Are Celebrities Glamourising Smoking? Cara Delevingne Poses With Cigarette in New Playboy Shoot

Cara Delevingne has sparked a debate over celebrity influence after appearing with a cigarette in her latest Playboy editorial. The model and actress stars in the magazine's Summer 2026 issue, delivering a series of daring images that showcase her signature confidence, playful attitude and bold sense of style.

From vintage-inspired glamour to more provocative looks, the shoot has been praised by fans who see it as a celebration of Delevingne's fearless image. But one photo has sparked a very different conversation. The image of her holding a lit cigarette has reignited debate over whether celebrities are making smoking look fashionable again.

Cara Delevingne Brings Vintage Glamour to Playboy

For the Playboy Summer 2026 editorial, Delevingne steps into a variety of striking looks that mix classic glamour with a modern edge.

In one black-and-white photograph, she poses topless while wearing a floral-adorned wrist cuff strategically placed to cover her chest. Another image shows the star dressed in the iconic Playboy Bunny costume, complete with a satin bodysuit, collar and signature bunny ears.

She also appears in a structured black corset with no bottoms at all, holding a lit match and with a cigarette in her mouth. The image quickly became the most debated shot from the collection.

Many fans loved the editorial, flooding Playboy's Instagram with praise for Delevingne's confidence and style. Comments included: 'This feels effortlessly iconic,' and 'Absolute Goddess.' Others called the shoot a reminder of why she remains one of fashion's most recognisable faces.

However, alongside the excitement came criticism, with some questioning the decision to include smoking visuals.

The Cigarette Image That Sparked Major Backlash

While most of the Playboy shoot received positive reactions, the cigarette image became a talking point almost immediately. On Reddit, some users argued that seeing a celebrity pose with a cigarette can make smoking appear glamorous, especially when combined with luxury fashion and beauty imagery.

One commenter questioned why cigarettes seem to be appearing more frequently in celebrity photos and entertainment, writing: 'keep seeing celebs posing with cigarettes lately.'

Another joked about the return of old trends, saying: 'We want the 90s back, but not like this.'

Others were more critical, accusing pop culture of bringing back an image that many health campaigns have spent decades challenging. 'Smoking cigarettes isn't cool or sexy,' one user wrote, while another described cigarette shots as 'the worst trends becoming cyclical.'

Some also pointed towards movies and television shows, claiming they have noticed more characters smoking in recent films and series. For critics, the concern is not about one image alone but about a wider pattern of making cigarettes appear stylish or rebellious.

The Problem With Glamourising Cigarettes

The relationship between smoking and celebrity culture has always been complicated.

In previous decades, cigarettes were often linked with Hollywood glamour, appearing in films, magazine shoots and advertising campaigns. Today, however, the public conversation around tobacco has changed significantly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says tobacco kills more than 7 million people globally each year and remains one of the biggest public health threats worldwide. Smoking is linked to serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory conditions.

Because of these risks, critics argue that celebrities and media figures have a responsibility when showing smoking in glamorous settings. They believe images featuring cigarettes can influence how younger audiences view tobacco use.

At the same time, supporters of creative expression argue that fashion photography does not automatically equal promotion. A cigarette can be used as a visual element — a reference to a certain era or part of a character's styling rather than an endorsement of smoking.

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