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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Dominique Hines

Cara Delevingne reveals why she checked into rehab: ‘I was not okay’

Cara Delevingne has revealed how she secretly checked into rehab after images of her erratic behaviour emerged online.

Last year, the model sparked concern after making a series of bizarre public appearances, including trying to overshadow rapper Megan Thee Stallion by being disruptive on an Awards Show’s red carpet.

Reflecting on it all, Delevingne told the new April issue of Vogue magazine that she had been in denial about her mental health until she saw snaps of herself online looking in a state.

She said: “I hadn’t slept. I was not okay. It’s heartbreaking because I thought I was having fun, but at some point it was like, ‘Okay, I don’t look well.’

“You know, sometimes you need a reality check, so in a way those pictures were something to be grateful for.”

The model is Vogue’s April cover star (Annie Leibovitz/Vogue)

The 30-year-old, who is also an actress, explained that prior to that there were those in her circle who tried to help, but she wasn’t receptive.

“I’ve had interventions of a sort, but I wasn’t ready. That’s the problem,” she admitted.

“I hadn’t seen a therapist in three years. I just kind of pushed everyone away, which made me realise how much I was in a bad place.

“I always thought that the work (on her wellbeing) needs to be done when the times are bad, but actually the work needs to be done when they’re good.

Delevingne graces the pages on Vogue (Annie Leibovitz/Vogue)

She continued: “The work needs to be done consistently. It’s never going to be fixed or fully healed but I’m okay with that, and that’s the difference.”

Through her work in therapy, Delevingne learned that she needed to stop chasing the idea of a “quick fix” adding: “Going to a weeklong retreat or to a course for trauma... helped for a minute, but it didn’t ever really get to the nitty-gritty, the deeper stuff.”

The star, who said her mental health impacted her addiction issues especially during lockdown, has been surrounded by addiction since her childhood.

Delevingne (R) bizarrely heckling from the side at rapper Megan Thee Stallion during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, drew the model backlash (AFP via Getty Images)

Her socialite mother, who had connections to the royal family, struggled with a heroin addiction and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Delevingne’s first experience with alcohol abuse was at just seven years old and at age 10 was abusing sleeping pills for insomnia.

She recently said her current focus is on becoming healthier and looking to be “more gentle” to herself.

Vogue’s April 2023 issue is out March 21

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