So I’m having my morning cuppa last Tuesday, scrolling through Instagram like you do, when this photo pops up. Girl who looks exactly like Cindy Crawford did in the 90s. My first thought was, “Blimey! someone’s found some amazing old photos.” Then I read the caption. Kaia Gerber. Cindy’s daughter. And I’m sat there feeling ancient because I remember when Cindy was on every magazine cover going.
My Emma walks into the kitchen and finds me gazing at my phone. “Oh Mum, you’ve discovered Kaia! She’s brilliant. So much better than all the other famous kids who do nothing. That’s an excellent endorsement from a teenager that is old enough to consider someone over 30 dead anyway.
Not Just Another Pretty Face
Kaia is certainly Cindy Crawford’s kid; that’s clear, but she is not trying to be like her mum 2.0. And that’s impressive. I lived in the age of Cindy Crawford, and she was everywhere, such as in Pepsi ads, on Vogue covers, and with that one mole every girl drew on with a felt tip pen. Absolute legend. But Kaia’s different. More “let me show you what I can do”, less “look at me. She’s not focused on just looking gorgeous but rather thinks about stuff. My mate Linda met her at this charity do last year. Says she was lovely.
Linda said, “Proper normal girl,” Linda told me. “Asked about my kids, remembered their names when we bumped into each other later. Not what you’d expect.”
Books and Brains
It was here that Kaia truly began to impress me. Kaia runs a book club on Instagram. It’s more than posting fancy pictures of books and coffee cups. In fact, reading them through and talking about what they mean. So when is the last time you saw a 23-year-old model genuinely excited about literature? From dense feminist essays to the canon of classic American literature, she has done it all. Proper clever stuff. My book club girls thought I’d lost my marbles when I brought this up.
Then Margaret looked her up and came back the next week saying, “That girl’s got more sense than half the politicians we read about.” Shows there’s something going on upstairs beyond just winning the genetic lottery.
The Austin Butler Thing
The two split earlier this year after almost three years of dating, which is a shame, but then who can judge? . You could tell they were happy in the rare photographs you saw of them. But you know what I respect? She didn’t make a fuss about it. There were no cryptic social media posts and no “sources close to” rubbish in the tabloids. She moved on with it like any sensible person after a breakup.
Rumour has it she is dating Lewis Pullman. Good luck to them both. Dating in your 20s is difficult enough without millions of strangers commenting on it. Emma’s always complaining about how social media makes dating impossible. Can’t imagine doing it when Heat magazine wants to analyse every coffee date.
The Acting Thing
She was in this show called Palm Royale on Apple TV where she played some aspiring model in the 60s. Bit obvious, maybe, but she wasn’t terrible at it. Acting’s not easy. Loads of models try it; most end up looking like they’re still posing for photos. But Kaia seemed like she actually understood what the character was about. Smart girl, branching out. Modelling doesn’t last forever, does it? Even if you look like Cindy Crawford’s clone.
My Dave thinks I’m mad for caring about celebrity careers. “They’re just rich kids playing dress-up,” he says. But I find it interesting watching how they handle fame. Most cock it up completely, but this one seems to have her head screwed on.
The Nepo Baby Nonsense
God, this winds me up. Yes, she had advantages. Course she did. Her mum’s Cindy Crawford, and her dad’s worth millions. But so what? She didn’t choose her family. None of us do. What matters is what you do with what you’ve got. I’ve seen her in interviews acknowledging the privilege, and she never pretends she started from nothing like some of them do. That honesty’s refreshing when everyone’s claiming to be “self-made” these days. Plus, famous parents might open doors, but they don’t make you good at your job. We’ve all seen disasters where family connections only got someone so far.
Mental Health Stuff
This is probably why I actually like her. She talks about anxiety and therapy without making it her whole personality; she only mentions it when it’s relevant and says that it helps normalise getting help. Important for young people, that. Emma told me seeing Kaia post about panic attacks made her feel less weird about her own worries. That’s worth more than any fashion campaign. Too many celebrities either ignore mental health completely or turn it into content for likes. This girl seems genuine about wanting to help.
What’s Different About Her
Kaia Gerber thinks before she posts. Revolutionary concept in 2025, I know. She’s not constantly oversharing or starting drama for attention. Keeps her head down, works hard, and treats people decently. Proper old-school values wrapped up in a very modern package. Plus, she actually reads books. Real ones, not just audiobooks while she’s getting her nails done. In a world where most young celebrities can barely string a sentence together, that’s practically miraculous.
The Future
She’s only 23 and has just barely started. Already done well with modelling, had a go at acting, and built something meaningful with her platform. What’s next? My money’s on her surprising everyone. Maybe she’ll produce films, maybe write a book, maybe do something completely different. She strikes me as someone who won’t be content just looking pretty forever. Unlike some of these young stars who peak at 20 and then spend the rest of their lives trying to recapture that moment.
Why I’m Invested
Daft, getting invested in someone you’ll never meet. But there’s something about her that makes you want her to do well. Maybe because she seems real when everyone else feels fake. Maybe because she’s using her advantages responsibly instead of just partying them away. Maybe just because she reminds me of watching her mum when I was young and stupid.
Whatever it is, I’ll keep following her career. She’s one of the good ones, I reckon. Rare breed these days. Kaia started with incredible genetics and family money. But she’s building something proper on that foundation. Takes more than luck to do that. Takes actual work and character. Not bad for someone who’s barely left university age. Girl’s going places, mark my words.
My Verdict
Look, I know celebrities aren’t your mates. They don’t know you exist, and they’re living completely different lives from the rest of us. But sometimes you come across someone who just seems decent. Someone using their platform for good instead of just flogging teeth whitening kits and cryptocurrency. That’s Kaia Gerber to me. Famous kid who could’ve easily gone off the rails but didn’t. Model who could’ve coasted on her looks but chose to use her brain too. Young woman navigating fame without losing her marbles.
In a world full of influencers and reality TV stars, she feels refreshingly real. Long may it continue. Emma’s right. She is way better than all those other famous kids who do nothing. And coming from a teenager who’s seen it all on social media, that’s saying something. Here’s to hoping she keeps her feet on the ground as her star keeps rising. We need more like her in the spotlight.
