Paloma Elsesser in a VOGUE cover interview: "I am not responsible for an entire industry"

You used your platform early on for social causes. Why is this important to you, and has this need changed over the years?

It comes in waves. I'm very aware that my profession gives me the opportunity to help shape change on a larger scale. This is anything but a given—and I don't take it lightly. It's a great privilege, but also a responsibility. However, my understanding of my purpose or mission shifts from time to time, because I also have to take care of myself and ensure that this "purpose" nourishes me but doesn't define me. For a long time, it was meaningful for me to give other people visibility. But I'm not responsible for making people feel seen. I'm not responsible for an entire industry. I'm not responsible for changing trends —or for challenging them. I'm just a human being. It's a bit like recycling: It's important when individuals do it. But it only really has an impact when we do it together. I'm trying to continue to do my part. And I hope others do too.

I can imagine that it is very exhausting to always have to speak on the topic of body diversity as one of the few, as a prime example, so to speak.

I will always feel driven by this topic. But sometimes I just have to take care of my own life. I can't constantly be the martyr for every social issue that arises, as long as I live my life—both privately and publicly—with integrity, diligence, and a certain degree of consistency. I do believe that as human beings, we are fundamentally responsible for one another. The question is: how? And: within what framework am I even allowed to bear this responsibility? There's a very narrow idea of what activism or stance means—that you have to constantly express something online, take a stand in interviews, and sit on panels. But right now, I'm at a point where I don't want to do that in this form. That can, of course, change at any time. But for now, this is how it is."

What makes you happy at the moment – and what worries you?

What makes me happy these days is mostly in small moments. I have a list—a happy list —where I write down things that make me happy. I share it with someone, so it's constantly updated. It's about small, almost inconspicuous moments of happiness. For example (reading from her phone): When my grandmother laughs at her own jokes. A perfect sandwich. The moment between falling asleep and sleeping. Teaching a child something. Building a deep connection with a stranger. When my mother scratches my back. Calling my little brother "little brother"—even though he's 28 now. Excited faces. Singing in the car. Holding hands. Old ladies walking in groups. FaceTime calls. A good underdog story. Uncomfortable but great shoes . Knowing exactly how someone you love feels—and how they think of you. Kindness. When I park perfectly side-by-side. Finding money in an old coat. "That made me think of you." Fresh linens. "Oh, that's a nice drawer." Old notes in books. The smell of oil paint. Silence that feels safe. When someone takes the first bite of something I've cooked. Slow mornings. A stretch that resets something in the body. When someone holds a seat for me. Being alone without feeling lonely. Bathrobes. Salty butter. Teasing each other. Forgiving. Receiving forgiveness.

Wow, that's beautiful! I should start a happy list too.