Carmen Kass (born September 14, 1978) is an Estonian model.

Career

Modeling

Kass was born in Tallinn, Estonia and grew up in Paide, the capital of Järva County. Kass moved to Paris at the age of eighteen and soon received exposure by appearing on the covers of French and American Vogue, Australian Elle, UK Image, Madame Figaro, and French Numéro.

By 1999, Kass was walking the runway for designers such as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, and Dolce & Gabbana, and posing in advertisements for designers and brands like Klein, Chanel, Gucci, Donna Karan, Dsquared2, Versace, Givenchy, Fendi, Max Mara, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, and even General Motors. She also appeared in a The Gap denim advertising campaign and was a spokesperson for Revlon cosmetics, Sephora, and the Christian Dior perfume, J'adore. In 2007 alone, Kass booked ten campaigns with notable designers for spring/summer collections. She has now signed to be Max Factor's newest spokesperson.

Kass was awarded by Vogue as "Model of the Year" at the 2000 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards. While a model in New York, she attended the Lee Strasberg Institute.

Kass is well-known for her distinctive runway walk. Despite her height, her feet are small (about an American size seven).

She walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2008.

Other endeavors

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

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 organize the 2008 Chess Olympics in Tallinn; however, that right was given to Dresden, Germany.

She is part owner of her mother agency, Baltic Models.

In 2008, Carmen Kass created a SMS loan company called Credit Market in Estonia. By April 2009, the Estonian media released an article noting that the company was in financial difficulties and had not paid taxes in Estonia.

Personal life

Kass, her sister and brother were raised only by their mother Koidu Põder. Her older sister Victoria De Luna married singer Joel De Luna. The couple separated in 2004 after they both were charged and convicted with drug trafficking. Kass's older brother Kutty Kass is involved in real estate.

Kass has dated Leonardo DiCaprio and restaurant owner Richie Akiva. She is currently involved with Eric Lobron, a German chess champion.