Kaia Gerber Opens Up About Disordered Eating, Body Image and Growing Up Compared to Cindy Crawford

Kaia Gerber is speaking openly about her struggles with body image, disordered eating and the pressure of being compared with her famous mother, supermodel Cindy Crawford.

In a recent Vogue cover story, the 24-year-old actress and model revealed that she has dealt with disordered eating and said public comments about her appearance have not made those struggles easier.

“I’ve had disordered eating in my life,” Gerber said. “People are like, ‘You look terrible,’ and it doesn’t exactly make you go, ‘Oh, good. Let me get over this mental illness then!’”

She added, “Negativity has never saved someone’s life.”

Gerber also discussed the pressure surrounding women’s bodies in Hollywood, particularly during periods when extremely thin body types become fashionable.

“We’re clearly in one of those cycles right now where people are very, very, very thin,” she said.

Gerber has faced comparisons with her mother, who became one of the most recognizable models of the 1980s and 1990s. Growing up in Crawford’s shadow has sometimes affected how she views her own body.

“As someone who’s been thin most of my life, I’ve always been compared against my mom — like, ‘What’s wrong with Kaia?’” Gerber said.

She admitted that she sometimes wishes her body looked more like her mother’s.

“I’m so jealous of my mom’s body. I would have loved to be born with boobs and a butt,” she said. “People have always commented on my body, which is hard because I’m not always ready to comment on my own body.”

Despite the comparisons, Gerber has repeatedly said that being likened to Crawford is an enormous compliment.

Earlier this month, she told Yahoo Entertainment that she does not think she looks much like her mother.

“In all seriousness, it’s an honor when people tell me I look like my mom,” Gerber said. “I wish I did. I think even on my best days, I’m not even close.”

Gerber, whose father is former model and Casamigos cofounder Rande Gerber, said she considers her mother one of the most beautiful people she knows, both inside and out.

“I think she’s just the most beautiful woman inside and out,” she said. “And so if there’s any way that I remind anyone of her, it’s just, like, the largest compliment.”

Gerber began modeling at just 10 years old and has since built a career that extends beyond fashion. She has taken on acting roles, including appearances in “Palm Royale” and “Shards.”

She has also been candid about her privileged start in the fashion industry. In 2024, Gerber acknowledged that being the daughter of two successful figures gave her opportunities that others may not have had.

“I don’t think it’s a topic that will go away, so I’ve clearly reached a point of acceptance,” she told WSJ Magazine when discussing the “nepo baby” label.

“I personally am very aware of all the wonderful things it has done for me, and I would never, ever say anything negative about it, because that is my truth about it,” she added.

For Gerber, having parents who understand the entertainment and fashion industries is also a valuable source of support. She said she is grateful to be able to turn to both Crawford and Rande for career advice.

“That’s very rare, to have parents who are in the same industry or career as you, whose advice you actually can trust,” she said.

Gerber’s comments offer a candid look at the less visible pressures that can come with growing up in the public eye — from constant comparisons to unrealistic beauty standards and scrutiny of her body.