@charli_xcx has always had a plan. It’s been that way ever since she started making music in her bedroom in Essex, England as a young teen. At 15 she convinced her parents to loan her money to record her songs in a professional studio. They also chaperoned her to illegal warehouse parties where she would perform her music to zonked out ravers, often not heading home until sunrise. When she was signed to a major record label at 16, one of the first things she did was pay back the money she’d borrowed from her parents. Five albums later — her newest, titled Crash, is the last in her record deal — and she’s still calling all the shots. Charli XCX has deconstructed the female pop star and reconstructed her with only the parts she most likes. She’s gone through many iterations, her most recent is the sexed-up bombshell who knows she’s hot and isn’t afraid to flaunt it. After speaking with some of her fans, it’s clear that one of the most compelling things about Charli is her vulnerability. She’s long been vocal about the ups and downs of pop stardom. In 2020 she shared her struggles with anxiety in a documentary that chronicled her writing and recording an album in only five weeks during lockdown. In our conversation she credits that experience, and starting therapy, for her newfound confidence in embracing her body and sexual energy. We photographed the 29-year-old pop star one early fall day at the @tomoffinlandfoundation in Los Angeles’ Victor Heights neighborhood. It’s safe to say Charli understood the assignment — she embodied the home’s history and energy like a champ. Finding motorbikes, dungeons, and phallic imagery at every turn, we made the most of the iconic location. Read the full interview by @tomjjackson on #gayletter.com and order a copy of this issue by following the link at the bottom of the story. Photography by @mattgrubb.americas.waffle Styling by @chrishoran20 Hair by @samiknighthair Makeup by @lilly_keys Nails by @britneytokyo