Kaia Gerber turned 24 in September 2025, and it’s actually hard to fit her into just one category. Born on September 3, 2001, in Los Angeles, she grew up in Malibu as the daughter of Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber. But it’s not just about the last name.
Why right now
The last two years (2024-2026) have brought quite a few twists. In January 2026, Kaia made her Off-Broadway stage debut, surprising even those who have followed her career for years. Earlier, in December 2025, she became a global ambassador for NARS, and the series Palm Royale on Apple TV+ showed that she takes acting seriously. She also founded the Library Science book club in March 2024, which has gathered quite a sizable community.
Further in the article, you will see a detailed timeline of her modeling career (debuts, campaigns, runways) as well as how she deals with controversies about nepotism. Because yes, this topic comes up regularly. Kaia tries to follow her own path, although the shadow of her famous mother is always present. You will find that it’s more complicated than it seems.
Kaia Gerber – daughter of legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford
Kaia was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Malibu, the daughter of Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber. It quickly became clear that genes don’t lie, but they don’t guarantee everything either. Malibu High allowed her to study online, so she could combine high school with runway work.
Milestones 2012-2026
| Year | Event | Brand/project |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Debut of the campaign at the age of 10 | Young Versace (S/S 12) |
| 07.2015 | Signing a contract with the agency | IMG Models, later DNA, VIVA |
| 2017-2018 | First runway show at Raf Simons; collaboration with Lagerfeld | Calvin Klein, “Karl x Kaia”, Chanel |
| 2018 | Model of the Year – the youngest winner | The Fashion Awards |
| 2019 | 26 shows in the season; face of the brand | YSL Beauty, Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney |
| 04.2020 | Cover with Adut Akech | American Vogue, Louis Vuitton Twist |
| 12.2025 | Global ambassador | NARS (Afterglow Lip Balm) |
| 01.2026 | Advisory and investment role | Re/Done (spring collection) |
For years, she worked with Versace, Prada, Saint Laurent, Valentino. The shoot with her mother for Omega (Peter Lindbergh, 2017) is a separate story. Her height of 1.77 m fits the classic mold, but a career is about more than just measurements.
Acting, literature, and entrepreneurship
Modelling is one thing, but Kaia has been building her career far beyond the runway for years. The truth is, if you only follow the campaigns, you’re missing most of what she does.
Screen and stage roles
The first scene is 2016, Sister Cities, young Carolina. Then:
- 2021 – American Horror Stories (Ruby McDaniel, 3 episodes) and AHS: Double Feature (Kendall Carr, 4 episodes);
- 2022 – Babylon (Starlet);
- 2023 – Bottoms (Brittany), SXSW premiere, good reviews;
- 2024 – Palm Royale (Mitzi, Apple TV+), Saturday Night (Jacqueline Carlin), In the Know, cameo in SNL (“Pilates”), guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race (S16);
- 2025 – Hacks, Overcompensating (Esther, 3 episodes);
- 01.2026 – theater debut: Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, premiere in LA.
Upcoming: Shell (Chloe Benson, alongside Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss), Outcome (Oksana), Mother Mary (Nikki), The Shards.
Between Surname and Agency
Kaia Gerber balances between the legacy of 90s supermodels and her own choices, which increasingly lead her beyond the runway. Modeling gave her recognition, but her roles in film and involvement in culture show that her last name is a starting point, not a goal in itself. Her career has become a test case for a generation still deciding where privilege ends and genuine competence begins.
Interestingly, Gerber does not shy away from this debate. She navigates the show business world consciously, building a multidimensional image, not just a pretty face on the cover. This is a career model typical of today’s times: multifaceted, flexible, open to change.
Between the legend of her mother and her own present, Kaia creates a space where a surname and agency don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And perhaps that’s what it was all about from the very beginning.
SHE maya
editor pe