Cara Delevingne Opened Up About Misconduct in Modeling

Delevingne admitted she initially struggled to recognize her own trauma, believing she had chosen her path. However, she now acknowledges that the industry exposed young models to an environment lacking essential protections and accountability.

A fashion industry insider commented: “Cara is vocalizing what many women experienced before MeToo. There were significantly fewer safeguards, and young models often felt compelled to tolerate inappropriate behavior to advance their careers.

“While the fashion industry has evolved in many ways, Cara’s insights serve as a reminder of how normalized certain behaviors once were and why the cultural shift that followed was widely embraced.”

Delevingne noted: “People often say, ‘Get over it, you chose this life.’ I used to agree with them because I lacked sympathy for myself. I thought, ‘Grow up, get over it. You’re fortunate.’ I adopted the same mindset as others and didn’t fault them for their views.

“I wasn’t permitting myself to feel pain, anger, or exploitation, believing I had placed myself in that situation. I chose that life.

“During my modeling days, there was minimal safety, except from other girls. It was a time before MeToo, marked by a prevalent sexual misconduct atmosphere with older male photographers, which is why I am saddened, as I still carry a chip on my shoulder from those experiences.

“And so, no – I would not say, ‘Advocate for more sympathy for celebrities!’ We just need to have more empathy for ourselves and others in general, as we are often harsh about everything.”

The Only Murders in the Building star also shared her experience of stepping back from acting for a time, expressing doubt that a woman could have behaved as she did on set without facing repercussions.

She explained: “My descent into drugs and alcohol didn’t help. Men often get away with similar behavior, but I can’t think of any women who were as wild as I was. I would hang out with all the stunt guys! It didn’t end well.

“If you don’t stand up for yourself, no one will. I was acting irrationally – insisting, ‘I’m fine!’

“People should ask, ‘Are you OK?’ But they hesitate to suggest you take a break from work, because if they do, someone might not get paid. If a junior agent suggests taking a week off, they might get fired.

“Looking back, I appreciate my body more – I broke out in red scabs. I was working too much, covered in psoriasis, so my body said, ‘I’ll take care of this.’

Delevingne, who credits her partner Minke with helping her rebuild her life, found that stepping away from the limelight was crucial, even though she initially worried about being forgotten by the public.

She confessed: “Initially, I struggled with my ego, fearing that people would forget me. But taking a step back allowed me to focus on nurturing myself, my life, and my relationship.”