Toni Garrn

Here’s a full, SEO-optimized biography of Toni Garrn (born July 7, 1992), covering her life, modeling career, activism, quotes, and lessons.

Toni Garrn – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Toni Garrn (born July 7, 1992) is a German supermodel, actress, and philanthropist. From discovering at age 13 to global runways and founding the Toni Garrn Foundation, explore her life, work, quotes, and impact.

Introduction

Toni Garrn is one of the leading faces in international modeling—her elegant features, poised presence, and versatility have anchored campaigns for major luxury brands and appearances in top fashion magazines. Beyond modeling, she is also an actress and dedicated advocate for girls’ education and empowerment. Her journey illustrates not only the glitz of fashion but also how public influence can serve social causes.

Early Life and Family

Toni Garrn was born Antonia “Toni” Garrn on July 7, 1992 in Hamburg, Germany.

Her father worked in the oil industry; her mother was a businesswoman. She has an older brother, Niklas Garrn, born in 1990, who also worked as a model.

Toni’s early years included moves abroad: at age two, her family relocated to London, and later at age six, they lived in Athens. Eventually, around age ten, the family returned to Hamburg.

She studied at Campion School in Athens for a period. classical piano.

Her bilingual upbringing included German and English; she also learned French.

Discovery & Breakthrough

Toni Garrn was discovered at age 13 during the 2006 FIFA World Cup events in Hamburg. A modeling scout noticed her, and she soon signed with Women Management in New York.

Her breakthrough came when, at age 15, she was booked as an exclusive model for Calvin Klein in New York for their Spring/Summer 2008 runway show. That season, she also appeared in the brand’s ad campaign.

The following season she again walked exclusively for Calvin Klein, further consolidating her status in fashion.

Modeling Career & Achievements

Runway & Campaigns

After her early exclusives, Toni Garrn’s portfolio expanded rapidly:

• She walked more than 60 shows in major fashion weeks for designers such as Stella McCartney, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors, and others.

• She’s been featured in international editions of Vogue (France, Germany, Italy, etc.), Elle, Numéro, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Clarie, Glamour, i-D, Another Magazine, and more.

• Campaigns include luxury labels such as Burberry, Chloé, Closed (her collaboration), Dior, Donna Karan, Fendi, Hugo Boss, Prada, and many others.

• In 2011 she began work with Victoria’s Secret, and participated in their fashion shows.

Collaborations & Entrepreneurial Projects

• Toni Garrn collaborated with the German denim brand Closed to create a line of jeans, with proceeds donated to girls’ education via Plan International.

• She used her fashion platform to integrate advocacy for girls' rights, leveraging her visibility into fundraising and awareness.

Acting & Media Appearances

While modeling is her primary identity, Garrn has appeared in film and television:

• She played Reeva Steenkamp in Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer (2017).

• She had roles in You Are Wanted, Under the Bed (2017), Berlin, I Love You (2019), and a minor part in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).

• She also appeared in short or cameo roles in The Shift, Life + Times: Empire State of Mind, and Crisis.

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Relationships & Family

Toni Garrn was in a high-profile relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio from 2013 to 2014.

Later, she dated NBA player Chandler Parsons around 2015, though their relationship ended.

She became engaged to actor Alex Pettyfer on December 24, 2019, and the two married on October 2, 2020 in Hamburg.

Together, they have a daughter, Luca Malaika, born in July 2021.

On April 22, 2023, Garrn announced her divorce from Pettyfer via Instagram.

Advocacy & Toni Garrn Foundation

In 2014, Garrn became an ambassador for Plan International’s “Because I Am a Girl” campaign, supporting girls’ rights globally.

In 2016, she launched the Toni Garrn Foundation, which raises funds and awareness to expand access to education for girls in countries such as Burundi, Ghana, Rwanda, and Uganda.

One of her signature charity initiatives is the “Supermodel Flea Market”, where donated clothing from celebrities and models is sold, with proceeds going to her foundation’s programs.

In 2025, Garrn was recognized by the Gates Foundation as a Goalkeeper, honoring her philanthropic efforts.

Famous Quotes of Toni Garrn

Here are a few notable remarks that reflect her mindset, advocacy, and approach to influence:

• While discussing her activism:

  “If people can get a cool pair of jeans and the money happens to go somewhere incredible, that’s a great combination.”

• On her dual focus of fashion + cause:

  “Many people are involved in charities but in our world, there are people who just really care about fashion. If they can get something beautiful and support change, that’s meaningful.”

• On her philanthropic vision in Burkina Faso:

  “It is a personal project… I had always sponsored children. At fifteen I had sponsored two girls through Plan International.”

These quotes show how she intertwines her professional work with her social values.

Lessons from Toni Garrn’s Journey

1. Leverage influence for impact
   She uses fashion visibility not just for branding, but to launch and sustain meaningful social work.

2. Start young, but grow wisely
   Discovered in adolescence, she gradually built depth—skills, advocacy, and diversified roles.

3. Balance art and activism
   Her career shows that one can succeed in glamour industries while maintaining authenticity and purpose.

4. Invest in sustainable change
   Rather than one-off donations, she builds long-term programs (education, empowerment) through her foundation.

5. Adaptability & reinvention
   She has expanded from runway and campaigns into acting, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy—a sign of evolving with time.

Conclusion

Toni Garrn is more than a fashion icon—she embodies a modern model of influence. Her talent, poise, and professional success are matched by her commitment to social justice, especially girls’ education.

Her story reminds us that public figures can do more than shine—they can mobilize. If you like, I can also compile a timeline of her major campaigns, a catalogue of her film/TV roles, or a visual index of her top covers. Would you like me to do that?