Episode 40 

This week, Tessa is joined by Kiki Minwegen where they discuss her journey through international modelling and her transition into nutrition, coaching and mindfulness-led work. Kiki reflects on entering the fashion industry young and working across multiple markets, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of identity, pressures and self-worth. 

They talk about the realities of perfection and comparison in the modelling world, the impact of being judged primarily on appearance, and why Kiki never saw modelling as her whole career. She shares how studying nutrition and moving into coaching helped her to reconnect with herself, the importance of community and routine, and why redefining success beyond image, money, or status has been central to her wellbeing. The conversation offers a thoughtful, honest perspective on finding purpose alongside creativity, rather than making one industry your whole identity. 

Kiki Minwegen on Identity, Wellbeing and Life Beyond Modelling 

Interview by Tessa Dewing for The Business of Modelling Podcast 

Kiki Minwegen is an international model represented by Seeds Management in Berlin, whose career has taken her from Germany, Paris, Milan and Cape Town. Alongside modelling, she has trained as a nutritionist, life coach and mindfulness teacher, building a body of work that sits at the intersection of wellbeing, education and conscious creativity. 

In this episode, Kiki speaks about entering the fashion industry as a teenager, the realities of working internationally, and why modelling was never something that she expected to do forever. Her story offers a thoughtful perspective on identity, pressure and what it means to redefine success on your own terms. 

Early Life, Responsibility and Independence 

Kiki grew up in Cologne in an unstable household, where she took on responsibility from a young age. With a father who was mentally ill and a younger sister to look after, she describes growing up quickly and feeling a strong need to become independent. 

Her education played an important role in providing structure and stability. After attending Montessori school, she moved to a private Catholic girls’ school, where she felt supported by teachers who took a genuine interest in her life beyond the classroom. Looking back, she reflects on how important that environment was in shaping her resilience and sense of responsibility. 

Entering the Fashion Industry Young 

Modelling entered Kiki’s life early, with people approaching her on the streets of Cologne when she was still a teenager. Her mother, who has modelled herself, was cautious and protective, having already experienced an industry that did not always feel safe of supportive. 

She began working in Germany while finishing school, before moving to Paris at 18 to sign with IMG. She describes that period as exciting but also deeply lonely. Living alone in a foreign city without speaking the language, she struggled emotionally despite working well and being supported by agents who tried to look out for her. Kiki then worked in Milan and Cape Town, gaining experience across the different markets. While she was able to support herself well financially through modelling, she never saw it as a long-term career. 

“Modelling was more of an escape than anything else,” she explains. “I always knew I would want to study and do something else at some point.” 

Pressure, Comparison and Perfection 

Kiki describes attending castings where she would see hundreds of women, all being judged on appearance alone, and how easy it was to lose sight of who she was beyond her body. She appeared confident and successful, but internally, she was highly self-critical. Kiki speaks about always finding something that felt “not good enough” and struggling with the idea that people saw her as attractive but underestimated her intelligence. 

“I don’t think the industry has changed,” she says. “The pressure is still there, it’s just everywhere now, especially through social media.” Kiki believes the constant focus on appearance causes many people to lose connection with their bodies and sense of self, a theme that continues to influence her work today. 

Stepping Away and Studying Nutrition 

A turning point came when Kiki moved to the south of France and stopped modelling for a while. Spending time in nature and away from the industry allowed her to reconnect with herself and reflect on what she wanted next. At 25, she began studying nutrition, returning to Germany to complete her degree. Modelling became a way to support her studies rather than her main focus. After qualifying, she worked in research and later as a practising nutritionist, supporting both athletes and individuals seeking better health.  

Over time, she realised that food alone was rarely the core issue. “Most people already know what healthy food is,” she explains. “The real work is understanding why we disconnect from ourselves.” This insight led her to expand into coaching and mindfulness, combining multiple disciplines to work with people more holistically. 

Coaching, Community and Conscious Work 

Today, Kiki balances several roles. She teaches coaching and leadership courses, works one-to-one with clients, runs workshops, and continues modelling, often working for vegan and sustainable brands that align with her values.  

She also co-runs a conscious production company with her husband, and is involved in creative projects focused on food culture, storytelling and plant-based living. Across all of this, routine and community play a central role in keeping her grounded. Meditation, journaling, movement and close relationships are non-negotiable parts of her daily life. She believes that healing and growth are not meant to happen in isolation.   

Redefining Success 

For Kiki, success has nothing to do with money, status or image. Instead, it is about alignment, well-being and feeling connected to herself at the end of each day. “Success for me is going to bed at night and feeling at peace with who I am and what I’ve done,” she explains. 

She encourages creatives and models to listen to their bodies, take early signs of burnout seriously, and seek support when needed. Modelling, she believes, becomes much healthier when it is part of a wider life, rather than the whole of it. 

Looking Forward 

Kiki’s journey reflects a broader conversation about identity, self-worth and longevity in creative industries. By stepping away, retraining and returning on her own terms, she has built a career that supports her wellbeing rather than undermining it. Her story offers an honest reminder that creativity can evolve, careers can change, and success does not have to look the same for everyone.