Summary
Overview
Model and actress Cara Delevingne joins Louis Theroux to discuss her journey from fashion icon to musician, covering her meteoric rise in modeling, struggles with substance abuse, path to sobriety, and her new music career. The conversation delves into the pressures of the fashion industry, her relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, experiences with mental health, sexuality, and the creative process behind her debut album which chronicles her recovery journey.
From Accidental Model to Fashion Icon
Cara reflects on her unexpected entry into modeling at 17, initially viewing it as just a job rather than a passion. Despite being shorter than typical models at 5'7.5", she became a defining face of 2010s fashion after Burberry took notice. She discusses how comparisons to Kate Moss helped propel her career, though she admits the success never felt entirely real and didn't fulfill her creatively.
- Cara was first scouted at 16 at raves and thought the idea of her being a model was funny because she felt like a 'feral Chucky doll'
- She dropped out of school while depressed and her parents required her to get a job, leading her to sign with Storm modeling agency
- At 5'7.5" she was considered quite small for runway modeling, where 5'10" is typical
- Burberry hiring her was the catalytic moment that launched her career
- Comparisons to Kate Moss helped elevate her profile, though she felt she could never live up to that legacy
" I thought it was so funny that people thought I could be a model because I felt like a feral Chucky doll to put it politely. "
" It definitely didn't feel real. And it definitely felt like it was someone else's dream, though. "
The Reality Behind Fashion's Glamorous Facade
Cara pulls back the curtain on the fashion industry, revealing that modeling requires more skill than people assume but also breeds profound insecurity. She describes the tedious reality of endless waiting, constant scrutiny of appearance, and an industry culture that fostered widespread sexual misconduct, particularly among young photographers. She recounts uncomfortable experiences including being pressured into inappropriate photo shoots with underage models.
- Modeling involves skills like understanding angles, lighting, and movement, but creates constant awareness and insecurity about appearance
- The fashion industry breeds extreme insecurity - Cara says she's never met people more insecure than models
- In the 2010s, the industry became more like an 'army lineup' where everyone looked the same, unlike the 90s celebration of uniqueness
- Sexual assault was rampant during test shoots, where young photographers would offer alcohol to underage models and create inappropriate situations
- Terry Richardson was notorious for getting his genitals out during photo shoots
" You are constantly worried about how you look and what you look like and that creates just a whole nother level of I've never met people who are more insecure either. "
" Why would you become a photographer of models a straight man unless you want to sleep with models right? "
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