Model to run for election in Estonia

Estonian model Carmen Kass will take a temporary stroll off the catwalk and onto the political stage after being tapped to run for the European Parliament.

The 25-year-old joined the ruling Res Publica party two months ago to get a spot on the pro-business party’s ticket.

Res Publica formally put her on its list of 12 candidates at a party meeting.

The small Baltic nation joins the EU on May 1 along with nine other mainly former communist countries. Elections to the European Parliament are due on June 13.

The blonde, blue-eye Kass has brushed aside criticism that she has no political experience and not qualified for public office.

“I’m entering politics because, for the past 10 years, I’ve got a lot from the world,” she said. “And everything I’ve got, I’ve got from Estonia. I want to give something back to Estonia.”