For the past decade, Models.com’s The Graduates series has been a visual check-in with the models of the moment who have consistently performed at the highest levels, going from the rising newcomers on the Hot List to the Top 50 recognizable muses throughout the world. Stars like Bella Hadid, Hoyeon, Vittoria Ceretti, Selena Forrest, and Sora Choi, to name a few, have all taken part of the milestone series that uniquely marks the shift in a model’s career. With major bookings in editorials, advertisements, lookbooks, and on the runway, these models have consistently locked down luxury clients in the most competitive markets while continuing to dominate on the global stage.
To commemorate our tenth year, we flew to Paris during the madness of fashion week to shoot all the top talent with photographer Mauricio Sierra. This year’s cast connects with the Models.com team to divulge how they got their starts, the key brands and creatives that have made their careers, and taking their place in the upper echelons.
Once Karolina Spakowski stepped into the spotlight back in 2022, she never stopped. The newly-minted Top 50 model’s penetrating gaze has aided her growing influence as she’s swiftly made herself a staple from billboards to covers, ready-to-wear to couture runways. Born in Kazakhstan, Spakowski spent her formative years in the north of Germany, before applying to get scouted on a whim as a teen. “I actually applied when I was 15,” she recalls, “but once I was signed, I thought, ‘Wait, I need to do school.’ So, I finished school first, and then about two years ago, I really started modeling.” Those two years of patience have been paid off with a whirlwind of packed show seasons, high-profile campaigns, and editorial shoots that seem to place her everywhere the industry wants to go. Spakowski’s debut season set a high bar, with a first show at Valentino. “Oh, my God, I was so nervous,” she laughs. “We had a super early call time, I think like 6:00 AM or something like that. I didn’t sleep that night.” That debut only marked the beginning, as Spakowski quickly became a runway favorite, with over 120 shows under her belt. This past season alone, she walked for Burberry, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Chanel, and Schiaparelli—a roll call of fashion’s most prestigious creatives have casted her consistently. And while her dynamic presence on the runway has recently earned her acclaim, it’s stepping in front of a camera where Spakowski feels most at home. “I adore editorials… they’re not just their product; they’re our product. It’s me bringing their vision to life,” she shares, describing the unique contribution.
Maison Martin Margiela blazer – PYRN ARCHIVES | Cotton poplin shorts – SÉBLINE
“I adore editorials…they’re not just their product; they’re our product. It’s me bringing their vision to life…”
Maison Martin Margiela blazer – PYRN ARCHIVES | Cotton poplin shorts – SÉBLINE
This creative agency isn’t her only revelation; Spakowski found herself pleasantly surprised by the industry’s camaraderie. “People think modeling is lonely, but it’s really not,” she notes. “There’s this connection with other models, creative directors, casting agents—everyone’s in it together, and it feels like a team.” While the industry often appears relentless, with demanding schedules and extensive travel plans, Spakowski has learned to embrace its intensity, crediting her grounding to the friendships she’s built within the business. Outside the hurricane of back-to-back shoots and shows, Spakowski is deeply committed to her family, drawing inspiration and purpose from her role as an older sibling. “I have four younger siblings… We didn’t grow up with much, so I want them to have the support I never had,” she says. Her words echo with a strong sense of responsibility, with a devotion that radiates as a core part of what drives her, a reminder of the values she holds close. Looking forward, Spakowski sees her Top 50 achievement as a springboard for even greater ambitions, including a perhaps not far-off dream to work in Japan. “I don’t really manifest jobs,” she says. “For me, it’s about feeling good in my work…but Japan, that’s somewhere I want to go.” The anticipation surrounding Spakowski’s future only grows, and for this graduate, the best is yet to come.
