Cara Delevingne is stepping into a new creative chapter—and she’s doing so with guidance from some of music’s most influential voices.
The model, actress, and now emerging musician spoke candidly about her evolving artistry while attending the 2026 Billboard Women in Music event in Los Angeles. During a red carpet interview, she reflected on the advice she’s received from longtime friend Taylor Swift—insight that has helped shape her approach to releasing music.
“The more you do, the more people there are gonna be that question it,” Cara told E! News. “Art is a pure expression of yourself. So, if you’re doing what you feel is right, nothing else really matters.”
The perspective speaks to a broader truth about creative visibility in the digital age—where output often invites scrutiny, but authenticity remains the anchor.
Cara emphasized that Swift also encouraged her to focus less on external validation and more on connection. “The only thing I want is for people to feel things from this music,” she said, distilling her artistic intent into something both simple and deeply personal.
But Swift isn’t the only figure shaping her journey. Delevingne also cited Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple as key influences on her upcoming releases, including singles “I Forgot” and “Out of My Head.”
Her admiration for Apple, in particular, runs deep. “I probably wouldn’t be standing here without Fiona Apple,” Cara shared. “She was one of my biggest idols—is one of my biggest idols. But also someone who really believed in me and gave me the confidence to continue and do it and we would send back and forth incredible creative notes and inspiration.”
That exchange of ideas highlights a less visible but vital aspect of the industry: mentorship and peer support among artists navigating similar pressures.
Reflecting on her relationships with these women, Cara underscored the emotional impact of those connections. “It is everything,” she said. “I don’t think I would be alive without some of these women in my life.”
It’s a powerful statement—one that reframes success not just in terms of output or accolades, but in the relationships that sustain it.
As Delevingne prepares to release more music and step fully into this next phase, her approach feels rooted in intention rather than expectation. With guidance from artists who have built careers on authenticity and emotional resonance, she’s carving out a space that feels distinctly her own.
And if early indications are anything to go by, this is just the beginning.
