PRIDE

Why Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson Decided to Publicly Confirm Their Relationship

It was a celebration of not one, but two anniversaries.


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Mario Sorrenti

For the past year, Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson have asserted their right to maintain their privacy when it comes to their relationship. (Delevingne has even worn a stuffed animal on her face to shield herself from paparazzi.) And while that’s begun to change in recent months—particularly on Instagram, where they’ve recently taken on homophobic trolls on Instagram, and shared a snapshot of a post-Chanel show cuddle—the 26-year-old model still made waves when she shared a steamy video of her kissing the 29-year-old actress this past Friday, complete with the hashtag “#PRIDE” and several rainbow and heart emojis.

If it weren’t already clear that they’re ready to open up, the pair reaffirmed as much with their appearance at the TrevorLIVE Gala—a benefit for the Trevor Project—in New York on Monday night, where Delevingne was honored with its annual Hero Award for her repeated outspokenness with regards to mental health and LGBTQ rights.

According to her Instagram Stories, Delevingne kicked off the night by donating $50,000 to the nonprofit, which is dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ youth. She also put in an appearance on the event’s red carpet, where, naturally, she was asked why it was the right time for her to post the video, which she agreed was a celebration of pride. “I don’t know, because it is Pride. It’s been 50 years since Stonewall happened and I don’t know,” Delevingne told E! News, referencing the landmark 1969 Stonewall Uprising.

Plus, she added, “it’s been just about our one year anniversary, so why not?” When asked whether the post also marked making their relationship “Insta-official,” Delevingne shrugged. “Sure. I don’t know—I don’t like the ‘official’ thing, but you know, it’s a little something.” (She was first rumored to be dating—which is to say, spotted holding hands with—Benson in May of 2018, when they were both filming (and starring in a music video for) Alex Ross Perry’s film Her Smell.)

Inside the gala, between hanging with the model Georgia May Jagger and the cast of Queer Eye, plus performing a duet with the singer Will Heard, Delevingne also delivered an acceptance speech. “The fact that I’m being awarded for being a queer person, or by queer people—it’s just the craziest thing in the world,” she said, gesticulating with her award, which she dedicated to those who volunteer and work for the Trevor Project.

Delevingne also took care to give Benson a shoutout. “I also have another very special woman in this room to thank and you know who you are. She’s one of the people who help me love myself when I needed it most and I really needed it. She showed me what real love is and how to accept it, which is a lot harder than I thought,” she continued. Benson, meanwhile, shared excerpts of Delevingne’s speech on her Instagram Stories with the caption “love you.”

Ashley Benson’s Instagram Story of Cara Delevingne delivering her acceptance speech for the Trevor Project’s Hero Award at the 2019 TrevorLIVE Gala in New York City on June 17, 2019.

Courtesy of @ashleybenson

According to E!, at one point during the evening, Delevingne opened up even further by sharing that her pet name for Benson is “Sprinkles”—which, at the very least, is a much more palatable choice than what Justin Bieber is fond of calling his wife Hailey: “Goo Goo.”

Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne at the 2019 TrevorLIVE Gala in New York City on June 17, 2019.

Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The Trevor Project

Related: Cara Delevingne Says Disney Princesses Led to Her Struggle With Sexuality

A Reminder That Cara Delevingne Is Still One of the Best Fashion Models We Have

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mario Sorrenti for W Magazine, June/July 2016.

Mario Sorrenti

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mario Sorrenti for W Magazine, June/July 2016.

Cara Delevingne photographed by Emma Summerton for W Magazine, January 2012.

Cara Delevingne photographed by Emma Summerton for W Magazine, January 2012.

Summerton Emma

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mikael Jansson for W Magazine, January 2013.

Jansson Mikael

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mikael Jansson for W Magazine, January 2013.

Jansson Mikael

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mert and Marcus for W Magazine, September 2013.

Cara Delevingne photographed by Tim Walker for W Magazine, April 2013.

Cara Delevingne photographed by Tim Walker for W Magazine, April 2013.

Walker Tim

Cara Delevingne photographed by Mert and Marcus for W Magazine, September 2013.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Cara Delevingne photographed by Inez and Vinoodh for W Magazine, October 2014.

VAN LAMSWEERDE INEZ & MATADIN VINOODH

Cara Delevingne photographed by Alasdair McLellan for W Magazine, October 2014.

MCLELLAN ALASDAIR

Cara Delevingne photographed by Alasdair McLellan for W Magazine, October 2014.

MCLELLAN ALASDAIR
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