Cara Delevingne has never been one to gloss over important issues, having previously used her powerful social media presence to address everything from sexual harassment in fashion to the paparazzi and Facebook’s “dislike” button. One thing she’s been particularly vocal about is the negative side of the modeling industry, specifically the toll that it eventually took on her mental and physical wellbeing. “It was a machine that I wasn’t controlling,” she told Vogue last July, before seemingly turning her full attention to acting.
Yesterday, after being revealed as the new face of Saint Laurent, Delevingne took to Twitter to address the “did she or didn’t she” chatter that rises to the surface every time she fronts a new fashion campaign — something she’s been doing a lot of lately. In a brilliantly cryptic move on Wednesday, she tweeted to her five million followers, “i never quit.” Well it seems that wasn’t the end of the story. Last night Delevingne sent out another string of tweets elaborating on her previous thoughts about modeling while addressing her own depression and mental health. “I do not blame the fashion industry for anything,” she wrote, “I suffer from depression and was a model during a particularly rough patch of self-hatred.”
If she really has “returned” to modeling, this is definitely a cause to celebrate. Not just because we get more Cara campaigns, but the industry gets back one of its most powerful and unapologetic voices. Read her actually very measured “rant” below.
Can we just set the record straight…
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
I never said I was quitting modeling
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
I do not blame the fashion industry for anything
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
I suffer from depression and was a model during a particularly rough patch of self hatred
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
I am so lucky for the work I get to do but I used to work to try and escape and just ended up completely exhausting myself.
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
I am focusing on filming and trying to learn how to not pick apart my every flaw. I am really good at that
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
Okay…. Rant over. Just wanted to clarify and word vomit a little
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
One more confession…
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) April 1, 2016
Credits
Text Hannah Ongley
Image courtesy of Saint Laurent