Inside Karolina Spakowski’s Rapid Rise: The Rhythmic Gymnast-Turned-Model Taking Valentino, Chanel & Hermès by Storm
Beauty is as much about devotion as it is about desire. That’s why stories of women who turn discipline into art resonate with the Malibu Elixir community. Karolina Spakowski’s path—from gym mat to catwalk—offers a reminder that elegance is a practice, not just a pose. And yes, even the most ethereal faces have rituals, challenges, and wonderfully human quirks.
From Gym Mat to Runway
A meteoric ascent
If her parents had decided differently, Karolina Spakowski might never have stepped onto a runway. After being scouted as a teen, they urged her to prioritize school before finally saying yes. She made her runway debut in the fall of 2022 at Valentino’s spring/summer 2023 show.
What followed was a swift rise. Within six months, she walked for McQueen, Schiaparelli, Chanel, and Bottega Veneta. She also opened shows for Max Mara, Hermès, and Stella McCartney—then landed a flurry of editorials and campaigns.
- Early debut: Valentino spring/summer 2023
- Walked for: McQueen, Schiaparelli, Chanel, Bottega Veneta
- Opened for: Max Mara, Hermès, Stella McCartney
Discipline, distilled
Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Germany, Spakowski grew up in a house where sport mattered. Her mother had been a gymnast, her father a boxer, and Karolina began rhythmic gymnastics at age 3. Long before designer fittings and call times, she learned the power of repetition, recovery, and routine.
She credits those years with shaping her mindset. In her words, the essential lesson was simple: do what needs to be done, especially when you don’t feel like it. That commitment—quiet, steady, unwavering—became the foundation of her career.
The Mindset Behind the Model
Handling the grind
Modeling looks effortless on the page, but the schedule can be punishing. Five time zones in a week will test anyone’s spirit. On the hard days, she admits, the voice in her head says “quit.” Then the gymnast in her answers back: if you’re going to do it, do it right.
The biggest shift from sport to fashion? Letting go. She had to trade strictness for a little ease, learning how to be “cool” in front of the camera without losing her edge. It’s a balance—precision with softness—that you can feel in her work.
Learning to choose
Even as a child, Karolina’s parents made expectations clear: if you start something, commit to it. If you stop, stop for real. At five years old, she wanted to skip practice and play with friends. Her family didn’t push; they gave her a choice—and the weight of that choice. She chose to stick with it. That small decision echoes across her life.
Off-Duty, Fully Herself
A quiet Berlin cadence
When she’s not working, Karolina lives a low-key life in Berlin, a couple hours from her family home. She’s comfortable in her own company. Think flea markets, painting, and practicing calligraphy—gentle rituals that feel like exhaling after Fashion Month.
Unexpected thrills
Under the calm exterior, there’s a playful streak. She loves betting on horse races, even if she jokes that she shouldn’t go too often—discipline has its limits, after all. There’s joy in loosening the rules now and then.
Beauty Note
Bring the nourishing benefits of skincare into your makeup with a serum-infused skin tint. The right formula delivers breathable coverage, a soft-focus glow, and active ingredients your complexion can feel.
- Look for: hydrating serums, antioxidant support, and mineral SPF
- Finish: natural, radiant—not heavy or mask-like
- Pro tip: apply with fingertips for a skin-like melt; build only where you need it
What We’re Taking With Us
- Discipline is an act of self-respect. Show up for yourself, even on the messy days.
- Ease is a skill. Precision matters, but so does the ability to soften.
- Rituals restore. Art, markets, handwriting—small practices create big calm.
Credits
Lead image credit: Dress and collar by Erdem.
Hair by Louis Ghewy at MA+ Talent; makeup by Chiao Li Hsu at Art + Commerce; manicure by Vaitteil Lazzouni; casting by Julia Lange at Art Partner. Models: Karolina Spakowski at Elite, Ella Dalton at The Society Management, and Gaëtan Bianchi at Success Models. Produced by One Thirty-Eight Productions.
A Personal Note from Malibu Elixir
If Karolina’s story nudges you to honor your rituals, consider this your sign. Choose one small practice—an evening mask, a morning walk, a quiet five minutes—and keep it. Share your slow-beauty moment with us; we’re cheering you on, glow by glow.
