Elson's runway modelling credits include: Marc Jacobs, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Tom Ford, YSL, Alexander McQueen, Dior, Anna Sui, and Gucci.

Elson has over 30 magazine covers to her credit—international editions of Vogue, W, Dazed & Confused, Numéro, Harper's Bazaar (British), Marie Claire, Elle, Lula, Foam, and Nylon.

She has been in ad campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Christian Dior, Burberry, Trussardi, Roberto Cavalli, Lanvin, and Chanel.

She has also appeared in fashion films: War Opera,[6] Nick Knight's Andy Warhol-inspired series More Beautiful Women,[7] Craig McDean's 48 Girls,[8] and Bruce Weber's Petit Fleur, Harlequin, Voodoo Daddy, Closer Walk With Thee and Karen's Boogie (all films were made in conjunction with W as a tribute to New Orleans).

[9] She acted in the short film Lay Down Lean, a project by the experimental filmmaking team Belles of the Black Diamond Field.

She also contributed to Knight's project "Moving Fashion" with a black and white video of herself in a sequined gown, perched upon a swing.

"[10] In 2010, she modelled a Patricia Field dress for the Sex and the City Archive in the Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief runway show for the White Ribbon Alliance, an organisation aiding mothers in Haiti.

She wore a gold gown by Burberry and walked the stadium with her fellow models to David Bowie's song "Fashion.

"[11] Elson is a founding member and performer with the New York-based political cabaret troupe the Citizens Band, appearing with them at various theatres as well as the downtown art gallery Deitch Projects since 2004.

[12] As one of the leaders of the Citizens Band she has performed a variety of songs including covers of the Velvet Underground, Kurt Weill, Elvis Presley, Mimi and Richard Fariña, Pete Seeger, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Marlene Dietrich.

[16] In 2005, a personal recording of Elson singing "Coming Down" was made available on a CD accompanying the August 2005 issue of Uncut magazine.

"), "Vicious" by Lou Reed (released for Record Store Day 2011),[20] "Milk and Honey" by Jackson C. Frank (released for Record Store Day 2012),[21] "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" by Buddy Holly (for the tribute album Rave on Buddy Holly), "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac (for the album Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac),[22] "If I Had a Boat" by Lyle Lovett (in closing credits of the 2014 movie Still Alice) In September 2012, she was featured in a campaign called "30 Songs / 30 Days" to support Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a multi-platform media project inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book.

Elson published an autobiography, The Red Flame (2020), in which she details her childhood eating disorder, personal struggles and her professional journey.