Meet Burberry's Latest British It Girl Cara Delevigne
Merry old England has never lacked a crop of cool ladies—from Florence Nightingale to Florence Welch. So it's no wonder that Burberry (a brand practically synonymous with the country itself) has an eye for Brit beauties like Emma Watson, Edie Campbell, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Enter eighteen-year-old Cara Delevingne, who joins their ranks as the label's freshest face. "It's surreal to have people all over the world notice you literally overnight," she explains as we walk along the River Thames in London. As a short-haired tot, this self-confessed tomboy opted for action figures and denim over Barbie and frilly frocks. "I'm still not the biggest girly girl," she says, with a (truly contagious) smile. "I like sports and computer games." But there’s always room for a girl to develop new passions. "I’ve fallen in love with Burberry, and designer Christopher Bailey is a creative mastermind with such unbelievable vision," she says. "I view fashion differently now."
Besides being inspired by Mr. Bailey, she gets encouragement from industry insiders, like fellow Burberry model Jourdan Dunn—who gave a nervous Cara a pep talk before she walked in the brand's fall 2011 runway show—and older sister (and Style Blogger's pal) model-actress Poppy Delevingne. "I couldn’t have a more helpful sister," Cara says. "She's experienced so much—her advice is priceless."
In addition to modeling, Cara has her sights set on the silver screen and the music industry, but she has more than a few tricks up her sleeve. "This is what I want, but it’s not my end goal," she says. "I want to be an entrepreneur." Looks like this pretty face means business.