This month, Gigi Hadid walked in shows in New York, Milan, and Paris, but the biggest story came out of her Instagram account. This past week, the 20-year-old model posted a lengthy Instagram in response to her body-shaming critics. “No, I don’t have the same body type as the other models in the shows,” she wrote. “If I didn’t have the body I do, I wouldn’t have the career I do. I love that I can be sexy. I’m proud of it.” The post raked up more than 300,000 likes on Instagram, and was swiftly celebrated by many in the modeling community. “I honestly broke down, I started crying at the multiple text messages I got today from everyone, from Victoria’s Secret models to plus-size models to people like Tyra Banks, who posted the Instagram letter and who is someone I’ve looked up to for my entire life,” Hadid told Vogue.com. “Those are the people who really touched me because I know those are the people who are the most emotionally affected within the fashion industry by this type of criticism.” On the heels of Hadid’s triumphant body-positive post and her whirlwind fashion month, here are some things you never knew about the model-of-the-moment.
#1 Her full name is Jelena Noura Hadid
#2 Gigi Hadid And Kendall Jenner Have Family History
Hadid and Kendall Jenner are more than just model best friendsthere's a little bit of a blended family history between the two runway stars. Hadid's mother is currently married to the music producer David Foster. Foster was previously married to former beauty queen and songwriter Linda Thompson. Thompson's first marriage was to Bruce Jenner, and together, they had two children, Brandon Jenner and Brody Jenner. So, basically, Gigi's stepfather was also the stepfather of Kendall's half-brothers. (Got that?)
#3 The stunning blonde starred in a campaign for Guess when she was just 10 years old.
She has since featured in numerous campaigns for the brand, and became the face of Guess Jeans in 2012
#4 She still uses the first Maybelline product she ever picked up.
"I don't know if it's cliché to say this, but it's so true: I've been using the same Maybelline concealer (Super Stay 24Hr Concealer) and Maybelline lash curler since I started wearing makeup.
"I really started to wear makeup when I started high school, and I remember Maybelline being all my girlfriends' favorite makeup brand."
"..the first Maybelline product I ever used was my best friend's Super Stay 24 Hr Concealer (a product that I still use today), because who doesn't have to
cover up their pimples in 9th grade (and after)?!"
#5 Gigi is the daughter of Dutch model Yolanda Foster, who stars in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
#6 She Was Captain Of The Varsity Volleyball Team In High School
#7 Her Favorite Cheeseburger Is From J.G. Milan In New York
#8 Lily Aldridge Is Her Biggest Role Model
#9 She Adores Guys With A Good Sense Of Humor
#10 She Won An Award From Victoria's Secrets For 'BEST SELFIE'
#11 She Studied Criminal Psychology At The New School In New York
#12 She Made Her Fashion Week Debut At The Desigual Show in 2014
#13 She’s already worked with some of the biggest names in fashion.
At only 19, Gigi has graced the runways of Marc Jacobs, Giles, Sonia Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott, and Chanel. She landed the cover of the fourth installment of Carine Roitfeld's CR Fashion Book, and the December 2014 cover of Harper's Bazaar in Malaysia.
