Bella Hadid, an acclaimed American model, overcame Lyme disease to rise in the fashion world. From early horseback riding dreams to Dior Beauty ambassador, her journey is one of resilience and success.
Early Life and Background
Bella Hadid is a well-known American model who was born on October 9, 1996 in Washington, D.C. She rose to fame as the face of the fashion brand Dior. Hadid grew up in Santa Barbara, California, and is the daughter of Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and former Dutch model Yolanda Hadid (nee van den Herik). She has four siblings, namely Marielle, Alana, Gigi, and Anwar, who are also involved in the fashion industry.
Bella Hadid au festival de Cannes.
Photo credit: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Cultural Identity and Upbringing
In a 2017 interview with Porter magazine, Hadid proudly stated that she continues to identify as Muslim, as she was raised in a Muslim household. She discovered her love for horseback riding at the young age of 3 and competed in horsemanship until she was 15. However, her dream of competing in the Olympics was cut short when she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2012, which caused brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion, and joint pain.
Education and Transition to Modeling
In 2014, Hadid enrolled in Parsons School of Design in New York City to study photography, but ultimately left to focus on modeling after signing with IMG Models. She started her modeling career at the age of 16 with a commercial project for Flynn Skye, a women’s clothing line.
Breakthrough and Rise to Fame
However, her big break came when she walked for Desigual at the fall New York Fashion Week in 2014 and later for Tom Ford’s collection. This opened doors for her to walk in other major fashion events, including London and Paris Fashion Weeks. By the end of 2015, Hadid had graced the covers of magazines such as Seventeen and Elle, and also made her debut with Chanel. In 2016, she made headlines when she walked the runway with her sister Gigi for Chanel Haute Couture. Despite both sisters being successful models, Hadid has stated that they rarely have to compete with each other in the industry.
Brand Ambassador for Dior Beauty
In 2016, Hadid landed her first beauty campaign as the brand ambassador for Dior Beauty. She quickly became a household name in the modeling world, walking for numerous high-profile fashion houses and increasing their sales. In 2022, the brands she represented saw a significant 30 percent increase in social media attention. Hadid has been nominated for several Model of the Year awards and has been awarded the title by GQ in 2016 and the British Fashion Awards in 2022.
Source:
Bella Hadid. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bella-Hadid. Accessed May 23, 2024
Header Image: Bella Hadid au festival de Cannes. May 2018
Header Image credit: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Other posts you might like:
Meghan Markle: Royal Fashion on the Global Stage
The Enigmatic Charm of Anna Wintour’s Sunglasses
Unveiling Spring 2024’s Captivating Color Palette: A Trend Forecast
