Cara Delevingne interview: the model and actress on her London

Cara Delevingne may have a considerable following (over 42 million Instagram fans) and was ranked No.2 as ‘The World's Highest-Paid Models’ list by Forbes, earning over £7 million, and has been bestowed ‘Model of the Year’ by the British Fashion Awards [not once, but twice] – nevertheless, she really is the anti-model of the modelling industry. Mainly down to her punch of personality. She’s charmingly unpredictable, and her innate sense of humour throws people off-guard, while the quirkiness and lack of vanity give her an endearing quality. Not forgetting to mention her appeal is thoroughly modern and is cross-gender and cross-generational. There is also so much more behind the brows.

Cara tirelessly works for charities across the board, including Girl Up, Save the Children and United Nations Foundation; and this time last year made her debut as a novelist of young adult fiction with her new book Mirror, Mirror, which contains an LGBT theme, co-written with British writer Rowan Coleman. Plus if you click on the video below – she can also sing – but be warned you’ll be humming it for the rest of that day. We chat all things London and take a sniff of the newest fragrance launch in the Burberry family, named Her, that this charming Brit girl is the face of.
Culture Whisper: What makes London the best city in the world?

Cara Delevingne: London is such a wonderful city. I am so lucky I have grown up here. It is such a diverse melting pot of incredible culture and creativity. You can never run out of things to do. There is nothing bad about it, apart from traffic. I think everyone can agree on that.

CW: What are your favourite places in London?

CD: I love walking around parks such as Hyde Park. I really like this hotel actually, Cafe Royal as they have an incredible dungeon-sque spa in the basement where I love to go when I am here. I like to go to Royal Albert Hall and watch a show or go to the Natural History Museum. Little restaurants in hidden places around London are always great too, not the big famous ones.

CW: How does it feel to work with Burberry?

CD: It’s been 8 years now, and I do feel like I’m part of the family.

The fragrance: Was developed by iconic perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, who created the likes of Jean-Paul Gaultier Le Mâle, Carven Le Parfum, and a CW favourite, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. He says, 'Her Eau de Parfum is unique because it is a memorable signature. To achieve that, you need a strong accord, an olfactive story that translates your vision. The combination of these sunburst berries and British spirit blended with the ambery, musky accord brings this very unique signature. You can immediately recognise when someone is wearing it. It’s a signature scent.”

The smell: A vibrant fruity and floral fragrance. Imagine bursting red and dark berries, with jasmine and violet and warmth from dry amber and musk.

The bottle: Is inspired by the archival design of Burberry’s first fragrance, Burberrys for Men that launched in 1981. It can be personalised with engraved initials on a gold charm around the neck – so makes for a brilliant gift to give or to keep for Christmas and beyond.