Carmen Kass

Date of Birth: September 14, 1978

Carmen Kass grew up in Estonia and moved to Milan after being approached by an Italian scout. She now enjoys a successful runway career in New York and Paris.

She loves to play Chess and won the VH1 Model of the Year for 2000.

Kass grew up in the Estonian city of Paide. When she was little girl, she lived in Sika village. Her mother worked in farm. There, she was brought up by a single mother and lived in a cramped apartment. At the age of fourteen, she was 'discovered' in a Tallinn supermarket by an Italian modeling scout. Kass had wanted to compete for the Miss Estonia title, but an offer to fly to Milan, Italy, to start a modeling career seemed like a more glamorous and lucrative option.

Carmen Kass officially moved to Paris at the age of 18. Soon after, she received exposure on the cover of magazines worldwide, such as Vogue (France) in 1997, ELLE (Australia), Image (UK), Madame Figaro, Numéro France, Vogue (France), and Vogue (US) in 1999.

In 1999, Kass modeled for top designers such as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Versace, Fendi, Chanel, Chloe, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy.

In addition, Kass has posed in numerous advertisements for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Fendi, Michael Kors, Versace, and also for General Motors. She is also recognized for her appearances in a The Gap denim advertising campaign. Kass was a spokesperson for Sephora, one of the world's leading cosmetics retailers, and the Christian Dior perfume, J'adore.

As of 2006, she has appeared in campaigns for Dsquared, Pedro del Hierro, Michael Kors and Chloé with Malgosia Bela. In 2007, Kass has got ten campaigns only for the spring/summer collection, including Versace, Michael Kors, Pucci, Jones New York, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gap, Peek & Cloppenburg, Bedat & Co, Time and Et Vous?.

Carmen Kass is well-known for her distinctive runway walk. A quirk of the Estonian supermodel is that while she is very tall, her feet are quite small (about an American size seven). It is said that she sometimes simply falls out of her shoes while walking.

In 2004, Kass starred in the Estonian murder-mystery film Täna öösel me ei maga (We Won't Sleep Tonight). The international release was retitled Set Point.

Also, in February 2004, she joined Estonia's ruling Res Publica Party. Kass ran for the European Parliament after her homeland joined the European Union in May 2004. She won about 2000 votes from the Estonian electorate, but was not elected to the European Parliament.

Kass plays chess and was elected president of the Estonian National Chess League in 2004. She ran a campaign to obtain the right to organise the 2008 Chess Olympics in Tallinn; however, that right was given to Dresden, Germany.