Cara Delevingne opens up about overcoming self-doubt before career comeback
The model admitted she once struggled with self-hatred but says she has grown stronger with time
Cara Delevingne is opening up about the personal struggles that led her to step away from the fashion industry and how she eventually found the confidence to return on her own terms.
The British model and actress, who left modeling in 2015 despite being one of the industry's biggest names, said she needed to reinvent herself and move beyond both public expectations and her own insecurities.
"I wanted to reinvent myself. I had to break free, whether from holding myself back or from how people saw me," Delevingne said.
Reflecting on that period of her life, the Suicide Squad star admitted she was battling deep self-doubt.
"I just hated myself so much and I was just so fragile. I didn't have a thick enough skin for it then — but I do now," she shared.
Now back in the spotlight, Delevingne recently posed for a bold new Playboy photoshoot, describing the experience as one of empowerment and personal freedom.
"It's so fun being naked," she said, explaining that the shoot felt different from previous modeling work because it was driven entirely by her own choice.
"I love the sense of the freedom of owning my sexuality and owning my body," she said. "For the first time, instead of getting naked for a brand or an editorial, this felt more like my choice."
The actress added that the experience felt "liberating," saying that sense of personal agency is what she now finds truly "sexy."
Delevingne also revealed she shared photos from the shoot with her girlfriend, whose supportive reaction boosted her confidence.
"I was texting my girlfriend earlier and I was sending her the photos and she was like, 'Oh my God, you look so pretty,'" she recalled.
Despite the praise, Delevingne admitted she still has moments of self-consciousness.
"I was like, 'But I'm just a silly baby pretending to be a sexy lady,' and sometimes that's how it feels," she said.
