Karlie Kloss first cropped up in i-D nearly a decade ago at 16, and has become one of the superest of supermodels, landing innumerable cover and campaigns. Aside from being one of most famous models, she can also code in Ruby, a complex programming language which powers sites like Twitter. Over the years, Karlie’s seen the fashion world’s approach to technology change first hand: when her career began the idea of a model learning code might’ve felt strange—even uncool. Now, Karlie’s hobby is met with interest and unbridled enthusiasm by her peers in the fashion world.
“When I started modeling, fashion week was this very exclusive thing,” she told Tech Crunch, “you weren’t allowed to say anything about the designer’s collections to anyone. Now, I walk in shows that are live-streamed on Periscope and teased out on Instagram. The fashion industry has changed a lot over the last few years because of technology.”
Last year, Karlie turned her personal passion for code into a two-week scholarship program at the Flatiron School in New York City, called #KodewithKarlie. Together, 21 teen girls (and one supermodel) studied Ruby. During the course, Karlie programmed a drone “to fly and deliver cookies to the other side of the classroom.”
Based on the success of that program, the model is launching an expanded coding summer camp—Kode With Klossy—with nearly quadruple the number of scholarships on offer. In a series of two-week intensives in different cities, 80 teenage girls will build their own apps with Ruby. A beauty and brains crack just feels too easy.
Girls in New York, L.A and St. Louis can apply to the camp here.
Credits
Text Isabelle Hellyer
Photography Matt Jones