Were not sure how she managed it, but Cindy Crawfords daughter Kaia Jordan Gerber is, by definition, the ultimate mini-meboth on the runway and off. Dad Randy Gerber has models looks too, as does her brother Presley, so you can surmise that both kids are endowed with enviable genes. Cindy, a small-town girl from DeKalb, Illinois–where there are more cows than runways–pursued her dream of becoming a supermodel and her daughter is following in Cindys designer footwear. Kaia was born in Los Angeles on September 3, 2001, one week before New Yorks World Trade Center tragedy changed the city that made Cindy famous into a mass tragedy that the world wont soon forget.
At just 16, Kaia may be missing her mothers famous facial beauty mark, but her attitude, looks and senses of style and confidence stand out in a field of modeling newcomers. Named one of the fashion industrys favorite new faces by Teen Vogue in 2017, her bona fides were established when Kaia launched a modeling career at age 10 dressed in a Versace original. Nothing much has changed in the past six years; her 2018 appearance at New Yorks Fashion Week helped launch Calvin Kleins spring and summer designs and her calendar is filled with bookings for the remainder of the year. Not bad for a girl whose contemporaries are more focused on proms and boys than debuting the international collections of some of the worlds greatest fashion designers.
Why has Kaia become so popular? Well, you can start with that face; the one thats a mirror image of her moms minus that beauty mark. Kaia has exotic roots; a blend of German, Irish, Scottish, Danish, English and Jewish heritages, but beneath her beauty, she also has a great head on her shoulders. Who are Kaias role models? At the top of her list is Karlie Kloss because she is both friendly and a rule breaker, though Kaia tends to be diplomatic and adds that other young models are favorites, too! Of course, her mom Cindy tops Kaias list because she has given her daughter lots of common sense guidance as she makes her way through the daunting gauntlet that comes with todays fashion industry. Cindys confidence in Kaias ability to handle pressure is borne of confidence she has installed in both of her children, and she continues to advise both of them on both professional and personal matters.
Where will you see Kaia next? Everywhere. Signed by one of the top talent firms in the nation, IMG Models, Kaias future is limitless as she juggles modeling for popular magazines with walking prestigious runway shows, perhaps adding acting to her list of talents and credentials. She could focus on modeling alone, since shes in constant demand by high-profile ateliers like Prada, Marc Jacobs, Chanel and the aforementioned Calvin Klein and Versace. But Kaia is surprisingly humble. She gives credit where credit is due, saying her mom taught her that its important to be nice to everyone, to learn everyones names (on set) no matter if its the photographer or the assistant. She shared this viewpoint during a recent People magazine interview. Speaking of Cindy, Kaia adds, Ive gone to set with her and seen her do it, and she leads by example. What mom wouldnt be proud of a daughter whos got her head on this straight at the age of 16?
