Supermodel Karlie Kloss Brings a Virtual Runway to Roblox

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Karlie Kloss is the latest celebrity to jump into the Roblox metaverse. The supermodel is launching the Fashion Klossette Designer Showcase with five pop-up stores to promote the virtual apparel of Roblox Corp. creators Builder Boy, Lovespun, Reverse_Polarity, RynityRift and Yourius. With 54.1 million daily active users, Roblox is a magnet for brands including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci. Digital fashion is big business, with Roblox reporting more than 5.8 billion virtual items, both free and paid, being acquired on the platform last year.

“What excites me about these worlds is that you can you can make yourself any size, shape, color and gender,” Kloss said in an interview. “I want to democratize access to the best of fashion without the limitations of one narrow idea of what is beautiful.”

Having worked as a Victoria’s Secret model during a time when fashion was anything but inclusive, she quit in 2015 to attend New York University. It was there she discovered her passion for computer programming and went on to found Kode With Klossy to teach girls and gender-nonconforming kids to code.

“I believe it’s crucial that we control our own destiny,” Kloss said. “You can create anything you can dream up knowing how to code—there’s such power in that.”

Kloss, an investor in startups including Reformation, StockX and Therabody, is married to Josh Kushner of Thrive Capital. But similar to Serena Williams and Paris Hilton, celebrities who also married venture capitalists, Kloss said she became interested in funding founders long before she met her husband.

“I love meeting and supporting entrepreneurs to make meaningful impact in the world,” Kloss said. “I typically get involved at an early stage when the company