About
Barbara Meier is a German fashion model, actress, and passionate advocate for sustainable fashion. Born on July 25, 1986 in the Bavarian town of Amberg, she catapulted onto the international stage in 2007 when she won the second season of Germany’s Next Topmodel (GNTM) after outshining more than 16,000 hopefuls. Her instantly recognizable combination of porcelain skin, bright blue eyes, and flame-red hair helped her land campaigns for brands such as Pantene, C&A, Skechers, Maybelline, and Müller. Beyond modeling, Meier has built a solid résumé in film and television—with roles ranging from German crime series to the period drama “The Aspern Papers” alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers. In March 2025 she made a celebrated return to Paris Fashion Week, walking for Lena Erziak and Inclover and reminding the industry that confidence and experience never go out of style.
Before Fame
Growing up in a small Bavarian village, Barbara originally planned a far more academic life. After finishing secondary school she enrolled at the University of Applied Sciences in Regensburg to study mathematics. One afternoon a model scout spotted her in a shopping center, encouraged her to audition for GNTM, and changed her trajectory forever. Although she had zero professional modeling experience, Barbara’s strong work ethic—honed in math lectures—and her easygoing charm helped her win photo-shoot challenges, strut runways in towering heels, and—even before the finale—land a McDonald’s television commercial opposite GNTM host Heidi Klum. On May 24, 2007, she was crowned the show’s champion, earning a contract with IMG Models in Paris, a Cosmopolitan cover, and the momentum to launch an international career.
Trivia
- Math whiz turned model: Barbara is quick to point out that her math background still serves her; she jokes that balancing shooting schedules, travel times, and nap windows for her kids is the ultimate applied-math problem.
- Author: In 2015 she published Dein Weg zum Glücksgewicht (“Your Path to Happy Weight”), an “anti-diet” book that encourages readers to embrace intuitive eating and gentle movement instead of strict calorie counts.
- Green fashion champion: Since 2017 she has served as an ambassador for Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, campaigning for fair and eco-friendly textile production. She also partners with WWF’s “Ghost Nets” project to fight plastic pollution in oceans.
- UNICEF honorary envoy: In 2024 UNICEF Austria confirmed that Barbara would continue spotlighting girls’ education and children’s rights, work she calls “the most meaningful runway of all.”
- Record-breaking redhead: At the height of her GNTM season, cosmetics giant Pantene reported a spike in searches for “red-hair model” in German-speaking countries—a testament to her distinctive look. (internal brand statistic frequently quoted in interviews)
Family Life
Barbara’s personal story is as heart-warming as her professional one. She began dating Austrian entrepreneur and investor Klemens Hallmann in 2016; the pair exchanged vows on June 1, 2019 during a romantic ceremony in Venice. Their first daughter, Marie-Therese, arrived on July 16, 2020, instantly becoming the couple’s “little ray of sunshine,” as Barbara wrote on Instagram. Two years later the family grew again: on November 23, 2022 they welcomed a second daughter, Emilia Elise. Barbara announced the birth with a photo of baby hands clasped together, adding that big sister Marie-Therese was already sharing toys with “fascination in her eyes.” Balancing runway calls, acting sets, and late-night feedings isn’t always easy, she admits, but Hallmann’s flexible business schedule and a supportive extended family help make it work.
Associated With
- Heidi Klum – The supermodel and GNTM host gave Barbara her break and remains a friendly mentor; in 2025 Barbara even shared the runway with Heidi’s son, Henry Samuel, during Paris Fashion Week.
- Wolfgang Joop – The German designer booked Barbara for his Wunderkind prêt-à-porter show in Paris early in her career, bolstering her high-fashion credibility.
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers – Barbara’s first major film role in The Aspern Papers placed her opposite the Irish actor, sparking her passion for acting workshops and on-set collaboration.
- UNICEF & WWF Teams – Whether diving for discarded fishing nets or visiting schools in Ethiopia, Barbara works closely with environmental scientists and education advocates, proving that star power can drive real-world change.
