The Rise of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift’s Favorite Sister-Models

The Rise of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift’s Favorite Sister-Models

 

The Hadid sisters sprinkle fame dust everywhere they go, but where did these sudden stars come from?

Bella Hadid recently confirmed her relationship with “Can’t Feel My Face” chanteuse The Weeknd, walking hand in hand with the hit-maker on Tuesday night in NYC. The duo, whose big night out included hitting up 1Oak and Up & Down with Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Hailey Baldwin, is the most-hyped love child of music and fashion since Kanye West invented the leather jogging pant. The Hadid sisters clearly sprinkle fame dust everywhere they go (be very, very grateful, Cody Simpson). But who are these genetically blessed sister-models, what do they “do” for a “living,” and how is Taylor Swift involved? These are their stories.

‘Real Housewives’ Stardom

The Hadid daughters first attained celebrity status as reality TV child stars, appearing alongside model momma Yolanda Foster in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. With real estate developer dad Mohamed Hadid footing the bill, Gigi and younger sister Bella pursued their pretty people passions from a young age. Bubbly blonde Gigi famously modeled for Guess as a child, while Bella chased her dream of being edgy and brunette.

Achieving Enlightenment

Both 20-year-old Gigi and 18-year-old Bella are, impressively, enrolled in college. Gigi moved to New York in 2013 to attend the New School and last year Bella joined her sister in the city to study photography at Parson’s. According to Bella, “It’s been really nice because I’ve been shooting photography for as long as I can remember, and I know that some photographers really appreciate when we can talk about it, because I know about cameras and I know about lenses and movement and stuff like that, because I shoot other people, and they’ll fix lighting and I love lighting.”

Since signing with modeling agency IMG in 2011, Gigi has appeared in campaigns for Guess, Tom Ford, and Maybelline. She’s also covered all her potential fan group bases by modeling for Teen Vogue and starring in Sports Illustrated’s 2014 swimsuit edition. On the runway, the elder Hadid has strutted for Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Michael Kors (to name just a few). Also in 2014, Daily Front Row named the fashion star Model of the Year.

While Bella, the Veronica to Gigi’s Betty, has yet to reach the same heights, she’s well on her way. Since signing with IMG, Bella has modeled for Teen Vogue and Elle UK, walked the Tom Ford runway, and landed a gig as the face of the Botkier Spring 2015 campaign. Not bad for a brunette.

Famous Friends

Like all millennials navigating the Twitter subtweets and selfie alliances of the #squadgoals era, the Hadids are social media mavens. These days, being ridiculously good-looking isn’t just a model prerequisite—it’s also the first box in the common application to join Taylor Swift’s girl gang. So naturally, Gigi Hadid has become a core member of the totally feminist crew, posing for the requisite number of selfies with the flawlessly interchangeable Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Lily Aldridge, Selena Gomez, etc.

Young Bella has already begun to mirror her sister’s platonic preference for problematic white girls as one of Miley Cyrus’ favorite sidekicks.

When it comes to “special friends,” Gigi was in an on-and-off relationship with Australian singer Cody Simpson for over a year. He is blonde, wears necklaces, and is less famous than Gigi Hadid. These days, Gigi has upped her game with Swift-approved consort Joe Jonas, formerly known as the head Jonas brother, currently known as the author of one of the best personal essays of all time.

Minor Scandals

Despite being relatively well adjusted, rent-paying college students, both Hadids have logged a mandatory Minor Scandal. In the summer of 2014, Bella raced through a stop sign in L.A. and was pulled over by the police. She proceeded to blow a .14—almost double the legal limit—which was super awkward, especially since the model was a minor at the time. Surprisingly enough, Hadid’s recklessness was rewarded with some actual, old school parenting. According to her mother, Yolanda Foster, “I decided to take her phone away, make her pay for her own lawyer bills from her savings, and we sold her car. The court suspended her license for one year, she received six months probation, and was required to conduct 25 hours of community service and 20 hours of AA meetings.”

What Gigi Hadid’s subsequent ordeal lacks in actual facts and legal action, it more than makes up for in hilarious video footage. Back in March, a video leaked in which Hadid appears to be snorting cocaine at a Victoria’s Secret event in Miami. The incriminating Snapchat video was actually shot by Hadid’s then-boyfriend, Cody Simpson, giving Meek Mill a run for his money in the useless boyfriend category. Responding to her head dip in the notorious footage, Hadid tweeted, “If u actually watch the video there is nothing on the counter .5 sec’s before you see that image…It’s not only impossible but insane to me…Besides for doing the supposed in general, I’d be an idiot to do that at a WORK EVENT in front of hundreds of people/press. I’m insulted.”

A few days later she was at it again, tweeting, “A situation looked like and was made into something it wasn’t, but I know who I am and what I stand for…I lead a healthy life. I’m a good, hardworking, responsible person. If you don’t want to give me the benefit of the doubt that’s fine but I know that this situation will not change my reputation within my industry bc the people that know & work w/me know that the person some are trying to make me out to be is NOT who I am or who I’ll ever be. #HugsNotDrugs.”

And They’re Sporty(?)Bella Hadid also happens to be a nationally ranked equestrian, and has been riding horses since she was three years old. Before her modeling career took off, she was training to compete in the 2015 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Bella is also a lifelong surfer; meanwhile, Gigi has been pursing a well-publicized love affair) with the McDonald’s quarter pounder.
From Google.