Cara Delevingne has opened up about a deeply personal chapter in her life, revealing that she felt like an 'undercover lesbian' when she made her debut at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2012. Speaking on the June 3 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the model and actress reflected on how her early years in the fashion industry coincided with a period of uncertainty as she explored her sexuality. Delevingne, now 33, said the experience of walking one of the world's most famous runways was exciting, but also emotionally complicated.
Struggling with Feminine Expectations
The star explained that she never naturally gravitated towards traditionally feminine styles while growing up and often struggled with expectations attached to being a girl. As her modelling career accelerated, she found herself stepping into a version of femininity that felt unfamiliar. Looking back on her first Victoria's Secret appearance, Delevingne described the experience as both enjoyable and confusing. Wearing glamorous outfits and taking part in the highly publicised event felt like playing dress up, she said, yet there was another side to the experience because she had not yet fully understood or publicly discussed her sexuality.
Feeling Like an 'Undercover Lesbian'
'I was in the closet. I was gay,' Delevingne recalled, adding that she often wondered whether she was the only lesbian to have walked in the Victoria's Secret show. She said the contrast between her public image and private feelings left her feeling like an 'undercover lesbian' during that period of her life. One memory from those years stood out in particular. Delevingne shared an anecdote involving fellow model Candice Swanepoel that highlighted the uncertainty she felt while coming to terms with her sexuality.
Gay Panic Moment with Candice Swanepoel
According to Delevingne, the two were spending time in a hotel room eating pizza when Swanepoel casually entered a bathroom and removed her clothes. Delevingne stressed that nothing sexual occurred and that such behaviour was commonplace among models working closely together. Even so, she joked that the moment overwhelmed her and triggered what she described as 'gay panic'. The actress said she became so flustered that she nearly collapsed and had to sit down. Recalling the incident years later, she laughed about how frequently she found herself panicking during that stage of self discovery.
Evolution of Her Sexuality
Delevingne walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show again in 2013 and was later invited back in 2016, although she chose not to participate. Her views on sexuality have evolved publicly over the years. In a 2020 interview with Variety, she described herself as pansexual, explaining that she falls in love with people rather than focusing on labels. More recently, however, she has spoken openly about identifying as a lesbian. Following an appearance during Rosalía's London concert in May, Delevingne told Variety she was proud to describe herself as a lesbian and said she had reached a place of confidence and happiness in her personal life.
Current Relationship and Future Plans
The model is currently in a relationship with singer songwriter Leah Mason, also known as Minke. The pair first met while attending boarding school before reconnecting more than a decade later. Delevingne has since spoken warmly about their future together, saying she hopes to build a family with Mason and is proud of the life they are creating.
