It happened during a random Tuesday in London. Jenna Ortega, the face of Gen Z’s gothic revival and everyone’s favorite "Wednesday" star, was caught on camera. She wasn’t doing anything scandalous by old Hollywood standards—she was just sitting at a table, clutching a drink, and puffing on a cigarette.
The internet basically had a collective meltdown. People were genuinely shocked. Why? Because for a long time, we all kind of assumed that cigarettes were "over." Vaping was the thing. Or better yet, being a "clean girl" who drinks green juice and wakes up at 5 a.m. for Pilates. But suddenly, seeing young female celebrities who smoke cigarettes has become a recurring theme in paparazzi shots and Instagram dumps. It’s not just Jenna. It’s Lily-Rose Depp, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Iris Law. You might also find this similar coverage insightful: The Anatomy of a Modern Celebrity Health Scare and the Machinery Behind It.
Honestly, it feels like we’ve stepped back into 1999, but with better iPhone cameras.
The "Indie Sleaze" Revival and the Aesthetic of the Cigarette
There’s this weird thing happening where smoking has shifted from a "bad habit" to a "vibe." You’ve probably heard the term "Indie Sleaze." It’s that messy, unpolished aesthetic that mimics the early 2000s. Think smeared eyeliner, blurry flash photography, and, unfortunately, a lit Marlboro. As extensively documented in latest articles by Associated Press, the results are widespread.
For stars like Lily-Rose Depp, the cigarette is almost part of the uniform. She’s often spotted in Paris or LA with a smoke in hand, looking like she just walked off a Chanel runway and into a dive bar. It’s a stark contrast to the perfectly curated, "healthy" influencer image we’re used to.
Why Gen Z stars are lighting up
- Rebellion against "Wellness Culture": Everything is so sterile now. Celebrities are expected to be perfect role models. Lighting up a cigarette is a quick, dirty way to say, "I’m not a role model."
- The European Factor: Many of these stars, like Anya Taylor-Joy, spend a ton of time in Europe. Over there, the "coffee and a cigarette" breakfast isn’t a trope; it’s just Tuesday.
- The Prop Effect: Let’s be real. In a photo, a cigarette adds a certain mood. It’s "edgy." It’s "grungy." It’s a shortcut to looking like you don't care, even if you spent two hours on your hair.
Anya Taylor-Joy famously told Tatler that she lived off "Diet Coke, cigarettes, and coffee" while filming The Queen’s Gambit. It sounded like something out of a 70s rockstar memoir. While she eventually admitted she needed to "eat a vegetable," that image of the waifish, brilliant star fueled by nicotine stuck.
The Public Backlash: When Fans Turn Into Parents
When the photos of Jenna Ortega surfaced, the reaction wasn't just "Oh, she smokes." It was visceral. Her own mother, Natalie Ortega, who is a nurse, even posted a series of Instagram stories about the dangers of lung cancer and tooth decay. Talk about an awkward family dinner.
The backlash highlights a massive divide. On one side, you have fans who feel "betrayed" because they view these stars as icons of health and empowerment. On the other, you have people arguing that these women are adults. They can do what they want.
But it’s complicated. According to a study published in PMC, seeing favorite movie stars smoke on-screen or in real life significantly increases the risk of smoking initiation among adolescents. For girls, the "odds ratio" was 1.86—meaning they are nearly twice as likely to pick up the habit if their idol does it.
The Dua Lipa Flip-Flop
Then you have someone like Dua Lipa. She’s been very vocal about quitting. She told Seth Meyers in early 2024 that she quit for her vocal health during the Future Nostalgia tour. "I stopped. I quit, guys," she said.
Fast forward to mid-2025 and 2026, and fans are still spotting her with the occasional "holiday cigarette." It shows how hard the grip of nicotine actually is. Even with the best trainers, doctors, and a multi-million dollar voice to protect, the "cheeky ciggie" is hard to shake.
Is It Actually "Cool" Again? (The Reality Check)
Look, we can talk about the "aesthetic" all day, but the biology doesn't care about your Instagram grid. In the entertainment industry, your face and your voice are your currency.
Lana Del Rey is perhaps the most iconic smoker of the modern era. She built an entire brand on that 1960s Americana, smoke-filled-room vibe. But even she has transitioned mostly to vaping, with fans noting on Reddit and social media that they can hear the "raspy" toll it’s taken on her vocal range over the years.
The Industry Pressure
Being a young actress is incredibly stressful. The schedules are grueling. The pressure to stay thin is—let's be honest—still very much there, even if nobody talks about it. Nicotine is a known appetite suppressant. For some of these young women, smoking isn't just about looking cool for a paparazzi; it’s a coping mechanism for a high-pressure environment where "staying small" is often rewarded.
Breaking Down the "Cigfluencer" Trend
We’re seeing the rise of what some critics call the "cigfluencer." This isn't just about someone having an addiction; it's about the glamorization of that addiction.
- Iris Law: Often seen at fashion weeks with a cigarette as an accessory.
- Sophie Turner: Spotted taking smoke breaks between scenes, reminding everyone that the "Game of Thrones" star is just a regular person with a regular vice.
- Dakota Johnson: Even she was caught in that infamous Met Gala bathroom photo years ago, which essentially kicked off the modern "celebs smoking in bathrooms" trope.
The problem is that for every "cool" photo, there's a reality of yellowing teeth, skin aging, and, well, the big stuff like cancer.
Actionable Steps: Moving Beyond the "Vibe"
If you're watching your favorite stars light up and feeling like it's a trend you should join, it’s worth taking a beat to look past the grain of the photo.
1. Separate the person from the habit
You can love Jenna Ortega's acting or Lily-Rose Depp's style without adopting their nicotine habits. Realize that what you’re seeing is often a moment of stress or a stylistic choice, not a blueprint for a healthy life.
2. Understand the "Skin Cost"
For young stars, the damage shows up first in the skin. Smoking constricts blood vessels, leading to a duller complexion and "smoker’s lines" much earlier than usual. If you're into the "clean girl" look or the "glass skin" trend, cigarettes are basically the enemy.
3. Look at the Quitting Successes
Instead of focusing on the ones who smoke, look at the ones who have fought to quit. Dua Lipa’s struggle is real, and her admission that she feels "more adrenaline" and better confidence when she’s clean is a much more powerful narrative than a blurry paparazzi shot.
4. Use the "Five-Minute Rule"
If you’re tempted to pick up a cigarette because it looks "edgy" in the moment, wait five minutes. Usually, the desire to mimic a celebrity’s aesthetic passes once you realize the smell stays in your hair for three days.
The trend of young female celebrities who smoke cigarettes isn't going away as long as "retro" and "messy" are the dominant aesthetics. But behind every "cool" photo is a real person dealing with a real addiction. It’s less of a fashion statement and more of a human struggle played out in front of a lens.
To get the most out of following your favorite celebs, focus on their craft and their style—leave the 1950s habits in the past where they belong. The most "effortless" thing you can actually do is take care of your health so you can keep enjoying their work for decades to come.
Data Sources & References:
- ELLE Australia, "Celebrities Who Smoke: 28 Stars Who Are Smokers," 2025.
- The Guardian, "Celebrities are smoking again," 2023.
- PMC (National Institutes of Health), "Do Favorite Movie Stars Influence Adolescent Smoking Initiation?", Study on on-screen smoking impact.
- Late Night with Seth Meyers, Dua Lipa Interview regarding smoking cessation, 2024.
- Tatler, Anya Taylor-Joy Interview on The Queen's Gambit filming habits.
