Few figures in fashion have loomed as large as Cindy Crawford. Now 59, the iconic supermodel remains everywhere — from brand campaigns to red carpets — but in a recent family interview, she revealed that what mattered most to her was never the spotlight. It was never the fame. It was always her kids.
In a rare joint interview with her children Kaia Gerber and Presley Gerber on Today, Crawford gave a glimpse into how she juggled a high-profile career with motherhood — and how she kept her family grounded despite her legendary status in the industry.
Crawford’s son Presley didn’t even realize she had a job
There’s a charming irony in Crawford’s approach to work and parenting. So effective was her effort to not let her fame interfere with family time, that her son Presley thought she didn’t work at all.
“I think you told [them] in preschool, [when] there was, like, ‘What do your parents do for work?’ And you told your preschool teachers that I didn’t work,” Crawford recalled. “And I was like, wow, that means I’m doing a great job, because he doesn’t feel my absence so much.”
Presley’s early perception is now a favorite anecdote — but it also sums up Cindy’s mission: be present, even when you’re one of the most recognizable faces in the world.
Kaia Gerber says Cindy was never a “stage mom” — and that she wishes she was more
Kaia Gerber, 23, followed her mother into modeling almost as soon as she could walk. Yet she says her mom never pushed her or Presley into the industry. In fact, Kaia says she wished Cindy had been more involved in the “stage mom” sense.
“You are so not a stage mom,” Kaia said, earning a nod of agreement from her brother. “I kind of wish you were a little bit more, but she’s so not a stage mom at all… she has never lived vicariously through us.”
Cindy’s approach was to let her children find their own paths — even if those paths led back to where she once stood. “Honestly, no matter what career I had chosen, I would have wanted to do that,” Kaia said. “She’s always been my biggest inspiration and hero.”
The family’s latest campaign gives a glimpse of their real dynamic
For the Spring/Summer 2025 campaign of Vuori, Cindy, Kaia, Presley, and Rande Gerber teamed up for a family-focused series of ads. It’s not just a marketing play — it’s a reflection of where they are as a family now.
Presley, who has been open about his struggles with mental health, spoke about how working with the family gave him a new creative outlet. “It kind of opened up a new door,” he said. “It’s cool to be able to do something with my family that we all actually enjoy.”
And Cindy, never one to compete with her daughter, admitted she trusts Kaia’s fashion instincts — even when they overlap. “Nothing makes me happier. If she wants to wear something that I wore 30 years ago,” she said. “What bigger compliment is that?”
Holiday traditions evolve, but the need to be together remains
Even as Kaia and Presley have grown up and started their own lives, Cindy says she doesn’t get hung up on having family Christmas on Christmas. The date, the decorations, the gluten-free menus — it all shifts with time. What matters is being together, stress-free.
“If you end up celebrating your family Christmas on the 26th, that’s okay,” she said. “I try not to get hung up on the idea that it has to be a certain way, because every year is different.”
Cindy Crawford’s real superpower has always been balancing fame with normalcy
She was a face on every magazine in the ’90s. She defined glamour and made billion-dollar brands look effortless. Yet, when asked about her greatest achievement, Cindy Crawford doesn’t mention campaigns, covers, or endorsements. She talks about her family.
“The greatest thing about having kids is you just... instantly know your priorities,” she said. “You know it’s always family first.”
And that’s the throughline in every story, every photo, every interview. No matter how iconic she was — and still is — Cindy Crawford’s legacy isn’t just in fashion. It’s in how she loved, showed up, and never let fame get in the way of being a mom.