Models of the Decade: Carmen Kass

Carmen Kass grew up in Paide (population: less than 10,000), Estonia and she didn’t finish high school. At age eighteen, she traveled to Paris to pursue modeling and became one of the biggest supermodels on the planet. She dominated the first half of the decade with every major campaign you can name: Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Givenchy, Chloe. Her long, gazelle-like limbs and delicate features are practically synonymous with J’Adore. Although she’s slowed her pace since, she’s still the muse to Michael Kors (and star of every campaign), she did Celine in 2010, and (bonus!) became  president of the Estonian National Chess League. She is one of Mario Testino’s absolute favorites. And one of ours, too.