Top model and ingenue actor Kaia Gerber, now 21, covers the February 2023 issue of ELLE US. Alex White styles the Celine ambassador in Celine, of course, with sprinkles of Ralph Lauren Collection and an American flag dress from Vaquera. Cass Bird [IG] is behind the lens at the beach in Malibu.

I mentioned last week that Kaia really owns her persona — and her sensuality — in the new Alaïa WS23 Campaign. That self-aware presence continues in her ELLE interview with Veronique Hyland: Kaia Gerber Has Main Character Energy.

Sensuality is not on the docket in the interview, but Kaia’s personal growth over the last few years is major.

Gerber’s book club is on hiatus — but definitely not over, Kaia explains. Importantly, she rejects Thomas Wolfe’s famous title, pubished posthumously in 1940 “You Can’t Go Home Again.”

Kaia Gerber has never been “model light” in her interviews. Hyland asks her multiple times about her mental health — like don’t we ask every multi-million $$$ model today about her mental health?

Kaia shrugs it off with a smile — the smile of plenty of loving, hard work on Kaia — not to fix herself or those around her. But to engage with and gain a young person’s understanding of life around her.

Gerber embraces her privilege but also her determination, talent and brainpower. She explains that comedy clubs are her fav night out, but in her core Kaia wants to be taken seriously.

We should remind ourselves that she’s only 21 — and coming along nicely.

ELLE mentions Kaia’s upcoming Apple TV+ series, “Mrs. American Pie” with Laura Dern and Kristen Wiig. And Carol Burnett makes an appearance. Allison Janney is also cast in the series, and Ricky Martin has a major role. We don’t find an air date this minute for the 10-part series.

Gerber responds: “I have no idea what I’m doing there. It’s ridiculous. Carol Burnett made me understand comedy in such a different way. I never would’ve dreamed that I’d get to work with her. I still can’t believe it happened.”

Let’s see. Then Kaia goes on to talk about how Joan Didion changed her life. “ . . . Joan Didion. I’ve read everything she’s ever written. I watched her documentary a million times. She has this quote that really resonated with me, about wanting to know where the pain is. I found that—not running away from your feelings—through her.

There’s really a lot to like about this young woman. REALLY a lot to like. ~ Anne