Karen Mulder rose to fame as one of Victoria’s Secret’s original Angels during the supermodel boom of the 1990s.
The Dutch fashion star, now 57, became a fixture on magazine covers, appearing in more than 700 publications. She also fronted campaigns for some of the world’s most prestigious luxury labels, including Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.
Known in the industry as “The Blonde With Class,” Mulder was among the highest-earning models of her era. Reports at the time claimed she could make approximately $10,000 per day.
In 2000, Mulder left modeling to explore other creative pursuits, including music. A year later, she appeared on television and made allegations about abuse within the fashion world, though the interview was never broadcast.
Mulder was subsequently admitted to a psychiatric facility in Paris and remained largely out of the public eye for years. In September, however, she made a notable comeback by appearing on the cover of Vogue Germany.
Now, the former supermodel is reflecting on key moments from her fashion career in an interview with Dylan Kelly.
Karen Mulder was an original Victoria’s Secret Angel in the ’90s during the height of her career, see her now; pictured above in 1998 at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Mulder, who was labeled as ‘The Blonde With Class,’ had been one of the highest-paid models during the ’90s and reportedly earned around $10,000 a day; seen in 1999
Mulder strolled arm-in-arm with Kelly while wearing a fitted black dress as well as a chic black coat to keep her warm in the cooler fall weather.
She slipped into a pair of comfy black loafers and allowed her blonde locks to flow down naturally past her shoulders.
During the conversation which was shared to Instagram on Monday, the star recalled gaining prominence in the industry after she won a Dutch modeling competition in her teenage years.
‘It took me a couple of years,’ she explained on the topic of becoming a high-profile model around the globe.
Kelly also pointed out that by 1996, Mulder received the Model of the Year title, which she did not know about.
‘Oh, I didn’t know that!’ the star admitted, which prompted Kelly to question, ‘That’s news to you?’
Mulder explained, ‘Yeah. I don’t really follow much of what I do. It makes me self-conscious.’
In regards to being a supermodel in the ’90s, Mulder recalled that the era had been ‘fun.’
Mulder strolled arm-in-arm with Kelly while wearing a fitted black dress as well as a chic black coat to keep her warm in the cooler fall weather; (Source: Dylan Kelly/Instagram)
Mulder explained, ‘Yeah. I don’t really follow much of what I do. It makes me self-conscious’; seen in 2000
‘It was fun, it was fast. We were running from one show to another and getting hair and makeup done quickly. I would do my own makeup,’ she said.
‘Compared to today’s world, it’s probably not so fast.’
In 1998, Mulder strutted down the runway as the world’s first Victoria’s Secret Angel alongside Tyra Banks.
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On how the iconic moment came to be, Mulder shared, ‘Well actually, it was my idea.
‘Because I was thinking of Charlie’s Angels and then I told Ed Razek. I was like, why don’t you do Victoria’s Secret Angels? Then they did.’
Kelly joked, ‘I think that might be Victoria’s Secret,’ which prompted Mulder to playfully agree.
She recently made an appearance on the cover of Vogue Germany in September which marked her return to the spotlight and industry.
In regards to her decision to return, Mulder expressed, ‘Things that happened, happened. And I leave them in the past and I just want to move on.
‘It was fun, it was fast. We were running from one show to another and getting hair and makeup done quickly. I would do my own makeup,’ she said; seen in 1995 in Paris
On how the iconic Victoria’s Secret Angels came to be, Mulder shared, ‘Well actually, it was my idea’; Candice Swanepoel seen wearing wings at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
‘I don’t want to have any bad feelings about things or people. I’m very happy to be back. Everybody’s so nice,’ she further gushed.
Daily Mail has reached out to a rep of Mulder for comment, but has yet to hear back.
At the age of 32, Mulder appeared on a French TV show in 2001 and made accusations of abuse in the industry.
The show never aired, but she also made the allegations to the police in France. Shortly after, the star was admitted to a psychiatric facility in Paris.
Upon leaving months later, Mulder told police that she ‘fabricated’ the accusations.
However, while talking to Vogue Germany for its September issue, she told the outlet, ‘I was forced to say I had made it all up.’
The model added, ‘I thought that because I was famous, people would believe me. All I wanted was for those terrible things to stop – for men to stop thinking they could do whatever they pleased.’
Last month in October, Mulder glammed up as she attended the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles (seen above)
Mulder also dressed up as Karl Lagerfeld as she stopped by Heidi Klum’s Halloween bash this year in NYC (seen above)
Last month in October, Mulder glammed up as she attended the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles.
She wowed in a black satin dress as well as a chic black blazer and slipped into a pair of black pumps.
The star carried a black clutch in her hand and completed the look with sheer black gloves and a dazzling necklace.
Mulder also dressed up as Karl Lagerfeld as she stopped by Heidi Klum’s Halloween bash this year in NYC.