Supermodel Gigi Hadid, born in Los Angeles in 1995, has long floated through the fashion world wearing the wings of Victoria’s Secret angels. With a following of 79 million on Instagram, she moves in circles with Taylor Swift, Lena Dunham, and Kendall Jenner. This fall, she nonetheless managed to grow even more popular. Rumors of a new romance linked her to actor Bradley Cooper, a connection that reportedly began when he introduced them in New York. Gigi is the daughter of Dutch model Yolanda Foster and Palestinian businessman Mohamed Hadid, and she used social media to share a message about support for Palestine amid renewed conflict. She wrote that while their hopes and dreams are with the Palestinians, none of them involve harming a Jew. The post drew fierce criticism toward her and even death threats toward her family, according to TMZ which claimed access to some personal devices. [Citation: TMZ coverage]
Gigi grew up in Malibu, riding horses and later mentioning that she competed in the Junior Olympics as a student athlete and wore Lululemon gear and flip-flops most of the year. The label nepo baby has followed her through her rise, yet she openly acknowledges her motherhood and her privileged upbringing. She debuted in a Baby Guess campaign at the age of two, and before moving to New York to push her modeling career, she appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a show about Los Angeles’s wealthiest households in the style of a modern, glamorous drama. [Citation: show history]
An obsessive mother
One viral moment from the Real Housewives era features a phone conversation in which Gigi tells her mother she feels unwell after eating only half an almond. Yolanda, just waking from surgery, replies with practical advice about almonds, and the moment popularized the term almond mom. The discourse around Yolanda Hadid’s parenting methods has sparked discussions about how four children, including two supermodels, were raised. Bella Hadid later admitted regret about a nose job performed in adolescence. A year after that episode aired, Gigi defended curvier models on Instagram, stating she embraces her body publicly. The 1990s style that defined many top models resurfaced in her image.
Gigi Has worked with leading fashion houses in campaigns for Prada, Fendi, Burberry, and Tom Ford. Her presence extended into music videos, including collaborations with Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris. This year she graced Cannes wearing an Old Hollywood inspired gown, and rumors swirled about an acting nomination linked to her romance with Cooper. Since the birth of her daughter Khai with Zayn Malik in 2020, she has reimagined herself as a businessperson. She launched Guest in Residence, a line focused on cashmere and knitwear where she serves as creative director. With each project, she shows momentum building toward broader creative ventures. [Citation: brand partnerships]
Gigi Hadid remains a dominant figure in fashion media, carrying the momentum of early fame from childhood campaigns into a contemporary brand presence. The arc of her career demonstrates how a public figure can blend modeling, motherhood, and entrepreneurship into a cohesive public narrative. Her ongoing work in campaigns and its reception illustrates how the industry embraces versatile talent who connect with audiences across multiple platforms. [Citation: career overview]
Gigi Hadid has repeatedly been at the center of fashion moments, ranging from red carpets to major brand campaigns. Her image continues to evolve as she balances runway readiness with the realities of motherhood and business leadership. The public narrative around her life highlights a modern model who expands beyond traditional boundaries and pursues new creative projects with clarity and purpose. [Citation: media coverage]