TL;DR: Karlie Kloss is an American supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist born on August 3, 1992, in Chicago. She rose to global fame through her runway dominance, Victoria’s Secret Angel status, and more than 40 international Vogue covers. Kloss has deep ties to Miami through a $21.5 million family mansion and her regular appearances at Art Basel Miami Beach, where she has been a fixture at high-profile brand events.
She is one of fashion’s most recognizable names. Tall, sharp, and relentlessly driven, Karlie Kloss has spent nearly two decades reshaping what it means to be a supermodel in the modern era. She’s walked for almost every major fashion house on the planet, graced the covers of the world’s most prestigious magazines, hosted a primetime reality competition, founded a nonprofit coding organization, and co-owns a major fashion publication — all before turning 35.
But there’s a dimension to Karlie Kloss that doesn’t always make front-page fashion news: her connection to Miami. Between a sprawling 15,000-square-foot waterfront mansion her family purchased in 2020 and her annual appearances at Art Basel Miami Beach — one of the world’s most glamorous cultural events — South Florida has become a meaningful part of her life and public presence.
This article covers everything worth knowing about Karlie Kloss: her biography, career evolution, business empire, personal life, and the story behind her Miami chapter.
Biography Snapshot
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Karlie Elizabeth Kloss |
| Known As | Karlie Kloss |
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1992 |
| Age | 33 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Supermodel, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, TV Host |
| Years Active | 2006 – Present |
| Known For | Supermodeling, Kode with Klossy, Project Runway, W Magazine |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Joshua Kushner (married October 2018) |
| Children | Levi Joseph, Elijah Jude, Rae Florence (b. September 18, 2025) |
| Education | NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study (enrolled 2015) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $40 million (Celebrity Net Worth) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @karliekloss |
Early Life and Background
Where did Karlie Kloss grow up?
Karlie Elizabeth Kloss was born on August 3, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois. Her father works as an emergency room doctor, and her mother is an artist. When Karlie was just two years old, the family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri — a city that would shape her formative years and eventually launch her career.
Growing up alongside three sisters, Kloss found her first passion not on a runway but in a ballet studio. At 10 years old, she began studying classical ballet at Caston’s Ballet Academy. The training, while intense, ultimately revealed a biological reality: she was simply growing too tall for a professional dance career. Rather than viewing that as a setback, Kloss carried the discipline, posture, and spatial awareness from ballet directly into her modeling work. “My ballet training was honestly the most valuable thing I could have done to prepare myself for this career,” she later told Vogue. “It’s about movement, about rhythm, about your body and your muscles.”
At 13, she was discovered by scouts Jeff and Mary Clarke when she walked in a St. Louis charity fashion show. Two years later, she was signed by Elite Model Management — and a supermodel was born.
The Breakthrough Moment
How did Karlie Kloss get her start in modeling?
By 14, Kloss had already appeared on the cover of Scene Magazine. When Elite Model Management spotted the images, they signed her immediately. She relocated to New York and began booking spreads in Teen Vogue and Abercrombie campaigns before parting ways with Elite in 2008 to sign with Next Management.
What happened next is the stuff of fashion legend. In 2008 alone, Kloss walked 64 runway shows — including 31 at New York Fashion Week for brands like Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, and Carolina Herrera, followed by 20 shows in Milan and 13 in Paris. The fashion industry hadn’t seen that kind of first-season dominance in years. Her former management company, Elite, was so alarmed by her rapid ascent under Next Management that they filed a lawsuit claiming the agency had “stolen” their star. The case was settled out of court.
That same year, Kloss landed her first Vogue cover — Teen Vogue’s February 2008 issue, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier alongside Chanel Iman and Ali Michael. A year later, Steven Meisel photographed her for American Vogue’s September issue and said plainly: “She’s an amazing model. She knows clothes. She has tons of energy. She will add things to a shoot that I would never have thought of.”
Career Evolution
What has Karlie Kloss done throughout her modeling career?
In 2012, Kloss moved to IMG Models, one of the most powerful agencies in the industry. That move coincided with a period of extraordinary commercial expansion. She became the face of campaigns for Jean Paul Gaultier, Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Lacoste, Topshop, Uniqlo, American Eagle, Adidas, and many others, while continuing to walk for Karl Lagerfeld, Gucci, Valentino, and Versace on the runway.
Her 2011 debut at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show marked another milestone. She walked alongside legendary Angels Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, and Lily Aldridge. Kloss officially became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2013 — the first model ever to have been given her wings, according to i-D magazine. She remained an Angel until 2015, when she departed citing a misalignment between the brand’s image and her feminist values.
The post-Victoria’s Secret chapter proved even more interesting. After leaving the brand, Kloss enrolled at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 2015, where she studied coding and entrepreneurship. By 2018, she was earning $14 million annually — enough to make her the second-highest-paid model in the world that year, according to Celebrity Net Worth. By 2019, she had appeared on more than 40 international Vogue covers.
That year, she also took on a new role as host and executive producer of Project Runway on Bravo, replacing Heidi Klum for Seasons 17 and 18. Kloss brought a fresh energy to the long-running fashion competition, though she stepped back from the full-time hosting role ahead of Season 19.
In 2020, Kloss joined a group of investors to acquire ownership of W Magazine, taking on a hands-on role in shaping the storied publication’s editorial direction and future strategy.
Most Iconic Works and Achievements
What are Karlie Kloss’s biggest career milestones?
Few models accumulate the kind of résumé that Kloss has built across nearly 20 years. Her career highlights include:
- 64 runway shows in a single year (2008) — an extraordinary debut season that established her as one of the most in-demand new faces in fashion
- More than 40 international Vogue covers — cementing her as a globally recognized face of fashion publishing
- Victoria’s Secret Angel status (2013–2015) — among the most coveted titles in the modelling world
- Face of major global campaigns — including Dior, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta, Elie Saab, Donna Karan, Hermès, Bulgari, L’Oréal Paris, Nike, and Coach
- Project Runway host (Seasons 17–18, 2019) — crossing from modelling into mainstream television
- Co-owner of W Magazine — a rare pivot from model to media executive
- Kode with Klossy founder (2015) — a free coding education program for young women across the United States
Alexander Wang described Kloss as “a rare balance of beauty and personality,” and it’s that combination — aesthetic and substance — that separates her from virtually every other model of her generation.
Personal Life and Public Persona
Who is Karlie Kloss married to, and does she have children?
Karlie Kloss and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner began dating when she was 19 years old. The couple dated for six years before their marriage in October 2018 — a relationship Kloss has described as one of deep mutual respect and partnership. Before marrying, Kloss converted to Judaism.
“Josh, my husband, we’ve been together since I was 19. We’ve grown up together. He’s always been my biggest champion,” she said during a 2025 appearance on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast.
The couple has three children. Their eldest, Levi Joseph, was followed by Elijah Jude, and then Rae Florence, who was born on September 18, 2025. Joshua Kushner’s brother, Jared Kushner, is married to Ivanka Trump — a connection that has placed Karlie in politically sensitive territory at various points in her public life. She has navigated it with consistency, having openly supported Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden during their respective presidential campaigns.
On a lighter note, Kloss is godmother to Jourdan Dunn’s son, Riley — a testament to the genuine, lasting friendships she built early in her career.
Hidden Facts and Lesser-Known Insights
What are some surprising facts about Karlie Kloss?
Behind the camera flashes and runway lights, there are a handful of details about Karlie Kloss that even dedicated fans might not know:
- She gives out homemade cookies at fashion shows. Since 2012, Kloss has handed out her signature “Karlie’s Kookies” at fashion events, with all proceeds going to the charity FEED.
- She was a cheerleader in high school. Before her modeling career took off globally, the teenage Kloss was a cheerleader during her Missouri high school years.
- She learned to code. When Kloss enrolled at NYU in 2015, she took coding courses — an experience that directly inspired the founding of Kode with Klossy.
- She wore Dior to prom. In May 2011, she graduated high school and attended her prom wearing a tangerine Dior gown — an outfit choice that, for most teenagers, would have been unimaginable.
- A legal battle was fought over her early in her career. Elite Model Management’s lawsuit against Next Management over the right to claim Kloss as their discovery played out as a mini-drama behind the scenes of her meteoric rise.
- She appeared on Gossip Girl. Kloss made a television cameo in the fourth season of the hit CW drama, long before her Project Runway days.
Net Worth and Business Influence
What is Karlie Kloss’s net worth, and what businesses does she own?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Karlie Kloss has an estimated net worth of $40 million. That figure reflects decades of modeling contracts, brand endorsements, hosting fees, and business investments — but it only tells part of the story. Her husband, Joshua Kushner, is a venture capital investor with a personal net worth exceeding $800 million, making the Kloss-Kushner household one of the wealthier in the intersection of fashion and finance.
Beyond her modeling income, Kloss has built a meaningful business portfolio:
- Kode with Klossy — Founded in 2015, this free coding and entrepreneurship camp serves girls aged 13 to 18 across the United States. The program was born from Kloss’s own experience learning to code at NYU and has since expanded significantly, creating learning experiences and economic opportunities for thousands of young women.
- W Magazine — In 2020, Kloss joined a group of investors to acquire the struggling magazine. She took a genuinely active role in steering its future, rather than serving as a passive celebrity investor.
- Brand endorsements — Over her career, Kloss has held lucrative endorsement partnerships with Swarovski, L’Oréal Paris, Nike, and Jean Paul Gaultier, among others.
- Real estate — The Kloss-Kushner family has built a serious real estate portfolio. They own a 15,000-square-foot mansion in Miami (purchased in 2020 for $21.5 million), a 7,200-square-foot penthouse at New York’s Puck Building (purchased in 2021 for $35 million), and the iconic “Wave House” in Malibu — a historically significant property that once housed Rod Stewart — purchased in August 2024 for $29.5 million.
Fashion, Influence, and Cultural Impact
Why is Karlie Kloss considered one of the most influential supermodels of her generation?
Karlie Kloss belongs to a very specific category of model: one whose influence has extended far beyond the runway and into culture, media, and philanthropy. Her trademark “panther walk” — described by industry insiders as moody and powerful, placing one foot perfectly in front of the other with a fluid, deliberate motion — became so distinctive that it generated its own commentary within the fashion press.
She appeared in British Vogue’s December 2010 issue alongside Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss for a feature celebrating the supermodels of the decade — remarkable considering she was still a teenager. Mario Testino shot the spread.
Kloss’s influence stretches across multiple decades of fashion: she helped define the early 2010s with her Victoria’s Secret runs and luxury house campaigns, then evolved into a broader cultural figure through media ownership, STEM advocacy, and television hosting. Where earlier generations of supermodels faded once the runway work slowed, Kloss deliberately built institutions that would outlast any single campaign season.
Her willingness to publicly distance herself from the Victoria’s Secret aesthetic in 2015 — citing feminist values at a time when few models spoke so openly about brand alignment — also helped position her as a model with genuine agency over her image and career.
Karlie Kloss and Miami: What’s the Connection?
What is “Karlie Kloss Miami” — and why does it matter?
“Karlie Kloss Miami” refers to the supermodel’s well-documented ties to South Florida, spanning luxury real estate, high-profile cultural events, and an increasingly visible social presence in the city.
The most concrete anchor to Miami is the Kloss-Kushner family mansion: a 15,000-square-foot property purchased in 2020 for $21.5 million. The scale of that home signals more than a vacation property — it’s a genuine second base for one of the most high-profile households in American fashion and finance.
Beyond the real estate, Miami’s Art Basel — held every December at Miami Beach — has become a regular stop on Karlie Kloss’s social calendar. In December 2025, she attended Cartier’s “Into the Wild” dinner at Las’ Lap on December 1, kicking off Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 alongside actress Grace Van Patten. The event, covered by L’Officiel USA and Yahoo News UK, placed her among the festival’s most photographed early arrivals. Reports from WWD also placed her at Cartier’s Art Basel Miami Beach event in 2024.
In November 2025, she also attended a “A Seat At The Table” dinner in Miami — further underscoring the city’s role not just as a property address but as an active part of her social and professional circuit.
Miami’s unique blend of fashion, art, culture, and luxury real estate makes it a natural fit for someone with Kloss’s profile. When you’re a supermodel, media executive, and philanthropist who moves between New York, Malibu, and Europe, Miami sits at the intersection of everything she does — and Art Basel is where the worlds of fashion and contemporary art collide most visibly.
Social Media Presence
Karlie Kloss maintains an active and deliberate social media presence, primarily through Instagram (@karliekloss), where she documents a carefully curated mix of editorial shoots, family moments, Kode with Klossy initiatives, and personal milestones. She tends toward authenticity over curation — sharing pregnancy announcements, candid family photos, and behind-the-scenes content rather than relying purely on polished brand content.
Her March 2025 pregnancy announcement, shared via an Instagram carousel featuring her sons Levi and Elijah, drew wide engagement and significant media coverage. Her maternity shoot from July 2025 — captioned “Countdown to baby girl with my favorite boys” — subtly confirmed the sex of her third child in a way that felt personal rather than performative.
Kloss’s social media approach mirrors her broader public persona: controlled but warm, professional but human, always leaving some things private. It’s a balance that has helped her maintain relevance and genuine audience engagement well into her second decade as a public figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karlie Kloss Miami?
“Karlie Kloss Miami” refers to Karlie Kloss’s connection to South Florida, including the 15,000-square-foot family mansion purchased by Karlie and Joshua Kushner in Miami in 2020 for $21.5 million, and her repeated public appearances at Art Basel Miami Beach — including Cartier’s “Into the Wild” dinner in December 2025 and a “A Seat At The Table” dinner in November 2025. Miami has become a meaningful social and residential hub for the Kloss-Kushner family.
How tall is Karlie Kloss?
Karlie Kloss stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall. Her height was a key factor in her modeling career — while it made classical ballet professionally impossible, it proved ideal for the runway. Her stature, combined with her distinctive walk, made her one of the most physically recognizable models of her generation.
What is Kode with Klossy?
Kode with Klossy is a free coding and entrepreneurship camp founded by Karlie Kloss in 2015 for girls aged 13 to 18. The organization was inspired by Kloss’s own experience learning to code while studying at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Kode with Klossy operates programs across the United States, with locations including Atlanta and other major cities, and has created learning opportunities for thousands of young women interested in technology and STEM careers.
Karlie Kloss married venture capitalist Joshua Kushner in October 2018. Joshua Kushner’s brother, Jared Kushner, is married to Ivanka Trump — making Karlie Kloss a distant connection to the Trump family by marriage. Kloss has publicly distanced herself from that political association and has consistently supported Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, in presidential elections.
What is Karlie Kloss doing now?
As of 2025 and into 2026, Karlie Kloss remains active across multiple professional spheres. She welcomed her third child, Rae Florence, on September 18, 2025. She continues to be involved with Kode with Klossy, maintains her stake in W Magazine, and has returned to the fashion runway — including a 2026 appearance in the Schiaparelli show at Paris Fashion Week. She also attended the 2026 Met Gala with Joshua Kushner and made appearances at events including FIT’s Annual Gala in April 2026.
Karlie Kloss Is More Than a Supermodel
Twenty years into one of the most expansive careers in fashion history, Karlie Kloss has consistently refused to be categorized. She’s a model who builds companies, a philanthropist who walks runways, a media owner who shows up at Art Basel wearing Cartier, a mother of three who still appears at Paris Fashion Week.
Her connection to Miami — the mansion, the Art Basel events, the private dinners — reflects a life built at the intersection of luxury, culture, and influence. Miami is one node in a much larger network that spans New York, Malibu, Paris, and every major fashion week city on the calendar.
If you’re looking to explore more about the figures shaping fashion, business, and culture, you might also enjoy our profiles on other supermodels who have transitioned into business, the art world’s most glamorous annual events, or how celebrities are reshaping STEM education.
Karlie Kloss isn’t done building. If anything, the most interesting chapters may still be ahead.
Emma Clarke is a content writer at Gaukurinn.is, specializing in celebrity news, pop culture, movies, and music. With a strong focus on accuracy and trending topics, she creates engaging and well-researched articles that keep readers informed and entertained.
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