Supermodels—they’re just like us, right? OK, maybe not, but when it comes to motherhood, we’re all in the same proverbial boat (some days spent sinking, others spent swimming). The 31-year-old Karlie Kloss may be a 40-time Vogue cover girl and one of TIME’s “most influential people,” as well as the founder of Kode with Klossy, a free coding program for teens she founded in 2015. But on any given day, the mom of two is changing a diaper or wiping spit-up off her shirt, proving she’s also a hands-on mom, just like the rest of us.
“The experience of putting your child’s needs before your own and now having both Levi [2] and Elijah [7 months] continues to change for me every day. As I have become a mom, I feel empowered to advocate for other moms, reminding them that, although your experience is personal, we are all on this journey together,” Kloss tells Motherly.
That’s exactly what prompted Kloss to join babycare brand Coterie—for which she is an angel investor—in a new campaign that explores the physical journey of motherhood both pre- and post-birth.
“The message of this campaign is so important for women and moms because it serves as a reminder to celebrate the changes and the new version of themselves who emerge from pregnancy and childbirth. It’s a physical and emotional transformation that we as moms should all be proud of,” shares Kloss.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body transforms dramatically. Energy expenditure is doubled, ligaments are stretched and strained, the rib cage is expanded by 2-3 inches, the breasts prepare for milk production, and the heart pumps 50% more blood over approximately 290 days. And that’s all before the first diaper is even changed.
“Postpartum is different for everyone. I struggled to navigate this new normal that was my life the first time around with Levi, and now, with a second baby added to the mix, I have learned there’s no perfect way of doing anything, and I take each day as it comes. Throughout this journey, I have leaned on my village, i.e., the moms around me and my closest friends, for support.”
Kloss also leans on several essentials to help get her through her busy life as a tech titan, model, wife and mom-of-two. We asked Kloss about her motherhood must-haves, what she can’t live without these days, and what she wishes she’d known about sooner.
Karlie Kloss’ motherhood must-haves
Keep learning
One piece of advice Kloss lives by? No matter how long you’ve been a mom, there’s always room to learn and grow. “One of the biggest things that’s kept me motivated across my profession, business and time as a mom has been my openness to learning. I recognized early in my career that the only way I would succeed was by paying attention to the people around me and those who came before me and striving to emulate those women and voices who inspired me and who I looked up to. In all of those areas, but mainly as a mom, you’re never going to have all the answers, but there’s real peace in recognizing that and being willing to always keep yourself open to advice and tips along the way,” says Kloss.
And hard as it may be, don’t sweat the small stuff. “When you’re a mom, especially a first-time mom, everything feels like the end of the world. Every rash, bump, bruise, hiccup, or tantrum… can make you fear that you’re doing something wrong as a mom. But one of my go-to thoughts that always brings me back to equilibrium is that no one will love them more or want better for them than me,” she adds. “My journey through motherhood so far has been nothing short of chaotic but full of amazing little moments that I will cherish forever. [It] has changed every part of my life and who I am.”
