Cara Delevingne Opens Up About The Real Reason She Quit Modelling

When Cara Delevingne announced her plans to leave the modelling industry, many believed it was driven simply by a desire to make the move into acting, like so many models had attempted before her.

However, the now 23-year-old, whose rapid rise to fame in the industry was almost unprecedented, quickly became overwhelmed by the darker side of the industry.

"I worked hard to be accepted by the fashion community in ways beyond my physical appearance," she writes in a powerful essay for TIME's Motto. "In no time, though, I found myself surrendering to the industry’s approval process."

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"I think it all stemmed from a deep-down feeling of wanting people to like me and love me."

Over time however, she says she came to realise that gaining 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."

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"I was nearly 20 and had been modelling for several years. My vantage point had changed…and I had changed. I knew I had to reevaluate my life and my goals for my future. I didn’t want to resent fashion or my success. The process didn’t happen overnight, but it was imperative for me to preserve my integrity."

After taking a step back to reevaluate her goals and what she wanted for her career, she says she's doing more of the things she loves and she's doing better work for it.

And it seems it's paying off, after starring in Paper Towns, Pan and The Face Of An Angel in 2015 and the highly anticipated Sucide Squad coming up this year. Not to mention her personal life appears to be thriving too, in a relationship with singer St. Vincent, a.k.a Annie Clarke.

"When you’re coming from a place of living just to work, it’s never as good as you want it to be. It’s never as authentic. When you have balance in your life, work becomes an entirely different experience. There is a passion that moves you to a whole new level of fulfillment and gratitude and that’s when you can do your best…for yourself and for others."

"No matter how many people like you and your work, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like yourself."