Most people at Lafayette know about David Freese, who graduated from our school and now plays for the St. Louis Cardinals. Some people know that Kimora Lee Simmons grew up in a St. Louis suburb. But unless people follow fashion, they usually don’t know who Karlie Kloss is.

Kloss is a well-known NEXT model from St. Louis.

She has walked in shows for designers such as Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, Karl Lagerfeld and Ralph Lauren.  Kloss has also been in campaigns for Marc Jacobs’s “Lola” perfume, Dior eyewear and numerous others.

Kloss moved to St. Louis in 1995, just a few years after she was born.  She was discovered in a charity fashion show when she was only 13.  She is a graduate of Webster Groves High School—yes, the one in St. Louis.

In every magazine I look through, I can find an ad or editorial with her in it. She’s popped up on Vogue covers—not only in America, but foreign Vogues as well. She has also been on the covers of Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Life, Teen Vogue and W  just to name a few. It goes without saying that those are the most prestigious of fashion magazines.

One time I was watching Gossip Girl when I thought I saw Kloss at one of the Upper East Side parties.  I had to rewind it, and sure enough, it was her.  The fact that she is guest-starring as herself on Gossip Girl just shows how far she has come since she was discovered in St. Louis at 13.