FACES: Do you remember your first moment on the catwalk when you walked for Calvin Klein at the age of just 16? How did that make you feel?
Kaia Gerber: Oh my God, I was so nervous! (laughs) Just before the performance, I was so afraid of fainting, tripping or forgetting how to walk at all. When I look at photos or videos of it now, I marvel at how young I was, a real fawn!
FACES: How does modeling help you with acting and vice versa?
Kaia Gerber: Before I even thought about modeling, I was already acting at school. It helped me a lot to be more confident and open-minded and to get used to speaking in front of people and especially in front of the camera. When I was modeling, I learned to slip into different characters and transform myself within a very short time. The longer I pursued acting, the better I learned to completely forget about the camera. Whether it’s modeling or acting, being able to create art is a great gift for me.
FACES: What have you learned through your work as a model and actress?
Kaia Gerber: Appreciating every moment when I can do what I love.
More time in nature and with your four-legged friend
FACES: Time is short, especially in your schedule. Who would you like to spend more time with in 2024?
Kaia Gerber: With my dog! I love going hiking, camping or climbing and simply spending time outdoors in nature, leaving social media completely behind.
FACES: What have you learned about style and fashion from your mom, Cindy Crawford?
Kaia Gerber: My mother has always had first-class style, and I used to sneak into her closet at an early age and put together my outfits there. Her credo has always been: less is more, and I try to keep it that way. Neither she nor I are maximalists.
FACES: What advice do you always follow from your mom?
Kaia Gerber: My mother taught me early on to always be on time. She always arrives five minutes early, I’m always exactly on time. (laughs) She also advised me to make a special effort to remember the names of the people I meet.
FACES: How is your mom’s generation different from yours?
Kaia Gerber: I have the impression that my generation is less good at just sitting still or waiting for something. Whether it’s series, music or people: everything is always available and accessible. Social media has changed the way we perceive time and how it passes.
FACES: Do you even look at your watch to tell the time anymore, and what significance does a timepiece have for you?
Kaia Gerber: For me, a watch is a piece of jewelry or an accessory. Nowadays, we no longer need a watch for what it was originally designed for. There’s something nostalgic about putting a watch on your wrist and actually reading the time from it, and it exudes the same magic as a paper book or watching a movie at the cinema.
movie instead of watching it on the screen at home. It is these traditions that weld us together as people.
Kaia Gerber’s Book Club
FACES: During the pandemic, you founded a book club and started using social media not only to discuss individual works, but also to talk to authors. Is there a book that has influenced and inspired you the most?
Kaia Gerber: I started this project during Corona out of a pure passion for reading and I am very happy that I had the opportunity to interview so many inspiring authors. I’ve learned a lot from these conversations and it’s great that my followers can also benefit from them. Reading is so important to me because it made me realize how valuable the world of literature and people’s thoughts really are. One work that literally opened my eyes was “The Stranger” by Albert Camus. This book acted like the first domino that nudged the second and led me further and further into this magical world of literature.
FACES: What are the must-read books this year?
Kaia Gerber: I just read this terrific poetry book, “I Do Everything I’m Told”, which I highly recommend. Jessica Gross is launching her new book “Open Up” next year, which I had the pleasure of reading in advance. I can reveal: It’s great and a must for everyone who follows my book club. Thirdly, I’d like to mention the new English translation of Izumi Suzuki’s book “Hit Parade of Tears”, whose short stories I really like.
FACES: What are your most cherished moments, and when does time feel as sticky as chewing gum?
Kaia Gerber: Spending time with my family and with people I love is the most important thing to me. The older I get, the more I appreciate those moments when you don’t even think about time passing and just live completely in the here and now. On the other hand, time hardly flies when I have to wait at the airport, for example, which is really bad for me.
FACES: What are the most important values your family has instilled in you?
Kaia Gerber: Although my parents both worked a lot, they were completely present at home, not only physically but also mentally. They have taught me how important it is to cherish the moments with our loved ones, because after all, we all don’t know how much time we have left with them. It’s important to savor every moment with your family and loved ones and give them your full attention.
From styling to social media
FACES: Is there a particular styling credo you stick to?
Kaia Gerber: French women and their style have always impressed me. Jane Birkin or Françoise Hardy are my icons, and whenever I don’t know whether something will work or not, I look at their outfits. However, the most important thing is always to feel comfortable in an outfit.
FACES: Social media helps you to network directly with your fans and expand your presence as a model and actress. At the same time, social media also puts you under pressure. How do you find your balance in between?
Kaia Gerber: Social media does so much good for our world. The Black Lives Matter movement would never have become so popular if it hadn’t been for social media. Social media connects people and makes them one. As for me personally, I always try to remind myself that I only show one of my facets on social media and that my personality consists of many more. It helps when you sometimes see people on Instagram and think to yourself: Why are they so perfect? Nobody is perfect, because you usually only post when you’re feeling really good.
FACES: How do you envision our future, and what do we need to do as a society to turn the tide now?
Kaia Gerber: There is so much we need to change! It is important that we do not feel helpless in the face of the sheer volume of problems and their complexity and that we understand that each and every one of us is part of the solution. I am concerned about climate change and I am very disappointed that we live in a world where certain people doubt what is happening to our climate despite scientific evidence. If everyone pitches in, we can do it together!
FACES: Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Kaia Gerber: I’m definitely a morning person! I love waking up before everyone else and using the time to ground myself and practice gratitude for all that I have.
Kaia Gerber
Genetic jackpot hit: Kaia Gerber’s mother is Cindy Crawford, her father is entrepreneur Rande Gerber. But it takes more than this label from the daughter of to survive season after season on the red carpet. At 10, Kaia modeled for Versace, at 22 she strolled down the catwalk for all the greats of the fashion ABCs. Like her mother, she has been an ambassador for watch brand Omega since 2017, gaining experience on the set of film and movie productions and creating fan-girl moments alongside actor Austin Butler.
It would be an injustice to call Kaia Gerber the mini-me of her model mom Cindy Crawford. At 22, Gerber is already a regular guest on catwalks around the world, a sought-after campaign face for brands such as Omega and the founder of her own book club, which is followed by around ten million people on Instagram.
Follow Kaia Gerber on Instagram here.
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Photos: © Launchmetrics SpotlightSM
