Karlie Kloss Opens Up About 'Pivotal Moment' Surrounding Her Victoria's Secret Exit

In 2015, model Karlie Kloss opted to leave her lucrative Victoria's Secret contract in the rear view. The decision surprised the model's fans, but the 26-year-old refrained from publicly discussing the personal choice until a recent Vogue interview. There, she exposed the private reasoning behind parting ways with the brand.

"The reason I decided to stop working with Victoria's Secret was I didn't feel it was an image that was truly reflective of who I am and the kind of message I want to send to young women around the world about what it means to be beautiful," Kloss stated.

Continuing, she added, "I think that was a pivotal moment in me stepping into my power as a feminist, being able to make my own choices and my own narrative, whether through the companies I choose to work with, or through the image I put out to the world."

That decision came at the same time the model was studying feminist theory at New York University's Gallatin School and beginning to implement the ideas into her everyday life.

"If anything, the more I exercised the power of my voice, the more I earned respect from my peers," she stated when asked about her advice for other women, adding, "And I earned more respect for myself. Only now do I have the confidence to stand tall - all 6 ft. 2 in. of me - and know the power of my voice."