Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Britten-Vaden.
Hi Karina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey really started long before I stepped onto a runway. I grew up with a strong background in the performing arts and spent about 15 years training in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop with Meredith Gravely School of Dance in Danville, VA. Dance taught me discipline, confidence, stage presence, and how to express myself without saying a word all things that eventually became a huge part of who I am as a model.
I began modeling at 15 years old, with my first runway experiences coming through Crownology in my hometown of Danville, Virginia under direction of Darius Johnson and my mother Carlita Britten who serve as my manager (momanger) . What started as something I enjoyed quickly became something I could genuinely see myself pursuing. Over the years, I’ve continued developing my own identity as an editorial and runway model while learning that there is so much more to modeling than simply being in front of a camera.
Today, I work independently and continue to model locally, including working with photographers from my hometown and modeling for the boutique 2Earthy Mamas. I’ve also had the exciting opportunity to be published twice in nHaus Magazine, which has been an important milestone in building my portfolio and seeing my work reach a larger audience.
At the same time, education and leadership are very important to me. I’m currently a second-year student at Shaw University, where I recently completed my reign as Miss Freshman. Balancing college, modeling, leadership, and my personal goals has helped me mature and become even more intentional about the woman and professional I want to become.
I’m still building my story. I want to continue growing in editorial and runway modeling, expand into larger markets and campaigns, and create opportunities that allow me to combine my background in performance, fashion, leadership, and creativity. I’m proud that my journey began in Danville, because it reminds me that you don’t have to come from a huge city to dream beyond it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges of my life happened in March 2023, when I was involved in a serious car accident with members of my family. I fractured my pelvis, broke two ribs, suffered lacerations to my kidneys, liver, and spleen, and had a small brain bleed. At that moment, modeling, school, and everything else I was working toward suddenly became secondary. My focus became healing and learning how to walk again.
I was told that I might never be able to run again, which was extremely difficult to hear, especially after spending most of my life dancing and being so physically active. But I refused to allow that possibility to determine my future. With an amazing physical therapy team, the support of my family, determination, and most importantly my faith and prayers to God, I continued pushing myself through recovery.
Less than 60 days after the accident, I was walking and modeling again.
That experience changed my perspective on life and on my career. Modeling after my accident meant something completely different to me. Every time I step onto a runway now, I know what it took for me to be able to take those steps. My scars, my recovery, and everything I went through are part of my story, but they don’t limit where my story can go.
I learned very early that sometimes the road toward your dreams doesn’t look anything like you planned. You may have to rebuild, relearn, and start again but that doesn’t mean the dream is over. For me, it was just another beginning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is centered around editorial and runway modeling, and I would say one of my strengths is being able to bring movement, personality, and confidence to whatever I’m doing. My 15 years of dance training have definitely influenced the way I model because I understand movement, body positioning, stage presence, and how to connect with an audience or camera.
But modeling is only one part of who I am. I’m currently a college student, I work at a local nursing facility in dietary services as a food handler, and I also serve as a volunteer EMT in my hometown. Balancing all of these responsibilities has taught me discipline, time management, compassion, and the importance of showing up for people.
I think what sets me apart most is my personality and my drive. I have a winning mindset, and I’m determined to be successful in everything I choose to do. I’m not afraid of hard work, and I don’t like limiting myself to just one path. I can go from being on a runway or in front of a camera to working in dietary services or helping someone during an emergency as an EMT. They may seem like completely different worlds, but each one has helped shape me.
I’m most proud of the fact that I continue to push myself. After overcoming a life-changing accident, returning to modeling, continuing my education, working, and serving my community, I’ve learned not to take opportunities or my abilities for granted.
I want people to know me not only for how I look in a photograph or how I walk a runway, but for my work ethic, personality, resilience, and the way I treat people. I want to build a successful career while still being someone who makes a difference wherever I am.
Any big plans?
My plans for the future are really connected to my own life experiences. I plan to become a physical therapist. After my accident, I experienced firsthand what it feels like to have your life and independence suddenly change and to need someone to help you rebuild physically and mentally. I was blessed to have wonderful physical therapists who pushed me, encouraged me, and helped me learn how to walk again. They gave me so much more than therapy, they helped give me a part of my life back.
One day, I want to be that person for someone else. I want my patients to feel the same encouragement, care, and hope that I received, if not even more. I know what it feels like to be the person on the other side who is wondering, “Will I ever be able to do the things I love again?” I want to be able to look at someone going through that and help them discover just how much they are still capable of.
At the same time, I definitely don’t plan on giving up modeling. I want to continue growing as an editorial and runway model, travel, work with bigger designers and brands, and hopefully expand into acting one day. One of my biggest modeling dreams is to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway. That would definitely be a full-circle, “I really did it” moment for me.
My future may include a white coat, a runway, a movie set or maybe all three. I’ve learned not to put limits on what my life can look like. After having to learn how to walk again, I think it’s only right that I keep walking toward every dream God has placed in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinajuliabv
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-britten-vaden-382108332
