Welcome to Unstyled. I'm your host, Christine Barberick, co-founder and global editor-in-chief of Refinery 29.

Each week, I invite a notable person to come in and talk with us as we explore the funny, inspiring, sometimes heartbreaking tales of life, work, and love, as told through the things that we wear.

The phrase overnight success is often misused in the fashion industry, where many supposed instant sensation stories hide

away years of grinding.

But in Carly Claus' case, it's no exaggeration.

In her first year modeling, Carly racked up the kind of winds that once in a lifetime

doesn't even begin to cover.

It started in 2007 when Carly, then, a total unknown, was booked to walk Calvin Klein's

fashion show, one of the biggest of New York Fashion Week, and a gig that can easily launch a

nobody model to superstardom. Within days, the fashion industry was buzzing about the unusual

gangly beauty from St. Louis with a preternatural

confidence. Bookings for major designers in Milan and Paris soon followed, and suddenly Carly

was the breakout model of the year. Not bad for your first year of high school. Now 12 years into her

career, there's not many boxes Carly hasn't checked.

From landing global runway shows to major campaigns and no fewer than 40 Vogue covers,

hear that, 40. But Carly's done much more than transition from Newface to Sirius Pro.

First, there was Carly's vegan cookie collaboration with Milk Bar that benefited feed in the CFDA.

Next was Tech when Carly found an unexpected love for coding in 2014.

She spread the love by launching code with Clossie, a nonprofit that creates learning

experiences and opportunities for young women and inspires them to pursue their interests in tech.

It's not unusual for models to have side hustles, of course,

but Carly's aren't your typical QuickBuck kind of gigs.

...