Age: 27
Nationality: Danish
Résumé: Discovered at 21 when her neighbor brought her to the attention of a scout, Bender is now a firm favorite of Karl Lagerfeld.
I Was At University When I Was Scouted… I was studying nanotechnology because I always liked math, chemistry and physics. I wanted to produce a chemical-formed oil that didn’t burn up and pollute. I haven’t given up on that dream, but it’s getting more and more unrealistic.
It Took Me A Long Time To Like Modeling… One, I’m not a people person, and two, I don’t like invasion of my personal space. I’m not very patient either, which can be tricky in this industry. It took about a year and a half for me to think [modeling] was ok.
Karl Lagerfeld Is Amazing… He has the most insane brain in the world. He’s very sweet; he texts me on my birthday and he even remembers when my mom’s birthday is. He’s on a different level to everybody else. I love that he knows exactly what he likes and what he wants.
My Clothes Have To Be Comfy… I wear a lot of jeans, sneakers, T-shirts, sweatpants and cargo pants. When I started modeling I was better at wearing color, but now… It’s not that I can’t be bothered, it’s just that you have to be pretty dedicated to keep up with everything. You reach a point where you can’t go wrong with black jeans and a black T-shirt.
I Love Trying Out New Things… I have a burger club, a wine club, a book club and an old-movie club. The burger club is my favorite; I go with [fellow model] Freja Beha Erichsen, her girlfriend and some friends to different burger restaurants, and we pick the best ones. I’ve done pottery and violin lessons, and I do a lot of jigsaw puzzles – 3,000-piece ones that take me three days.