Barbara was the winner of the second cycle of "Germany's Next Topmodel" which aired in 2007. Not exactly having plans to pursue modeling and instead wishing to study mathematics, the redheaded and pale-skinned Barbara happened to catch the attention of a modeling scout, during a visit to the shopping mall, who was casting there for GNTM.

Her win on the show netted her a contract with IMG Models, the cover shot for German Cosmopolitan (August 2007), and a contract to become to the face of a new ad campaign for C&A clothing company.

As the reward for winning one of the contests on the show, Barbara appeared alongside Heidi Klum in a nationwide McDonald's commercial.