Martina Klein: The Argentine-born supermodel who triumphed in Spain

Martina Klein, a prominent supermodel recognized for her style and elegance in Spain, began her life in Belgrano, Argentina, before relocating to Barcelona with her family in the early 1990s.

“

At first they laughed at me because of how I spoke.

Her family moved to Spain seeking new opportunities, with her father finding work on projects related to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. At 12 years old, Klein started her modeling career, eventually becoming the face of major brands and gracing the covers of numerous magazines. While largely unknown in her native Argentina, she became a household name in Spain, gracing campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola and El Corte Inglés, and even sharing a magazine cover with Lenny Kravitz in 2002.

“

As a model, I was born settled in Barcelona, and the truth is that Argentina feels far away.

Klein has also ventured into television and continues to host various events. Currently, she is the face of the watch brand Festina, alongside actor Gerard Butler. Over the years, her Argentine accent has softened, and her use of "vos" has been replaced by "tú," though traces of her "tonada porteña" may resurface in conversations with fellow Argentines.

“

There is also something about the career of a model in Spain not having the connotations it had there at that time.

For over 15 years, Klein has been in a relationship with former tennis player Álex Corretja. Together, they have a daughter and have blended their families, including his two daughters. They reside in Sant Cugat, a residential area that reminds Klein of her birthplace, Belgrano. Her return to Argentina for the upcoming wedding of Pedro Cachín, a former tennis player coached by Corretja and "adopted" by their family, marks her first visit in over a decade.

“

Here it did not mean being sexy, sexualizing childhood, or turning an adolescent's body into something provocative.