Katrin Thormann’s fashion career began with a bang. Discovered on the streets of Berlin back in 2007, Thormann quickly found herself on the runways of Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler, followed by a chic Ingmar Bergman–inspired cover for Italian Vogue. An icy blonde in the Hitchcock mold, Thormann was embraced by photographers David Sims, Steven Meisel, and Mario Testino, all of whom tapped her for prestigious campaign work. A rising star model couldn’t ask for a better (or bigger) entrée into the world of fashion, but for Thormann, there was more in life to explore. She decided to take a break to begin a degree in film history, for one thing, and to pursue her personal passions. Now, after making her comeback on the Balmain x H&M catwalk, Thormann talks about how she spent her hiatus, what brought her back to modeling, and what keeps her inspired on the job now.
What was it like returning to the runway?
I realized how much I missed it and the rush of walking in a big show like Balmain x H&M when I was backstage and started to get those little butterflies in my stomach. Once you get on the runway with the music and the lights, it’s showtime! When I met the casting director, Jess Hallett, everything just felt right. Olivier [Rousteing] at Balmain, he truly understands how to make a girl feel sexy and special. One of my runway looks, that gorgeous blue outfit, I’ve been trying to buy it since the show, but it’s sold out everywhere!
How did you spend your break?
I have been focused on living a balanced lifestyle. Work has been fantastic, and I have been training in hip-hop and yoga with my good friend Nicole Winhoffer. Imagine a tall blonde German girl dancing hip-hop and that’s me! I started with a two-step, but now can bust a groove.
School has become a big part of your life as well.
I’m working on my degree in film history, so I’ve been watching a lot of Kubrick, Tarantino, and David Lynch. So when I got to meet Christoph Waltz at the Spectre premiere, one of the best actors in the business, it was amazing. I’ve been studying his movies, and his German is so good.
When you first started, your career took off very quickly. How did you adjust to all the change?
I grew up in a village near Kiel, a small town in Germany, and I remember going to school and picking up fresh milk every day on my way home. Living in New York and having everything you could ever want or need within a four-block radius still blows my mind.
Modeling has taught me to treat everyone the way you want to be treated. I’ve experienced a lot in my time as a model. Sometimes flights get canceled, shoots change, people change their minds, and honestly, rolling with the punches and always smiling saves the day.
Now that you’re back to modeling full-time, what keeps you going on the job?
It’s the creative process that keeps me inspired. I wake up as myself, but once I’m on set, I can be anyone: a femme fatale, a sweetheart, a dominatrix. Work is always surprising. I did a shoot in White Sands [National] Monument in New Mexico, where it was so windy, and for one shot they tied me up and started dumping sand on me! I couldn’t move, and sand was everywhere, but it translated beautifully in the photos.
, hope this marks the beginning of a major runway comeback
