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Carmen Kass Profile |
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Birth Date: September 14, 1978
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Birth Place: Paide, Estonia
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Birth Name: Carmen Kass
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Height: 5'11"
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Biography |
Carmen Kass was born September 14, 1978, in Tallinn,
Estonia. Raised by her mother in Paide -- where Carmen was
probably the only fashionable and glamorous thing about the
city -- the blue-eyed brunette won the Miss Paide crown and
secured her royal position as Miss Jrvamma afterwards.
A 14-year-old Carmen had already received recognition by the
time she was discovered in a supermarket in Tallinn by an
Italian modeling scout. She was ready to set her sights
higher and go for the Miss Estonia title, but the offer to
fly to Milan to jump start a modeling career seemed like a
more glamorous and lucrative option.
Despite her mother's disapproval of Carmen being whisked
away to Milan, Carmen found a way to go by forging her
mother's signature of "approval". Carmen was off to Milan
for the next three months, ready to start her career as one
of today's supermodels.
After being represented in her native Estonia by a small
agency called "Baltic Models", Carmen moved to Paris at the
age of 18. She received exposure on the cover of magazines
worldwide, namely L'Officiel and Vogue (France) in 1997,
Elle (Australia), Image (UK), Madame Figaro, Numero France,
Vogue (France), and Vogue (US) in 1999.
In 1999, Carmen was also one of the fashion runways' hottest
commodities. She strutted down the catwalks for the top
designers in the world such as: Alberta Ferretti, Anna Sui,
BCBG, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Christian Dior,
DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferré, Gianni Versace,
Gucci, Jill Stuart, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Moschino, Nicole
Miller, Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Tommy
Hilfiger, Gianni Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino.
Although now Carmen has become a sought-after model for big
advertising campaigns, we can't say she started small
either. She has posed in advertisements for Calvin Klein,
Chanel, Donna Karan, General Motors, Guy Laroche, Krizia,
and Versace.
She is most recognized for the Gap denim advertising
campaign, which shouldn't have made it hard for the company
to make jeans a popular item again.
Carmen is presently a spokesperson for Sephora, one of the
world's leading cosmetics retailers, and the Christian Dior
perfume, "J'adore".
Presently residing in New York, Carmen has become a staple
for the two biggest American fashion magazines, Vogue and
Harper's Bazaar. Carmen is represented by "Women" in New
York, and "City" in Paris, while she has reportedly bought
part of her first agency, "Baltic Models".
When she's not cuddling up to her public relations/marketing
boyfriend, Richie Akiva, Carmen keeps herself busy with
sports and exercise, horseback riding, obsessively checking
her email, and kicking butt in chess.
It's clear that even off the chessboard, Carmen's making all
the right moves as the 2000 VH1/Vogue's "Model of the Year"
(Gisele Bundchen's successor) and as the quintessential
beauty of the post-waif generation. |
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Other
Information |
Won the VH1 Model of the Year for 2000
Enjoys playing chess
Has a toy fox terrior named Spanky
Attended the Estonian Business School
Part owner of Baltic Models
VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards Model of the Year 2000
Had to hide under a bridge when Soviet tanks invaded Estonia
in 1991 and was one of 300,000 Estonians to join the human
chain, celebrating Estonia's liberation.
Is running for European Parliament June 2004 as a member and
representative of the Estonian political party, Res Publica.
One of the world's top fashion models. |
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