Role model.
It's a title thrust upon many a celebrity – in the majority of cases, female – at a particular point in their careers when their actions, appearances, opinions and relationships are looked up to by others as examples to be imitated and criticised.
It's a subject the likes of Miley Cyrus and Rihanna have previously spoken out about, and now it's the turn of actress Zoë Kravitz to open up about the pressure of being a role model for a young generation of men and women.
The Big Little Lies star recently spoke up about the responsibility of being a young actress in Hollywood, who once felt the need to present a perfected image of herself for her fans.
'The idea of being a quote-unquote role model was something I didn't necessarily like because it made me feel like I had to be perfect — and I am not!' she told Vogue.
However, with a blossoming career in recent years that has seen her star in blockbuster hits such as Divergent, Mad Max:Fury Road, and X Men: First Class, the actress admits she's finally found a place of acceptance with herself.
'I don't feel like I need to be perfect. In fact, I think it means I need to let people know that I'm not perfect and that's okay. I try to just be an example of another person that's out there trying to figure it out, so that other women figuring it out don't feel like they're the only ones. It's a process for everybody,' she adds.
The daughter of actress Lisa Bonet and musician Lenny Kravitz also emphasized the need to present an authentic version of yourself on social media.
The 28-year-old explained: 'Social media is morphing into a way for people to do that. It's important to use it to highlight your personality, but in a way that makes people want to highlight their personalities—not be like you, necessarily.'
Having recently debuted platinum-blonde hair and sat FROW at New York Fashion Week with her boyfriend, Nocturnal Animals actor Karl Glusman, the star also encouraged her 2.4 million Instagram followers to ensure they're living their own lives, instead of emulating the one she presents online.
'I don't want people to feel like, 'Okay, this is the way to look, this is the way to act.' This is me speaking my mind; now you use that to inspire you to speak your mind. I want to hear what you have to say,' she added.
You heard, Zoë. It's time to speak your mind.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
