German model Toni Garrn was discovered at the age of thirteen by a modeling agency in Hamburg. Just a few years later, she hit the catwalk for the first time at New York Fashion Week, exclusively for Calvin Klein, marking the beginning of an international modeling career that put her face on the cover of many top magazines. Now, more than ten years since she first became a fashion muse, Toni Garrn is also an activist fighting for the rights of young girls in Africa to receive an education. Her foundation, established in 2016, has enabled the creation of numerous schools across Zimbabwe and Ghana. Through initiatives like these, the model and actress aspires to lift up the new generation.

You established your own foundation in 2016 to promote the education of young girls in Africa. How did you choose this area?

I had been working in Africa with Plan International for a couple of years before that, and I had fallen in love with the continent already when I was a child. I realized women are most in need and don’t have the right to go to school in so many areas, yet education is also the biggest chance for families to get out of poverty.

When my daughter doesn’t want to go to school sometimes in the morning I tell her: “You are lucky, in some countries, girls don’t have the right or the possibility to go to school”. What do you think of this? Why do you think education is so important?

Education is the key to everything. Without education people don’t know their rights and won’t know how to educate their children. In developing countries, education is key for sexual health and to help women raise their children and get out of poverty.


Do you have a strong connection to Africa? 

Yes, I definitely do. I feel super strongly about the culture. I love the music and I love the way the people live. There’s an honesty and authenticity to the culture that I have not experienced anywhere else. Since I spend so much of my free time working on my charity, I could only do it in a place where I get so much back.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? 

I think everyone who agrees women should have equal rights to men is a feminist.

You’ve also started an acting career quite recently. Can you tell me how that came about?


I’ve always been interested in theater and acting, so it’s just a normal transition to take classes and explore that more. I then looked for agents and took it more seriously. But it’s obviously a whole new industry and I’m just taking it day by day and focusing on studying.

How can modeling help you get into character? Do modeling and cinema share similarities in your opinion?

I think modeling and acting are very different in the sense that you’re a good model when you’re very closed off and just on time and stiff in a way, and then for acting you have to be the most vulnerable. In some ways it helps though: for example, I’m very familiar with lighting and cameras.

Modeling seems to be ruled by social media numbers today. What do you think of this?

Unfortunately, yes it’s very ruled by social media, but it makes total sense. For companies, if you can get more free marketing from the face you book, you can understand why they choose that face.

You’ve done the Victoria’s Secret show from 2011 to 2013, and then made a comeback last year. How did it feel to come back to that amazing show? How did you prepare for it? 

It was definitely nice to be back. I prepared differently this year, as I’m older and wanted to take it more seriously. I prepared with several months of workouts and a very strict diet.

What are your future projects?

I just designed a collection with the brand Tom Taylor that is coming out globally in the Spring, which I’m very excited about. I also have two films being released this year which I can’t wait to see!

Toni: Issey Miyake – White crop top
Polo Ralph Lauren- Striped long t-shirt dress
Proenza Schouler – Nude leather long boots
Toni’s own jewelry

Memphis: Model’s own denim and top
Palm Angels – Check transparent dress