Karlie Kloss

Karlie Elizabeth Kloss was born on August 3, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois, to Tracy Kloss (née Fares), a freelance art director, and Kurt Kloss, an emergency physician. She has three sisters: an older sister named Kristine and twin younger sisters named Kimberly and Kariann. In 1994, her family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. In 2013, the family moved to Goshen, New York, to support her modeling career.

Kloss attended Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, where she participated as a cheerleader during her freshman year and graduated in 2011. In September 2015, she enrolled at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University.

Her modeling career began after she was discovered at a local benefit runway show in 2005. In 2006, at the age of 14, she posed for photographer David Leslie Anthony in a cover and editorial spread titled "Almost Famous" for Scene Magazine's June issue. Elite Model Management Chicago forwarded her tear sheets to their New York office, leading to her signing with them. One of her early modeling projects was a shoot for Abercrombie Kids by Bruce Weber. In January 2008, she left Elite and signed with Next Management.

Kloss participated in New York Fashion Week, walking in 64 runway shows during the fall 2008 season, including exclusive appearances for Calvin Klein, and opening or closing shows for designers such as Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, and Doo.Ri. Following this, she modeled in Milan and Paris for various collections. She was involved in a legal dispute when Elite Model Management sued Next Management over her alleged misappropriation, which was settled out of court.

After four years with Next Management, Kloss signed with IMG Models, departing from Mother Model Management in St. Louis. In 2009, Vogue Paris included her among the "top 30 models of the 2000s." Over the years, she appeared in editorials for numerous international editions of Vogue, Elle, Allure, and other magazines. She graced the covers of more than 40 international Vogue editions within five years, including Vogue Italia. She made her television debut in an episode of the series "Gossip Girl," playing herself.

Kloss became a muse for designer John Galliano and participated in campaigns for Dior. She first opened the Christian Dior Haute Couture and Resort shows in Spring/Summer 2010. In subsequent seasons, she opened multiple runway shows, establishing her presence in the industry.

From 2011 to 2014, Kloss sustained her rising prominence by renewing contracts with Dior, appearing on magazine covers, and participating in advertising campaigns for brands such as Juicy Couture, Elie Saab, Jean Paul Gaultier, Nike, Donna Karan, and Chanel. She co-hosted MTV's "House of Style" alongside Joan Smalls and was featured as the face of L'Oréal Paris in September 2014.

Kloss's tenure as a Victoria's Secret Angel lasted from 2013 to 2015. She participated in several Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows, notable for her influence within the industry. In 2015, she left Victoria's Secret, citing concerns about their messaging to young women. That same year, she appeared on the cover of American Vogue with Taylor Swift and participated in Swift's "Bad Blood" music video, portraying the character "Knockout." She also joined Swift on tour, performing at various live events.

In 2015, Kloss launched her YouTube channel, "Klossy," featuring weekly vlogs and Q&A sessions. She became the face of Swarovski for two years beginning in 2016 and was a correspondent on Netflix's "Bill Nye Saves the World" in 2017. Her April 2017 Vogue spread attracted attention and criticism for cultural appropriation; she issued an apology afterward.

Kloss was appointed as Estée Lauder's global spokesmodel and brand ambassador in 2018. Later that year, she was announced as the host and executive producer of the TV show "Project Runway" on the Lifetime network, beginning with its 17th season.

Beyond modeling, Kloss collaborated on various ventures, including the creation of "Karlie's Kookies" with Momofuku Milk Bar, with proceeds supporting FEED Projects. She led an investment group to acquire the magazine W in 2020 and was named a trustee of Barnard College for a four-year term. In 2023, she acquired i-D magazine, assuming the role of CEO. She is also an investor in Seed, a probiotics company.

In addition to her modeling and entrepreneurial pursuits, Kloss has studied computer programming, focusing on Ruby on Rails and web development technologies at the Flatiron School. As of 2024, she and her husband Joshua Kushner revived Life magazine for print and digital distribution through Bedford Media in partnership with Dotdash Meredith.