It’s not so often that you come across a family where nearly every member is a top model. With their enviable genes and their huge ambitions, the Hadid family is now one of the most prominent families in pop culture. You’d be hard-pressed to find a soul who hasn’t heard of Gigi, Bella, and Anwar Hadid.
The three kids, now in their 20s, are the children of Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid, who were married between 1994 and 2000. Although they are all top models, they also have several other skills, talents, and interests that many members of the public don’t even know about. Keep reading to find out 20 facts that you might not have known about the Hadid family.
20 The Kids Were Raised On A Ranch
Now the Hadid kids can mostly be seen on the runways of the world, but there was a time when they spent the majority of time on the family ranch. The kids grew up on a ranch in Santa Barbara and this upbringing no doubt fostered a love of animals.
19 Gigi’s Name Isn’t Really Gigi
Gigi Hadid is now a household name, but it’s not a name that appears on any birth certificates surprisingly enough! Gigi was actually born Jelena Noura Hadid. The name Gigi came about before she was a world famous model, but it sure does look good up in lights.
18 They Were Super Rich Before They Made It As Models
There’s no doubt that the Hadids have been a wildly successful family so far in their careers as models— and they’re impressively only in their early 20s! But they didn’t have to become models to achieve wealth. Their father, Mohamed Hadid, is a multi-millionaire real estate developer.
17 They Are The Descendants Of Royalty
Just when you thought this family couldn’t get any more perfect, it turns out they're royalty! They can actually trace their lineage back to royal roots. The connection is through Mohamed’s mother, who is a descendant of Daher Al Omar, the Prince of Nazareth and Sheik of Galilee.
16 Bella Was A Competitive Equestrian
As it turns out, Bella Hadid has more than just one talent. Not only is she a brilliant model, but she’s also a skilled equestrian. She had actually been training for the 2016 Olympics but ultimately had to put her plans aside due to her struggles with Lyme disease.
15 Anwar’s Name Means Luminous In Arabic
He’s still not half as famous as his two older sisters, but Anwar Hadid is doing his best to make a genuine name for himself in the world of male modeling. His name is Arabic, honoring Mohamed’s Palestinian heritage. It means luminous. We think that’s pretty fitting for him!
14 Gigi Wrote A Letter In A Feminist Newsletter
Gigi Hadid is more than just a pretty face. She is also passionate about real world events that affect all of us, including (and especially) gender equality. After being harassed by a prankster, she penned a letter in Lena Dunham’s feminist newsletter Lenny to open up about the experience.
13 Anwar Is Also A Musician
It’s official: the Hadids all have more than one talent! In addition to modeling, Anwar is also quite the talented musician. He quietly released his debut album Bleach in 2019, which is now available for streaming on Spotify. We can’t wait to see where his music takes him next!
12 Bella Never Really Wanted To Be A Model
Bella Hadid has already had more success as a model than most aspiring models dream of. But she didn’t dream about being a model growing up. She revealed that modeling was more her sister Gigi’s thing and she had other aspirations. This is just the path her life has taken.
11 Gigi Started Studying Criminal Psychology
Although Gigi Hadid has always had ambitions of becoming a model, she has also taken the time to explore her other options. She started studying criminal psychology at The New School in New York but she ended up putting her studies on hold to focus on her fast-paced career.
10 Bella, Anwar, And Yolanda Suffer From Lyme Disease
It’s well known now that Yolanda, Bella, and Anwar all suffer from Lyme disease, the infectious tick borne disease that can make life extremely hard for sufferers. Several other celebrities have also been diagnosed with the disease, including Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne. Thankfully, it seems the Hadids have the means to combat the disease as comfortably as possible.
9 Gigi Was Captain Of Her High School Volleyball Team
Like her sister, Gigi Hadid has always shown an interest in competitive sports. In high school, she was even the captain of her school’s volleyball team for a time. Though she doesn’t get much time to play volleyball anymore these days, we bet she’s still got some serious skills!
8 Their Grandfather Was A Fashion Designer
It looks like fashion runs in the Hadid family. According to TV Over Mind, their maternal grandfather was actually a designer of men’s shirts. Yolanda Hadid’s father has since passed away unfortunately, but the kids are definitely keeping his memory alive through their work within the fashion industry.
7 Gigi Suffers From Hashimoto’s Disease
Gigi Hadid does not suffer from Lyme disease like her mom or two siblings do, but she does have her own personal health battles to face. She actually suffers from Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease that damages the thyroid gland. The disease is treatable with medicine.
6 Bella Is A Natural Blonde Like Gigi
While Gigi Hadid is famous for her signature blonde locks, we know Bella for having her luscious brunette hair. But in reality, Bella is actually a natural blonde just like her older sister. She just dyes her hair in order to avoid comparisons with Gigi. Fair enough!
5 Anwar Has A Few Tattoos That Mean Nothing To Him
Most people are extremely attached to their tattoos, which are usually full of meaning for them. But Anwar Hadid has revealed that many of his tattoos no longer mean anything to him. In an interview, he said that they once meant something to him, but that’s no longer the case.
4 Gigi Has Been Modeling Since Age Two
Gigi Hadid is a fairly new face in the modeling industry when you compare her to greats such as Naomi Campbell and Adriana Lima. But she has been modeling for many years, beginning when she was just two years old. She was even the face of Baby Guess as a child.
3 There Are Two More Hadid Sisters
Bella and Gigi may be the two Hadid sisters that everyone knows about, but there are also two more Hadid sisters that aren’t yet household names (although they are still famous in their own right). They are Marielle and Alana and are Mohamed’s daughters by his first wife, Mary Butler.
2 Gigi Is Passionate About Cooking
With her busy career, Gigi Hadid doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on her hobbies like she used to. But she has made it known that she is quite a passionate cook. She loves to cook up a storm in the kitchen when she has a spare afternoon.
1 Anwar Is Into Natural Medicine
According to The Things, Anwar Hadid (like other members of his family) is a believer in natural medicines. He tries to stay on top of his health by taking supplements and getting all his vitamins and minerals. In particular, he likes to use green algae for its medicinal benefits.
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