A Quick, Pre-Holiday Chit-Chat with America's Sweethearts Ali Michael & Karlie Kloss
After a few twee Christmasy tête-à-têtes over at PAPERMAG with Canada's Amours (top models Amanda Laine, Kate Somers, and Simona McIntyre) and "Planet Earth's [self-proclaimed] Favorite Third World Fag" – recently announced COACD Top Face – Bryanboy, I had the pleasure of catching up with all-American beauties Ali Michael and Karlie Kloss to dish on their kooky family traditions, nostalgia for the Nineties, and how they're giving back... not just throughout the holiday season.
How long did you believe in Santa Claus?
Ali Michael: I believed in Santa probably until I was about eight years old or so. Santa used to leave me a typed letter every Christmas morning. One day when I was looking through my mom's computer to find something for school, I accidently opened the folder that held the exact letters that Santa had left me. It was kind of devastating.
Karlie Kloss: [chuckles] What are you talking about... I will always believe in Santa Claus!
Does your family have any quirky holiday traditions?
Karlie Kloss: Well my poor dad was born on Christmas Day [December 25], so he has to "split his birthday" with Christmas: we always spend the entire first part of the day opening presents and enjoying Christmas morning, then at night all of the family comes over to celebrate his birthday! It's quite a day...
Ali Michael: We really don't do too much for Christmas – except get together with family – which is what it's really all about.
Favorite holiday desert:
Karlie Kloss: Definitely my gram's gingersnap cookies.
Ali Michael: I can't imagine that any of my family members will go near any vegan treat that I attempt to make; but I'm loving warm raw cacao-coconut-almond milk at the moment! I want to try to make a raw vegan cheesecake or recreate Souen's carob brownies with pine nuts.
Favorite holiday film:
Ali Michael: I grew up watching the original version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and always have gotten a kick out of Tim Allen's The Santa Clause (1994). I feel like I'm back in the good old 1990's when I watch either of them.
Karlie Kloss: It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): it's a tie!
Favorite charitable organization:
Karlie Kloss: There are potentially too many incrediable charities to list... but one of my favorites is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation because my mom survived breast cancer.
Ali Michael: While it's not exactly a charitable organization, I just signed up as a volunteer for an organization called New York Cares. It's a really great placement program that connects people with a wide range of volunteer opportunities all throughout the city. When in Texas, I volunteer at a therapeutic horseback riding stable where I work with kids with mental and physical disabilities.
How do you plan to spend your holiday this year?
Ali Michael: I'm spending my holiday with family in Texas. While it would be nice to see a "White Christmas" for once, I'm not complaining about having a break from the freezing New York weather. It's supposed to be sixty-five degrees [Fahrenheit] here on Christmas!
Karlie Kloss: Enjoying time with family... and of course catching up on sleep!
a very merry everything,
bB jf
- Related: A Quick Pre-Holiday Chit-Chat with Bryan Boy [PAPERMAG]
- Related: A Quick Pre-Holiday Chit-Chat with Canadian Models Amanda Laine, Kate Somers & Simona McIntyre [PAPERMAG]
The internet at Paper is down – stay tuned for the "European edition" set to be published by the end of the week!
great interviews; i'm always a bit of a sucker when it comes to nosy details about the lives of others. and esp when those "others" are michael and kloss!
and 'it's a wonderful life' wins hands down in the xmas film department!
happy xmas.
Posted by: stevie | Thursday, 25 December 2008 at 09:48 PM
I love Ali. :) Great interview!
Posted by: Kathleen | Saturday, 27 December 2008 at 01:28 PM
awesome interview!
you have such a lovely site, do you mind if we exchange links?
happy holidays, darling!
Posted by: Angela | Sunday, 28 December 2008 at 11:02 AM
beautiful pics!
Posted by: Hanne E | Tuesday, 30 December 2008 at 01:57 PM
Oh what a cute little interview <3 Thanks a lot for posting ! They both seem to be so nice and down-to-earth
Posted by: nele | Tuesday, 30 December 2008 at 01:57 PM
karlie's christmas sounds even more hectic than mine!
what a lovely interview...
Posted by: M | Tuesday, 30 December 2008 at 05:19 PM
wow, we all love ali !
well,
happy new year!
cheered along with it!
do you have joining in countdown to 12 o'clock with your friends ?
i hope everybody in the new year will be that all is well!
Posted by: greta | Tuesday, 06 January 2009 at 01:09 PM
Wonderful interview! Thanks so much for this :]. The raw milk sounds good...
Posted by: Noel | Tuesday, 06 January 2009 at 01:09 PM
woah where did these posts come from?! I thought you just stopped blogging, Julia! But I was just not getting my emailed subscription anymore...weird. Thanks for these interviews. Q&A's with models are always interesting :)
Posted by: Lucy | Tuesday, 06 January 2009 at 01:09 PM
Oh i like her.
and i love that second picture ! so cute
Posted by: jess | Tuesday, 06 January 2009 at 01:09 PM
love the questions! great interview! they're so fresh still...karlie's one of my favorites!
xo,
S.
Posted by: Samantha | Tuesday, 06 January 2009 at 01:09 PM
great interview! and they're so cute.
Posted by: Thu | Sunday, 11 January 2009 at 08:08 PM
Wonderful questions. Beautiful Pics. ;)
Posted by: lace&tea | Sunday, 11 January 2009 at 08:08 PM
Interesting interview and lovely photos! They both have promising careers ahead of them.
Posted by: danz | Sunday, 11 January 2009 at 08:08 PM