Ian West/PACara Delevingne has revealed that she was not happy working as a model.
Speaking to U.S. magazine Motto the 23-year-old admitted struggling with the need for validation imposed on her by the fashion industry.
She said:
I worked hard to be accepted by the fashion community in ways beyond my physical appearance. In no time, though, I found myself surrendering to the industry’s approval process.
I felt like I needed validation from everyone. As a result, I lost sight of myself and what it meant to be happy, what it meant to be successful. I think it all stemmed from a deep-down feeling of wanting people to like me and love me.
Now the former runway star, who worked for fashion powerhouses such as Burberry, Fendi, and Chanel, is focusing on her acting career, but says she does not regret her time as a model.
Delevingne added:
Over time, I came to realize that work and getting others’ approval isn’t the most important thing. Yes, your career is very important—but it’s not the most important.
Of course I was proud of my accomplishments, but I wasn’t genuinely happy…It’s taken time, but now I realise that work isn’t everything and success comes in many forms.
I’ve opened my mind, and now I embrace new things with a childlike curiosity. I’m spending more time doing the stuff I love. And I’ve been able to do better work because of it…I still have so much to learn, but I have realized that beating myself up, feeling guilty and regretting past mistakes will only hold me back.
After all, no matter how many people like you and your work, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like yourself.
Very true.
