Mariacarla was born in Rome, Italy. She spent most of her early life travelling because of her father's work. Her parents lived in Thailand before she was born, but after her mother became pregnant they moved to Rome to raise Mariacarla. She spent a couple of years in Rome until moving to Providence and then Key West. She spent her early school years in the States, but her parents thought it would be better for Mariacarla to study in Italy and reconnect with her Italian heritage. This did not last very long though, at 9 years old Mariacarla and her family moved to Africa, living in a village between Malindi and Mombassa. Mariacarla described her years in Africa as "the most fantastic in her life".

Mariacarla was discovered at 17 during a dinner with a family friend who happened to be a photographer. The friend and Maricarla's mother encouraged her to begin a modeling career, but Mariacarla chose to finish school first. Soon after graduating high school she flew to New York and was signed with DNA Model Management. It didn't take long for Mariacarla to rise as an internationally known model, being featured on the Vogue cover several times and walking in many high fashion runway shows. Recently she was named spokesperson for Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), replacing supermodel Kate Moss, and during 2006's Fall Fashion Week she traded in her long dark locks for a short platinum blonde hairstyle reminiscent of Jean Seberg. Mariacarla is living in New York, and calls it her second home, coming second after her birthplace of Rome. To date she has campaigned for such brands as Chanel, Givenchy, Yves Saint-Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier.