Fashion is an ever-changing industry, constantly seeking inspiration and style from various sources. Fashion icons are one of the most influential factors in shaping fashion trends.
A fashion icon has a unique style and can inspire others through their fashion choices. They are widely recognized and admired for their distinctive style and influence in fashion. These people often set trends, push boundaries, and inspire others with their unique fashion styles, inspire designers, and impact how people perceive and engage with fashion. Fashion icons can come from various backgrounds, including celebrities, designers, models, and influencers.
Further, fashion icons are closely followed during red carpet-events and award shows. Fashion critics and enthusiasts scrutinize their outfit choices, significantly influencing what becomes popular in formalwear and evening attire.
Jelena Noura Hadid, famously known as Gigi Hadid, is among the many trendsetters in today’s generation. She was born on April 23, 1995; she is the daughter of model Yolanda Hadid and property developer Mohamed Hadid. Her career kicked off as a Baby Guess model after being discovered by Guess co-founder Paul Marciano.
The British Fashion Council, a nonprofit organization that aims to create sustainable awareness growth for the global fashion economy, hailed Hadid as the International Model of the Year in 2016.
Early Life of Gigi Hadid
Her father, Mohamed Hadid, is a Palestinian-American real estate developer. At the same time, Yolanda Hadid, her mother is a Dutch-born American, is a former model and reality TV star known for her screen presence on the show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Gigi has two younger siblings, namely Bella and Anwar, who have also become successful models. Gigi also has two older half-sisters, Marielle and Alana. She and her siblings grew up on a farm in Santa Barbara. The family moved back to Beverly Hills after ten years.
After the model’s parents divorced, her mother married music producer David Foster, and Gigi had five half-sisters. Hadid finished her junior year at Malibu High School in 2013, where she became the school’s volleyball team captain and a competitive horseback rider. After graduating high school, she moved to New York to focus on her studies and modeling career. In the fall of 2013, Hadid studied criminal psychology at The New School beginning but interrupted her studies to focus more on her modeling career.
Career and Fame
Hadid’s modeling career took off when she was two years old after Paul Marciano discovered Guess Clothing discovered her. She began modeling for Baby Guess before quitting to focus on her studies. Hadid finally returned to modeling in 2011. She began working with Marciano again and was hailed the face of a Guess campaign in 2012.
Hadid shot three campaigns with Guess as an aspiring adult model after moving to New York and signing with IMG Models in 2013. In February 2014, Hadid made her New York Fashion Week debut while walking in the Desigual show. Desigual is a Spanish fashion label company known for different kinds of styling based on ethnic fabrics, colorful garments, and creative designs.
On July 15, 2014, she starred with actor, celebrity, and model Patrick Schwarzenegger in fashion designer Tom Ford’s fall/winter eyewear campaign. She co-hosted Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards event in New York on September 5, 2014. She also starred in campaigns for Tom Ford F/W 2014, Tom Ford Beauty 2014, and Tom Ford Velvet Orchard Fragrance. She participated in this show as a featured cover of Galore magazine in 2014.
Gigi Hadid as a Fashion Icon
Gigi Hadid is undeniably a fashion icon in the modern fashion industry. When she appeared in the 2015 Pirelli Calendar and became the Australian fashion swimwear label Seafolly brand ambassador, her influence became undisputable. She was recognized as Daily Front Row’s Model of the Year. Also, she became an ambassador of the American multinational cosmetics Maybelline.
In May 2015, her sophisticated style led her to walk for designers Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Chanel, Max Mara, and Jean Paul Gaultier. She was also applauded for her appearance in the music video Bad Blood released by Taylor Swift in the same month. She seemed to be many times with her sister Bella. In December 2015, she debuted at the prestigious Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Hadid appeared on the covers of Vogue (US, Paris, Italy, UK, Japan, Spain, Australia, Germany, China, Brazil, Netherlands), Schön!, Numéro, Allure, W Magazine and Teen Vogue. Her limelight continued as she became famous. Not only did she prove to be good in fashion, but her creativity paved the way for Gigi to produce editorials for VMAN, Elle (USA), Grazia, Cleo, Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Paper Magazine, Vanity Fair, and V Magazine. She starred in advertising campaigns by Penshoppe, Guess, Versace, Topshop, Balmain F/W 2015, Max Mara, and Stuart Weitzman.
Gigi Hadid and Her Collaborations
Gigi Hadid became known for her ability to adapt effortlessly to various fashion styles. She looks stunning and on-trend in every outfit, whether high fashion, street style, athleisure, or casual. In 2016, she walked for Versace, Elie Saab, Chanel, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Fenty x Puma, Isabel Marant and Giambattista Valli, Anna Sui, Miu Miu, Balmain, Diane Von Furstenberg. In January 2016, she became a global brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger, leading advertising campaigns for lingerie, clothing, and perfume.
In April 2016, Hadid played a significant role in an interactive campaign with an advertisement for the BMW M2. This versatility has made her a muse for many designers and brands. Further, her runway presence and ability to showcase a designer’s vision have solidified her status as a top model.
Gigi’s off-duty style is equally impressive. She’s often photographed in chic and innovative streetwear, setting trends with her everyday looks. Her street style influences fashion enthusiasts and inspires them to recreate her outfits. On November 20, 2016, she hosted the American Music Awards with Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah.
Although she received backlash for her Melania Trump impression, her apology made her fans love her more. In December 2016, she made her second modeling appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, gaining her wings for the first time. She won International Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards presented by Donatella Versace.
Gigi consistently stuns on the red carpet with her impeccable fashion choices. Her glamorous gowns and stylish ensembles at events like the Met Gala and the Oscars have cemented her reputation as a fashion icon. Further, Hadid kicked off the Spring/Summer campaign season by starring in campaigns for Fendi and Moschino. She is also the face of the Spring/Summer 2017 campaigns for Max Mara, Stuart Weitzman, and DSQUARED2 accessories.
Tommy Hilfiger and Hadid’s second ready-to-wear collection was launched in February 2017 for spring. She was the photographer for the Spring/Summer 2017 Versus (Versace) campaign featuring her then-boyfriend, singer Zayn Malik, and model Adwoa Aboah. She also posed for a special summer edition of V Magazine called Gigi’s Journal, which featured Polaroids of colleagues, celebrities, and close friends in the fashion industry.
Gigi is also known for her beauty and makeup choices. Her signature looks often incorporate natural, dewy makeup and effortless hairstyles, inspiring makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts worldwide. With her stunning features, her fashion style continues to shine. She then started 2018 with several high-end fashion campaigns, including Valentino, Moschino, Versace, and Fendi. She also launched her second collaboration with Vogue Eyewear and Messika Jewelry. In February, during fashion week, she presented with Tommy Hilfiger in Milan her fourth and final season of capsule collection.
Gigi Hadid and Her Social Media Influence
With millions of followers on online platforms like Instagram, Gigi Hadid’s fashion choices and style advice reach a large, engaged audience. Her social media presence allows her to influence and connect directly with her fans. She became an advocate for body positivity and inclusion in the fashion industry. Her desire to fight body shaming and promote diversity in modeling has earned her respect and admiration.
In January 2016, Hadid competed on MasterChef and raised $25,000 for the Global Lyme Alliance. In October 2016, she joined other famous personalities in supporting the BBC’s Children in Need charity T-shirt project. The shirt, designed by Giles Deacon, sells for $15, with 70% of profits going to charity. Her philosophy in life gained her massive respect from the crowd.
Hadid announced in May 2018 that she would work closely with Unicef to help children worldwide as part of her campaign. She went on her first mission with UNICEF to visit their program in Bangladesh on August 25. The trip occurred on the eve of the first Rohingya refugee crisis anniversary.
Hadid and other celebrities came together to play a charity virtual tennis match on Facebook Gaming on May 3, 2020. Hosted by IMG Tennis, participants each received $25,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. Winners receive an additional $1 million to donate. Hadid performed for the nonprofit Feeding America. She eventually made an auction in June 2020 with some of her clothes in a charity auction organized by British Vogue to benefit NHS Charities Together and the NAACP.
Gigi Hadid and Her Controversies
Gigi Hadid has been in the public eye not only for her career but also for her personal life. She has been in high-profile relationships, including one with former One Direction member Zayn Malik, with whom she has a daughter named Khai, born in September 2020. Her life also became a hot spot for drama and controversies.
She began dating British singer Zayn Malik from One Direction in late 2015; they broke up and reconciled several times. They appeared on the cover of American Vogue, making them the third couple to appear on the cover of Vogue together. It caused controversy because Vogue called them gender fluid, and Vogue made an abrupt apology.
In April 2020, the confirmation of Gigi’s pregnancy broke out when she mentioned they were expecting their first child during an interview. This happened in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after rumors of her pregnancy surfaced. In October 2021, Malik pleaded no contest to four harassment charges against Hadid’s mother, Yolanda. He was sentenced to 360 days of probation in a Pennsylvania court with anger management and domestic violence programs. Hadid and Malik are said to have ended their relationship after the incident.
Another controversy that sparked different comments online was when Hadid attempted to travel to Shanghai to walk in the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show but was ultimately unable to, as her Chinese visa was reportedly canceled and revoked after an online video showed her making limited eye movements to imitate Buddha has been criticized as racist.
Victoria’s Secret refused to comment when asked whether she voluntarily withdrew from the fashion show, whether the company asked her to do so, or whether there was pressure from Chinese authorities.
The peak of all the whirlwind drama was when Hadid was arrested in the Cayman Islands on charges of importing drugs and drug paraphernalia after Customs and Border Control discovered a small amount of marijuana, as well as “use of the smoking tool,” which was among his belongings when he landed at Owen Roberts International Airport. Although the marijuana possession was determined to be for personal use only, Hadid was still charged with importation-related offenses. She was later tried, fined $1,000 and released.
Conclusion
Gigi Hadid’s style transcends trends and continues to evolve, making her a timeless fashion icon. Her journey from a relatively unknown model to a global superstar has made her a role model for aspiring models. She’s shared her experiences and advice, encouraging others to pursue their dreams in the industry. Although she is not free from controversies, her ability to stay relevant in today’s hot topics and fresh in the ever-changing fashion world is a testament to her influence. Her versatility, style, and commitment to promoting positive values in the industry have solidified her position as a true fashion icon in the 21st century.