After graduating from Vinet at 18, Karina settled in Manhattan. But it was photographer Bruce Weber who, seeking a Native American for an ad campaign for Calvin Klein, spotted Karina at a restaurant and gave her her first big break. One of the photos from the campaign of Karina ended up on a billboard. Soon she was adorning the pages of Elle and Vogue Magazine. The producer and director of The Island (L’Isle), a French Canadian adventure movie, saw Karina on the cover of the magazine 20 ANS and she was offered the lead role.