How did you get into modelling?

That’s a funny story… it was the beginning of the summer holidays when we spontaneously decided to put together a little breakfast for a couple of friends. We’d already prepared most of the things but were still missing some essential ingredients for a perfect brunch, so I went to the shop around the corner. When I was standing at the fruit stand, trying to decide between peaches or nectarines, a lady – whom I had already noticed before – walked up to me and asked me: “Can I ask how tall you are?”. She asked me whether I was interested in modelling and gave me her business card. It was Louisa von Minckwitz! Well, a few weeks later I joined her agency.

What is special about where you live?

I’m a real city child. I love big cities with all their noise and chaos. We live in central Munich and that’s what I find really exciting. Straight across is the Prinzregententheater, and the river is only a 10-minute walk away. Then there’s the inner city, with all its museums, shops and cafes, only a couple of subway stops away. But the best thing is that my school is only three minutes away… the reason why I’m usually late.

What happened to the swing set in the back garden?

I can’t really remember. It was at night, during a surprise thunderstorm after one of those unbearably hot summer days. Our garden has a lot of old and already dead trees, so the wind and rain tore down one of the branches, which smashed the swing set.

Did you have any imaginary friends when you were a kid? Or any funny habits?

I loved playing with animals! Funnily I didn’t have any interest in dolls. But I absolutely adored a little mouse figurine. So for my birthday my mother built me a doll house with mouse-friendly features. I would sit in front of it all day and tell endless stories. In my mind the mouse followed me everywhere, to kindergarten, to school, doing my chores…

Favourite thing to do at home?

When I get home, I love getting dressed in my tracksuit pants, thick socks and a totally oversized sweatshirt. A big cup of tea and a weighty tome are mandatory. I love to hang out like this in our hammock in the summer!

Morning person or night person?

To be honest, total morning person. I love to get up early, have a big cup of Earl Grey in bed and then enjoy the day in its full length.

Can you cook? What?

Compared to my parents, who are both wonderful cooks, my skills are pretty limited. I can make salads and basic pasta dishes, but that’s it. What I do enjoy is baking. I’ve already raided all our cookbooks for recipes for things like pumpkin pie, chocolate tart, pine nut cake, lemon loaf cake, apple muffins etc.

What do you want to do when you finish school?

I’m not sure exactly what I want to study at university, something creative. There is just so much that interests and excites me. At the moment I’m toying with the idea of applying for art school in Berlin. We’ll see. But once I finish school, my sister and I will go on a big Euro trip and explore all cities we’ve always wanted to see, Stockholm, London, Dublin, Paris, Barcelona…

Describe your current favourite outfit.

Right now I prefer a plain look. I love refined cuts and special fabrics in simple colours. I could just wear my grey, worn out Cheap Mondays every day, with my favourite COS jumper, a pair of Red Wings and my most beloved leather jacket. And I can’t go without the gold necklace with a star pendant that my sister gave me, which I wear day and night.

Do you have any nicknames?

My nicknames change constantly, but I do get the feeling that lately they have become nuttier. My father has always called me Nino. And then there’s Ninchen, Ninusch, Ninotschka, Ninalina…

What inspires you?

The theatre! Since I was little I’ve loved acting. Slipping into different roles, living as new characters, other personalities. I find it unbelievably fascinating and important in life to always grow and discover new sides to yourself.