Originally appeared on E! Online
Presley Gerber could always count on his family.
Before the model died on Sept. 20 at age 27, his parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber and sister Kaia Gerber supported him through the ups and downs of his personal and professional life.
“We’re a close family, especially me and my sister, so it’s definitely cool,” Presley told People of their modeling careers in a joint interview with his sister in February 2018. “We get to travel together half of the time, so it makes it a lot less lonely.”
Having begun modeling three years earlier than her brother, Kaia—two years his junior—also shared advice with him in the early years of his career.
“I love it because I just see him doing so well,” she added to the outlet. “He doesn’t really know much about the industry, so I get to teach him. He’ll be like, ‘Oh, I met this person,’ and I’m like, ‘Presley, do you know who that is? It’s this designer or that designer,’ so I’ll be on set and introduce him to people.”
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After making his runway debut at 16 for Moschino in 2016, Presley found his footing on the catwalk with brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Bottega Veneta.
Amid ongoing struggles with depression and sobriety, he eventually found his calling in mental health advocacy, even beginning a weekly series on his Instagram called “Mental Health Mondays” in 2023.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that,” he explained on theStudio 22podcast in February 2023, “whether I help one person or 100 people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do.”
As Presley continued to spotlight his own mental health struggles in his advocacy, Kaia couldn’t help but praise his transparency and candor.
“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything,” the Mother Mary actress told Vogue in August. “Now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’ There’s only so much you can hide from the world. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”
And through it all, Cindy and Rande were also among his biggest supporters.
For instance, the mom of two applauded Presley’s decision to undergo an ibogaine flood dose, in which a large dose of the psychoactive drug is administered to serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain, according to a January 2024 study in Nature Medicine.
“You are a warrior,” she commented under Presley’s March Instagram video documenting the experience. “Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!”
Meanwhile, Rande also expressed his support.
“I’m so proud of you and your courage,” he wrote. “Facing what’s hard takes real strength, and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.”
For a closer look at all the love in the Gerber-Crawford home, keep reading.
Giddy Up!
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Always Each Other’s Biggest Fans
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