Karlie Kloss: “Beauty is not about being vain"

From Harper's BAZAAR

Model, entrepreneur and philanthropist Karlie Kloss can now add 'Estée Lauder brand ambassador' to her extraordinary CV. Today the famous face joins the likes of Joan Smalls and Kendall Jenner as a global spokesmodel for the iconic beauty brand. Something the 25-year-old has always dreamt of.

“My entire career, having a beauty contract has been at the top of my bucket list,” Kloss reveals. “When I was on an airplane commuting between my life as a high school student in St. Louis and my parallel life as a fashion model in NYC, I would journal about my dreams. I have to find that journal that says, ‘Bucket List: Estée Lauder beauty contract.’ It's surreal, and I'm really grateful and excited.”

Now Kloss splits her life between being behind the camera and the computer, having founded Kode With Klossy which teaches girls to code, “and empower them with the skills needed to become the next generation of leaders in tech.” While this seems like a contrast, she says the merging of the two worlds makes perfect sense.

“I actually think beauty and tech sit at this really unique intersection with so much power and opportunity to innovate and be creative,” she says. “Throughout my own career, I’ve watched the increased emergence of fashion and tech, from the rise of ecommerce and wearable tech to 3D photoshoots. These two worlds will only become more intertwined, which will lead to many more changes and innovations in the industry in the coming years.”

Kloss is the perfect example that beauty and narcissism needn’t go hand-in-hand. “I also want to say that beauty is not always about being frivolous or vain. Beauty and fashion allow for self-expression - they have the power to make you feel like your best self by inspiring confidence and individuality, and that should not be undervalued.”

We can’t think of a better beauty role model.

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