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David Gandy exudes a sense of calm. The acclaimed supermodel, a native of Essex, sits in his sun-drenched kitchen, a glass of water in hand, as he reflects on his nearly quarter-century-long career.
At 45, Gandy’s distinguished features – his dark brown hair, prominent cheekbones, and striking blue eyes – have graced some of the most memorable fashion campaigns of the past two decades, establishing him as one of the few male models to achieve widespread recognition.
“I’ve always drawn inspiration from the female supermodels,” Gandy states, citing Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell. “Their surnames are almost unnecessary.”
“I’m not suggesting I’ve reached that level of fame, of course,” he adds with a laugh.
Gandy’s career trajectory shifted dramatically with his contract with Dolce & Gabbana, particularly his role as the face of the brand’s Light Blue fragrance line – a campaign that remains arguably his most iconic.
It began with an advertisement featuring Gandy at the helm of a boat in a cove near Capri, Italy, clad only in white swim trunks. With his hair slicked back, he embraces model Marija Vujović. Gandy remained the face of the brand for an impressive 18 years.
He shared that the Light Blue campaign provided a platform to approach the level of his female counterparts. “They rightly earned significantly more than us. I simply wanted to level the playing field a bit,” he remarked with a chuckle.
Speaking with BBC News in the lead-up to London Fashion Week, which continues this weekend, Gandy expressed his concern about what he perceives as an existential threat to the fashion industry posed by artificial intelligence (AI).
His comments come as over 2,000 professional models, including Gandy, Twiggy, and Yasmin Le Bon, are urging the government to safeguard individual rights in an era where generative AI can create realistic human-like images in seconds.
“We’re now witnessing campaigns from brands like Guess and others where the model is entirely AI-generated,” Gandy explains.
“The process, often referred to as ‘scraping,’ involves AI learning from and combining bits of imagery from various models and individuals to create a new image. This raises ethical questions and presents significant challenges.”
Gandy fears that the unregulated use of AI models could inflict irreparable damage on the industry.
“Britain produces some of the most exceptional models,” he asserts, “and we must preserve that legacy.”
Gandy’s concerns extend beyond the impact on models to encompass all professionals involved in the creation of fashion imagery, including photographers.
“The very essence of artistry is being eroded,” he explains. “Hairdressers, makeup artists, numerous assistants, even the location itself – all of these elements are rendered redundant.”
As a father of two young daughters, Gandy also expresses concern about the potential impact of AI-generated imagery on mental health, particularly among young people.
“We don’t yet fully understand the consequences of viewing something that isn’t real – where the person doesn’t even exist,” he cautions.
Gandy acknowledges the inevitability of the fashion industry integrating AI in some form, but emphasizes the need for “regulation”.
For many supermodels, public life often blurs with their professional endeavors. However, Gandy, who resides near London’s Richmond Park with his partner Stephanie Mendoros, their daughters, and their rescue dog, Dora, emphasizes the importance of privacy. During the visit, he is careful to keep the pictures of his family discreetly positioned around the house out of view.
“I’ve always maintained a clear distinction between my private and professional lives,” he states. “They are separate entities. No images of my children exist online. And I certainly won’t be posting pictures of my breakfast!”
The conversation quickly shifts to his garden. “I suspect it happens around the age of 40, but some men become preoccupied with their lawns,” he says, jokingly admitting that his lawn hasn’t benefited from the presence of a bouncy castle all summer.
He shares anecdotes about his daughters dressing him up. “They’ve adorned me with bunny ears and bear ears headbands, which I’ve sometimes forgotten I was wearing,” he recounts. “I’ve even gone shopping with them on.”
“Upon returning home, my partner would say, ‘Did you realize you’re wearing bunny ears?'”
Gandy shakes his head, laughing.
He mentions that some of his children’s friends now recognize him from advertisements, but despite his prominent public profile, Gandy says he rarely gets recognized in public.
“I’ve had people standing directly in front of large posters featuring me, telling me, ‘I recognize you from somewhere,’ while the poster is behind them,” he says with a gentle laugh, adding that he never feels compelled to correct them.
“I believe I have a fortunate level of fame,” Gandy concludes. “The vast majority of people are courteous when they approach me and engage in conversation.”
A government spokesperson stated: “Rapidly evolving technologies like AI present both significant opportunities and complex challenges. We acknowledge the concerns of individuals regarding the protection of their likeness.”
“UK law already provides some protection for aspects of an individual’s identity, and we continue to assess the effectiveness of these protections and whether any adjustments may be necessary.”
Guess was contacted for comment.
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