THE CATWALK

Model Pupil at Heart

Cara Delevingne tries to be true to herself in all facets of life

Frank Grice learns about the supermodel

Supermodel Cara Delevingne has served her education well and is looking to share that wisdom with the next generation of catwalk princesses. It’s funny how things turn out… As a youngster, Cara didn’t exhibit any interest in style; and yet, she’s the revered darling of the fashion world today.

“Fashion never really did it for me – I guess I didn’t truly understand it and wasn’t that bothered about learning!” she explains, cheerily.

Delevingne adds: “I was into tomboyish things, you might say – I loved sport, music and running around, and image wasn’t important to me. Even now, I like to forget about all that style stuff and be myself – that’s a good way to be, I think; but I reserve the right to do it in a designer tracksuit!”

Sleek and blonde, Cara’s photogenic face is framed by those trademark bushy eyebrows and her lips are set in a forthright pout. She is also the first challenger to Kate Moss’ undisputed title: ‘The queen of British fashion.’

Crowned Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2012 and 2014, Delevingne’s elevation to being a truly global exemplar of beauty, style and charisma has seen her sashay down the catwalks of all the major fashion events.

And she models for a range of leading fashion houses including Chanel, Burberry, Moschino, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Victoria’s Secret, Rimmel and TAG Heuer.

Her chiselled, rebellious and cheeky look has subsequently been splashed across the covers of Vogue, Elle, Glamour, GQ and more.

Cara has enchanted the fashion world’s cameras with her pixyish, unconventional look while her outspoken manner, reckless energy, and close friendships with Rihanna, Rita Ora and Pharrell Williams have made her a popular target for the tabloids.

She explains: “I think in everything I’ve done, it’s about three things. Firstly, I always say to do only something you truly enjoy; and secondly, I always want to try the next thing, the next project. That’s why I got into film, music and a few other activities. It was to push myself and see how far I could dare to take things.”

“And finally, it has to always be about humility and never taking yourself too seriously. There is a way to close doors in any industry and that’s to believe your own hype; and I would hope that I’m far too grounded by now to do that,” Delevingne reflects.

Indeed, Cara’s ‘girl next door’ image has seen her successfully move from the almost untouchable heights of supermodel excess and arrogance into the realms of terrestrial entertainment.

She asserts: “There’s no reason why someone’s true personality shouldn’t hold. You don’t have to be that spiky, precious person. Personally, I need to dig out those tomboy photos to remind myself where I’ve come from – and then I’m straight back to being me!”

When Cara began modelling as a 17-year-old schoolgirl, she found herself in a world that’s very different to the one that exists today.

“It really seems like a lifetime away. This is an industry that moves so quickly it’s untrue – quicker than any other, I think. Twitter and Instagram in particular have moved everything to a different level. It is a new era in fashion and it’s only accelerating,” Delevingne says.

She adds: “I do feel for the girls who are entering the process now. When I started, everything was awash with photoshoots, meetings and interviews. I didn’t really know what to expect when I entered the fashion world. Now it’s three times that level of intensity and the pressure is immense.”

“What’s important for me is that the excitement never fades – I still get a thrill when I walk down the catwalk or the cameras are on me. There is so much that’s new about fashion and style, and that in itself means we keep on regenerating. It never ends,” Cara assures.

As a result of her constant interactions on social media, Delevingne has cultivated an identifiable attainability and created a legion of fans known as ‘Cara’s Army.’ This popularity is serving her well in the industry.

And the 29-year-old remains honest enough to admit that the mechanics of the industry still follow the same rules.

She explains: “It is who you know rather than what you know. It always has been that… and it always will be. That’s not to say you can’t infiltrate parts of the industry; but there will always be people looking after their own – as is the case in most other aspects of life. That’s simply the way it is, I’m afraid.”

In recent years, the supermodel has stepped back from the spotlight to some degree but still comes out regularly in support of health, wellbeing and LGBT issues. Her pansexual identity has intrigued a succession of gossip columnists and headline writers.

Speaking about her sexuality, she says: “Ultimately, it comes down to being truthful to yourself. That’s more important than anything else.”

– Compiled by hub.branded