Kate Upton’s birthday week, guys, and America’s bombshell is officially of drinking age. To celebrate, we here at GQ would like to announce that we spotted her before any of you slowpokes. So, for our "proud parent" moment, GQ Bookings Director Richard Blandino recalls his first meeting with Kate: _

"When I met Kate Upton for her first go-see in June 2010, I knew that she would inevitably ascend to supermodel stardom. It was love at first sight, and then second sight, and then third. I remember many a double take as we walked through the halls of GQ. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, with her bombshell curves, but the obvious aside, it’s Kate’s sense of humor and contagious laugh that did me in. She may be the world’s hottest supermodel, but above all, Kate is just fun to be around.

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She’s so funny, in fact, that I immediately thought to cast her in our "Photobomb" fashion story with actor Ken Jeung in our August 2011 Comedy Issue. Ken was the funny man in print, but off-camera, Kate was the real distraction, cracking up the crew and having a blast on set. As evidenced by our behind-the-scenes footage, she’s captivating on video too, and we later gave her our Model Behavior of the Year Award. In addition her unimaginably-hot-girl-next-door looks, Kate blew up because she can make you laugh (and teach you how to Dougie). Kate eventually Dougied her way to the cover of GQ in July 2012, shot by Terry Richardson, who, one can only assume, also fell in love. That’s the thing, really: Kate Upton simply makes you fall in love."