People often labeled Carmen Kass as a diva, but the Estonian model insists it’s just her straightforward nature that stands out. “People said I was a bitch, but I'm just straightforward. That's the only way to be. Besides that, my only diva-like feature is being late,” she shares in one of her most candid interviews.
Carmen’s journey into modeling began unexpectedly. Growing up under the restrictions of the Soviet Union, she had never traveled and barely dared to dream about life beyond her country. “I hated geography at school because I thought, why should I study it if I will never be able to see it?” she recalls. Yet fate intervened when a model agent spotted 14-year-old Carmen in a supermarket and encouraged her to move to Milan. Despite her mother’s initial skepticism, Carmen took the first bold steps into the world of models, even convincing her mother to sign a visa application—or faking it with her siblings’ help.
Financial limitations shaped her early life, forcing Carmen to wear hand-me-downs from her brother and sister. Critics were quick to judge, but she learned resilience and self-awareness. “You have to learn to be strong. I know who I am,” she reflects, a mindset that would later serve her well in the competitive modeling industry.
Carmen also discusses the more challenging aspects of modeling, particularly dealing with strangers during photoshoots. “I have the ability to turn myself off and not even notice what they are doing. It helped me. And when things go wrong or I feel stupid, I forbid myself to show it. When you show it, you feel it,” she reveals, offering insight into the mental strength required to succeed as a model.
Looking toward the future, Carmen remains both practical and visionary. She dreams of buying a vineyard house in Italy to open a bed and breakfast, while keeping modeling as a vibrant part of her life. “As long as there are offers, I'll not plan to do beauty surgeries, but if I am gray and wrinkled and someone still wants to take pictures of me, then it is cool,” she admits. Her story illustrates the global reach of models and modeling, the influence of model agencies in shaping careers, and how passion and determination can transform the life of someone once confined by circumstance.
