Kaia Gerber is opening up about the realities of stepping into the fashion industry at a young age, sharing how her early start came with pressures she was not always prepared to handle.
The model and actress revealed that even before her teenage years, she felt the weight of expectations from the adults around her as she began her career.
Navigating Fame as a Second-Generation Model
Kaia Gerber, the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, spoke candidly in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar for its February cover story.
Recalling the early stages of her career, Gerber described a sense of uncertainty while navigating an adult-driven industry at such a young age.
“I had all these adults, not only my parents, looking at me and being like, ‘What should we all do now?’” she said.
Her introduction to modeling came at just 10 years old, when Donatella Versace invited her to appear in a children’s campaign for Versace.
A Rapid Rise in the Fashion World
As her career progressed, Gerber made significant changes to accommodate the growing demands of modeling. At 15, she transitioned from public school to homeschooling to focus on her work.
That decision quickly led to major opportunities. By 16, she was already walking for leading fashion houses such as Chanel and Saint Laurent.
Despite her success, Gerber acknowledged the challenges of maturing in such a fast-paced environment.
“I was still so young. I was masking as an adult,” she explained, adding that she now feels more comfortable embracing her true self.
She noted that with age has come a stronger sense of identity, allowing her to be more open and less constrained by expectations.
Cindy Crawford’s Approach to Parenting
Gerber also spoke about her relationship with her mother, emphasizing that Crawford has taken a measured approach when it comes to offering guidance.
“She doesn’t give out advice unless you ask,” Gerber shared, noting that when advice is given, it is often candid and direct.
According to Gerber, Crawford allows her children the space to make their own decisions, even if it means learning from mistakes.
She described her mother’s honesty as sometimes difficult but ultimately valuable, acknowledging that her perspective is often accurate.
Gerber also addressed growing up with Crawford’s public image, including her work as a model often regarded as a sex symbol. She said she viewed those images as artistic and appreciated being raised in an environment that did not attach shame to the female body.
Expanding Beyond Modeling
Like other second-generation figures such as Lily-Rose Depp and Apple Martin, Gerber has expanded her career into acting.
She appeared in the tenth season of American Horror Story before making her film debut in the 2022 drama Babylon.
Her transition into acting marks the next phase of a career that began under intense public scrutiny and continues to evolve across multiple industries.
