British model-turned-actress Cara Delevingne has opened up about the paparazzi photos that made fans concerned for her welfare.

In September 2022, pictures of the star looking dishevelled and distressed at a Los Angeles airport after returning from Burning Man festival went viral.

Speaking to Vogue, Cara revealed that the photos made her feel ashamed and embarrassed and gave her an urgent wake-up call to get clean.

“I hadn’t slept. I was not okay,” she said of the worrying images.

“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 30-year-old quietly checked into rehab shortly after and was four months sober when she gave the Vogue interview in January.

“All I knew is if I was continuing to go down the road I was, I would either end up dead or, like, doing something really, really stupid,” Cara admitted.

The Suicide Squad star revealed she had previously had “interventions of a sort, but I wasn’t ready” to sober up and had tried quick fixes such as going to a retreat, but she realized this time around she needed to commit to a 12-step treatment program.

“I always thought that the work needs to be done when the times are bad, but actually the work needs to be done when they’re good. 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,” she shared.

Cara, who confessed she first got drunk at the age of seven, credited her 12-step meetings, weekly therapy sessions, a stable diet, and daily yoga and meditation practices for helping her remain clean.

“This process obviously has its ups and downs, but I’ve started realizing so much,” she stated.

“People want my story to be this after-school special where I just say, ‘Oh look, I was an addict, and now I’m sober, and that’s it.’ And it’s not as simple as that. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

Cara’s story is a reminder of the harmful effects of paparazzi culture.

The media is often criticized for exploiting celebrities and invading their privacy.

In recent years, several celebrities have spoken out about their struggles with mental health and addiction, some of which have been exacerbated by the media’s relentless pursuit of them.

The fashion industry, in particular, has come under scrutiny for its treatment of models.

A 2018 survey found that more than half of models had experienced harassment or abuse on the job, with many citing the pressure to maintain a certain weight or appearance as a contributing factor.

Cara, who started her career as a model, has been vocal about the industry’s toxic culture.

In a 2019 interview with Porter magazine, she spoke about the pressure to conform to a certain beauty standard.

“It’s exhausting to be told what beauty should look like,” she said.

“I am tired of society defining beauty for us.”

Cara’s journey to sobriety is a testament to the importance of seeking help when struggling with addiction.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic disease that requires ongoing care and support.

Treatment for addiction can involve a range of interventions, including medication, therapy, and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Cara’s decision to speak openly about her struggles with addiction and mental health is also significant.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction.

Celebrities like Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga have been praised for their openness about their struggles with mental health, while others, like Prince Harry, have used their platforms to advocate for better mental health care.

As Cara continues her journey to sobriety, she serves as an inspiration to others struggling with addiction.

Her honesty and vulnerability are a reminder that recovery is a process that requires patience, perseverance, and support.