Having graced dozens upon dozens of runways and fronting campaigns for Dior, Donna Karan, and more, it can be easy to forget that, at one point, Karlie Kloss was just an unknown teenager in St. Louis before she was discovered at a charity event in 2005. Now, the Telegraph reports, the teen sensation is returning to her roots to host the Shine Search modeling competition.
Kloss is joining forces with Mary and Jeff Clarke of Mother Management, the scouts who plucked her from obscurity when she was just barely 13 years old. The contest kicks off today in Kloss' hometown, and travels across the Midwest through the end of July. As the model told The Telegraph, she has a seriously special relationship with the folks who discovered her:
"Mary and Jeff are like family to me now, and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am today so I jumped at the chance to support them in their search to make another 'wannabe' models' dream come true! This is a fantastic way for me to support the community and the charity that launched my career, I couldn't be more excited!"
The winner stands to receive a modeling contract with Mother, and will be flown to New York for a photo shoot. The top ten finalists will receive coaching from the Clarkes and top Mother models, as well as the opportunity to walk the runway with Miss Kloss herself.
