How Cindy Crawford Turned Her Daughter Into a Popular Model Who’s Headed for Hollywood

The daughter of one of the most famous supermodels in history, Kaia Gerber, doesn’t deny that she has been privileged since childhood. Thanks to her mother Cindy Crawford’s connections, it was easy for her to enter the world of fashion. However, Kaia not only firmly established herself in the fashion world, but she’s also begun to conquer Hollywood.

Recently, the term “nepo babies” has emerged in the press, referring to stars whose professional success may be linked to their famous parents. Cindy Crawford’s daughter is one of those who is often mentioned on the list of modern nepo babies. But she has no intention of denying that her success is not just due to her hard work. “I feel very lucky to have someone like my mother, who can give me great advice,” explains Kaia.

When accused of buying a career for her daughter, Cindy retorts, “If I could call Chanel and just ask for a job, I would do it for myself, not for Kaia.” In addition, the young supermodel does not hide that she receives rejections from fashion companies just like other girls, but she doesn’t take it to heart.

Cindy Crawford started her career at the age of 16. At that time, she dreamed of becoming a nuclear physicist. But after a local photographer took her picture, she signed her first contract with a modeling agency.

The star has accompanied her daughter Kaia at every stage of her journey in the fashion world. At the age of 10, Kaia signed her first contract with Versace. Cindy recalls: “We allowed her to participate in the photoshoot because we knew she would have fun.”

At the age of 16, Kaia made her first appearance on the runway. The young star says she always wanted to be like her mom and learned from her. For example, she uses vitamin E for glowing skin, just like her mom. And one of the main maternal tips for her self-care routine is “less is more.”

By the start of her professional career, Kaia already knew a lot about the fashion industry and had a good understanding of designers and photographers. In addition, from childhood, she managed her social media and practically grew up in front of a large audience.

Kaia’s mother Cindy isn’t the only one involved in the fashion industry in their family. Her father, businessman Randy Gerber, also worked as a model in his youth. Kaia’s older brother is also trying himself in the fashion business: he has participated in fashion shows and collaborated with famous brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbana, and Calvin Klein.

In 2020, Kaia appeared in a music video for a song by Rainey Qualley, the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell. Later, she appeared in several episodes of the famous series American Horror Story and in the sensational film Babylon with Margot Robbie. In the near future, she plans to star in the series Mrs. American Pie, where she will play alongside stars like Laura Dern and Kristen Wiig.

Kaia confidently states that her mother’s connections in the modeling business would not have worked in the acting industry: “No artist is going to sacrifice their vision for a child of someone else. That’s not how art is created,” she says.

Kaia’s name often appears in the press in connection with her personal life. For several months, the beauty dated actor Pete Davidson, then Euphoria star Jacob Elordi.

In 2022, she appeared on the red carpet with her new boyfriend. Today, she is dating one of the most promising actors in Hollywood, Austin Butler. In 2023, he was awarded the Golden Globe and nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in the film Elvis.

“It’s easier to start from scratch and make a name for yourself. I come from a famous family, so people easily formed a biased opinion about me. The hardest part was proving them wrong,” admits the young model.

Cindy deeply regrets it when someone says, “Oh, mom bought her a career,” but she sharply responds, “Even if I wanted to, it would be impossible. She’s been in this business for more than one season. And I always said, if you’re in demand, then you’re successful.”

Kaia says that at 21, she has already lived a whole life. She has collaborated with many famous brands and appeared on the covers of dozens of popular magazines. “I’ve always been surrounded by creative people, and it shaped my taste,” she says. Today, the young model is invited to participate in the same fashion shows as sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid.

Kaia perceives the comparison with her star mother as a great compliment: “She has always been my role model, and I admire how my mom sees the world and treats people.”

Here are some more of our articles about the lives of models:

• How Yolanda Hadid Turned Her Daughters Into the Runway Stars and Style Icons They Are Now
• These Plus-Sized Models Recreated Iconic Celebrity Looks to Promote Self-Love
• 9 Fashion Models Who Soon Could Become More Famous Than Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford