Supermodel and actress Kaia Gerber was captured looking utterly carefree while taking a cigarette break during filming for her latest project. The 24-year-old was spotted on a Malibu beach set near the Pacific Coast Highway, happily puffing away between takes for the upcoming Ryan Murphy drama.
Hollywood It Girl on Set
Bundled against the coastal breeze in a navy overcoat and jeans, Gerber flashed her famous megawatt smile. She was seen leaning into the wind to light up, appearing effortlessly cool as smoke curled around her. The daughter of modelling icons Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber seemed positively gleeful, bantering with cast and crew while perched on a picnic table.
At one point, she settled cross-legged on the table for another long drag, fully embracing the moment in signature Hollywood It Girl style. It remains unclear whether her character in the series is a smoker, but Kaia didn't let that detail inhibit her off-camera relaxation.
The New Thriller: 'The Shards'
The project in question is Ryan Murphy's adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's novel 'The Shards'. The thriller is set in 1981 and follows a group of wealthy Los Angeles prep school teenagers. Their final year of high school is dominated by navigating sex, drugs, and the looming threat of a serial killer.
Murphy has become a significant champion of Gerber's acting career. He previously featured her in two seasons of his hit 'American Horror Story' franchise, providing a major platform. Since then, she has built an impressive resume with roles in Apple TV+'s 'Palm Royale', Amazon's 'Overcompensating', and the cult teen movie 'Bottoms'.
Building a Career Beyond Modelling
Despite her legendary modelling pedigree, Gerber is carving a distinct path in acting. She reflected on her 2023 film debut in the raunchy comedy 'Bottoms', where she played a popular cheerleader—a role she says was worlds apart from her own school experience.
"I was not popular in high school, and I was not a cheerleader," she told W Magazine. "I felt kind of like an outcast." She added that the film's themes of not being taken seriously resonated deeply with her.
'Bottoms' director Emma Seligman has heaped praise on Gerber's talent and professionalism. "She's one of the most brilliant, well-read actors I've ever worked with," Seligman stated. "She cares so much about doing the job and honoring your vision as a director."
Gerber is also navigating the constant comparisons to her supermodel mother, Cindy Crawford—a similarity that extends beyond looks to mannerisms and voice. Meanwhile, off-screen, she appears to be embracing a new romance with actor Lewis Pullman, spotted recently in Mexico. This new relationship began shortly after her split from long-term boyfriend Austin Butler towards the end of 2024.
