Jean Campbell: A Model Of Hope And Resilience
Photography: Ekua King, Stylist: Jenny Kennedy
‘There’s so much more to everyone than you can see,’ Jean Campbell tells me over the phone, fresh from shooting ELLE UK's latest digital cover. It’s a maxim we all know, but too often forget, amid the constant stream of seemingly picture-perfect content we’re served up on social media. And it’s one that few know better than Campbell, the 27-year-old, Scottish-born supermodel who rose to fame fronting global high-fashion and beauty campaigns for the likes of Burberry, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton — but who all the while, was silently suffering with chronic pain.
You’d never imagine it from simply looking at her. From the outside, she is every bit the high-flying model, with the impossibly long, lithe limbs, otherworldly beauty and enviable wardrobe most of us can only dream of. But that’s precisely the point: what we see is far from the whole story.
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‘I had multiple surgeries after an accident as a teenager, and I didn’t really know how to deal with it,’ she explains. ‘It was really difficult. A big factor of that was loneliness and isolation. Things like Instagram can make you feel like everyone else is really happy and confident all the time, that their life is perfect – but it’s important to remember that’s rarely actually the case.’
Credits, from left: Jean wears jacket, £4,500, and hoodie, £4,500, both Prada; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan. Jacket, as before, hoodie, as before, and shorts, £2,000, all Prada; earrings, £550, Acne Studios; heels, £1,270, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.
Campbell decided to channel her experience and her years-long struggle to find solutions into a podcast, with the intention of ‘even just helping one person,’ she says. Years in the making, she debuted I'm Fine in June last year, with the aim of redefining the narrative around pain by inviting high-profile guests to share their personal experiences of living with invisible conditions – while also shining a light on techniques that have helped them along the way.
In one episode, Campbell sat down with ELLE contributing editor Camille Charrière, who opened up about her struggles with infertility and going through IVF. Other guests have included fellow model Abby Lee, who shared her journey with endometriosis, and Sixties fashion icon Penelope Tree, who discussed overcoming her eating disorder.
Credits, from left: Jean wears jacket, £4,435, Khaite; shorts and briefs, both price on request, Nensi Dojaka; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan; heels, £675, Giuseppe Zanotti. Bodysuit, £2,000, Dior; Wide bracelet, £289, and bracelet, £195, both Dinosaur Designs; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan.
‘I wanted to create a space where people can feel understood and seen, giving them a sense of community and hope,’ she explains. ‘I’m not saying my experience speaks to everyone, but I think that connecting with others in moments of difficulty can offer a lightness that might not otherwise feel available to you.’
Campbell's refreshing openness, intelligent articulation of complex subjects, and impressive line-up of guests ensured I’m Fine had a far-reaching impact, resonating with a fast-growing audience and boasting listeners in more than 85 countries around the world.
Credits, from left: Jean wears bra, £1,650, and shorts, £1,850, both Dolce & Gabbana; platinum and diamond earrings, price on request, De Beers. Jacket, £4,555, bra, £655, and shorts, £1,485, all Chloé; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan.
‘Pain is a reality in all of our lives,’ she says. ‘It’s inevitable, whether it’s loss, or health issues, physical or mental. But the podcast isn’t just about pain, it’s about people. There are similarities in everyone’s experiences, and I think learning about them can inspire you to find the strength over your pain within yourself, even if that’s just in the form of hope.’
Campbell is currently in pre-production for a second season of the podcast (her dream guest would be Nan Goldin – ‘she’s a real gift to this world,’ she tells me), but she doesn’t plan on giving up modelling anytime soon. ‘I love my job and am very, very grateful for it,’ she says – adding she still has her sights set on working for Chanel and Alaïa.
Credits, from left: Jean wears bra, price on request, Nensi Dojaka; bag, £2,550, and shorts, £710, both Fendi; earrings, £165, Monet at Susan Caplan; slingbacks, £330, Aeyde. Shirt and shorts, both price on request, Max Mara; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan; tights, £15.99, Calzedonia; heels, £675, Giuseppe Zanotti.
From a young age, fashion was something of a saviour for Campbell. ‘When I was growing up, I really loved looking at high-end fashion, getting lost in the beauty of tailoring, couture, and the world of Lee McQueen and John Galliano,’ she recounts. ‘I actually used to make clothes sometimes as a hobby.’
She signed to her first modelling agency aged 14, and, not long after, landed a two-year contract with Louis Vuitton. Her career instantly provided a ‘fascinating, intricately detailed’ new world to immerse herself into. ‘It has brought me an immense amount of joy,’ Campbell says. ‘As a model, you meet so many different people, from amazing photographers and designers to stylists, and you get to be a part of their creative process. It’s quite magical seeing inside their great minds and their unique point of view.’
Credits, from left: Jean wears jumpsuit, £2,763, Michael Kors Collection; shorts, price on request, Nensi Dojaka; earrings, £165, Monet at Susan Caplan; bracelets, both £289, Dinosaur Designs; slingbacks, £330, Aeyde. Top, £1,540, and shorts, £1,440, both Hermès; earrings, price on request, Balenciaga at 4Element.
The fashion industry has also given her ‘incredible’ travel opportunities, she adds – like shooting in Jaipur with Sara Moonves and Ryan McGinley, a trip that is particularly close to her heart — as well as a number of close friends who have been immeasurable support systems. Some have even opened up about their own personal experiences of pain on her podcast, like the aforementioned Charrière, Adwoa Aboah and George Cortina.
Then, of course, there are the clothes. ‘I love wearing dresses and heels and really getting dressed up,’ she says. ‘I like wearing clothes that have a long life and a bit of character, without being excessively hard work,’ she continues. ‘When I was a teenager I dressed pretty low key – some jeans, Dr Martens, a military belt and an old jacket I would have found in the market – but now what I look for in clothes is structure, fit, tailoring, and sensuality. That doesn’t mean being super sexy, but more about being connected to some kind of powerful, feminine energy that makes me feel good in my body.’
Credits, from left: Jean wears bra, £58, Baserange; trousers (with heels), around £4,980, Balenciaga; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan; bracelets, both £289, Dinosaur Designs. Top, £485, vest, £450, and shorts, £555, all Ferragamo; earrings, £1,375, Chanel at Susan Caplan.
For someone who, by her own admission, has had times of ‘really hating being in my own body,’ it’s an important step forward. ‘Having gone through so many ups and downs, I have such an appreciation of my body and the things it can do. The way you dress can make you feel different, in the best way, and there’s such real empowerment in how you choose to step out into the world,’ she says.
‘Clothes can really act as a kind of armour when you need it. There are good days and there are bad days, but all of them have value – when you know where you’ve been, you can appreciate where you’ve got to even more.’
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