Interview with Karlie Kloss, muse of Good Girl Eau de Parfum Light by Carolina Herrera

Karlie Kloss, 28-year-old American model, lends her aura to Carolina Herrera’s new light Good Girl eau de parfum by becoming a muse. She took the time to answer a few questions about the perfume, the brand and tell us about her commitments to improve the condition of women around the world.

– In the past, you have opened several Carolina Herrera fashion shows, what does the brand mean to you?
Karlie Kloss: Natural elegance, effortless chic and integrity. Working with Carolina Herrera and Carolina Herrera de Baez made me realize the importance of heritage and to be faithful to its values. I agree with Carolina Herrera’s idea that fashion should be an expression of oneself. When I think of New York, Carolina Herrera comes to mind. She embodies New York with her confidence and unmistakable style.

– How would you define the spirit of this new olfactory creation Good Girl eau de parfum light?
Karlie Kloss: Good Girl is about empowerment, daring to be rebellious and feminine mystery. This scent reminds me that having fun and breaking the rules is good sometimes. Perfection comes from allowing ourselves to be what we want to be.

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– New York is as energetic as this perfume, what places in the Big Apple inspire you and make you vibrate?
Karlie Kloss: New York is a constant source of inspiration. There is inspiration everywhere if you are open to it. There is always something going on and the energy of this city is contagious. I love The Little Cupcake Shop, The Whitney and Central Park.

– You ran the New York Marathon … How did you prepare? How did you feel while accomplishing this sporting feat?
Growing up I was really athletic and played all sports, but I hated running. Every year at school we were timed for a race. It was the worst day of the year … but now I love it! When I travel during fashion weeks, I always take my running shoes. I try to run outside or exercise in the hotel gym. Running the New York Marathon was the hardest thing I have ever done … But I finished the race. Because you know what? It is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.

– Speaking of empowerment, you are committing to educate and improve the lives of women. Your social activism for young women through Kode With Karlie guarantees scholarships in computer coding to give them more autonomy. Can you talk a bit about this project and what it means to you?

Karlie Kloss: There is so much potential with code and not enough opportunities for girls to have access to this learning. I believe that the technology and the creative industries are very aligned. Code is the secret language that builds all digital architecture for everything we rely on. It touches all sectors, so it’s critical that our next generation can use code to build and shape our future.

– Your coding project for girls fights for equal rights. When did you decide it was important for you to make a difference?
Karlie Kloss: I realized that someone should push the girls in that direction and open their eyes to creative ways to apply the code. Thanks to the code, the barriers have fallen. It’s exciting because you can get an idea and turn it into something real, and that can evolve. A 26 year old girl can gain autonomy and create something that is her own thanks to the code. It is a real power. It’s really exciting because anything is possible.

– Apart from your modeling career and your charity work, you also returned to study at New York University, why did you decide to return to computer science?
Karlie Kloss: After I graduated from high school I was fully focused on my modeling career. I traveled a lot, and after a while I felt that I didn’t invest enough time in myself and especially in my studies. I love fashion but I am a real nerd in my heart. I’ve always loved science and always wanted to understand how things work. I met someone who teaches coding when I took my first coding class at Flatiron School. I was looking for something new to learn, a new challenge to prove to myself that I was capable of meeting it. I didn’t necessarily walk into this coding class with the intention of doing anything with this degree, but it opened my eyes to the power of this tool, and what inspired me to launch Kode. With Klossy a year later.

– You were discovered very young, at 13, did you want to become a model when you were little? What was your dream job? Have you always wanted to be a top model?
Karlie Kloss: I never thought about following the modeling career because I never knew that this profession existed! I knew Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington, but it seemed out of reach. But I became a fan of this work as soon as I started. It was 2008 and I was 15 when I got booked for New York Fashion Week. I had my high heels on and a little black dress my mother bought me, which later became one of my lucky charms that I continued to wear over and over to castings.

– What are the lessons you have learned from the world of fashion and your experiences in modeling?
Karlie Kloss: The last 10 years have been an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot from the trips I’ve taken, from the teams I’ve worked with, and from this really creative industry I’ve been able to learn so much from. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me that having fun doing your job doesn’t mean you don’t take it seriously.

– At school, you were considered a strange young girl because you were very tall, even taller than the teacher. Was it a difficult time in your life? What do you want to say to all these girls and boys who are treated differently because of their appearance?
Karlie Kloss: Being a 13 year old is tough. There is a pressure to fit in and I have always felt weird. Coming to New York and working in fashion has helped me a lot. I was appreciated for what made me different, so I learned to appreciate myself. I have stayed true to myself, even though it means being different.

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