Gigi Hadid: She turns 30: This is how the supermodel ticks

Gigi Hadid (30) literally ran away to her critics. The model has secured a permanent place in the ranks of the hottest models. And there was also a lot going on privately. Six facts give an insight into the American cosmos.

Gigi is not her real name. Because actually she was born on April 23, 1995 as Jelena Noura. Her mother Yolanda Hadid (61) always called her oldest only Gigi – a nickname that the former Dutch model had once got from her mother. Gigi’s sister Bella (28) and brother Anwar (25), who are also successful as models, also come from Yolanda’s marriage to the Palestinian real estate investor Mohamed Hadid (76), which lasted until 2000.

After that, Yolanda Hadid (61) was married to the songwriter David Foster (75), who in turn has connections to the Jenner/Kardashian clan via his ex-wife Linda (74). Gigi is almost related to her friend Kendall Jenner (29) over a few corners.

Incidentally, both women are also the accusation that has accompanied them since the beginning of their careers: they were among the “Nepo models” and owed their success to their famous families.

It was not the only criticism that Gigi Hadid had to defy. Although she was booked for Guess Kids advertising at the tender age of two years, she had to listen to agencies as a teenager. It was too thick and too small and therefore not suitable for an international career, the allegations were, for example. Not everyone liked their running style.

But the 30-year-old did not let that be crushed and showed everyone. In 2013 she was contracted at IMG Models at the age of 16. In February 2014 she celebrated her catwalk premiere at Desigual on New York Fashion Week. The hype around Gigi was also boosted thanks to Victoria’s Secret, and in 2015 it ran for the first time for the lingerie label. Slide it continued and quickly she was one of the most famous IT models in the world.

If it hadn’t become a model with modeling, Gigi Hadid could have imagined another job, as she once revealed “Vogue”. In 2013 she started studying criminal psychology in New York: “I have always been interested in criminal psychology.” It is very exciting to try to “decipher the people’s brains and find out why they commit crimes”. At the very beginning she wanted to become a doctor. “Then I wanted to become a coroner. But for a degree as a forensicist you have to study around eight years,” she said.

But since the model career suddenly went uphill, she broke off her studies after two years. Nevertheless, she is “very happy that I was waiting to make modeling as a full-time job. I think it is very important to understand something from others”.

Gigi Hadid is known for her athletic body with trained abdominal muscles. It reaches it thanks to a diverse sports program. Already as a child she played volleyball and rode every day. She even took part in jumping tournaments.

For her models jobs, she keeps fit with boxes and ballet today. In doing so, she particularly counts on the opposite: with cardio workout kickboxing it burns calories and defines her muscles. With ballet exercises, she builds muscles and trains her flexibility.

In addition to her fashion inserts, Gigi Hadid also made many headlines with her private life, especially the prominent dating partners. From 2013 to 2015 she led an on-off relationship with the Australian pop star Cody Simpson (28). Then she dated singer Joe Jonas (35) for a few months and finally came together with one-direction star Zayn Malik (32).

This was followed by a turbulent on-off love that was crowned by her daughter Khai (4) in September 2020. But despite the child’s happiness, the relationship did not last: in 2021 the sudden separation was carried out, which produced violent headlines. Gigi’s mother accused the singer of having become palpable.

After that, the model withdrew from the public. Since then she has hardly commented on private affairs. Gigi Hadid never commented on the rumors that came up in 2022. For months, Leonardo DiCaprio (50) was whispered for months after the two had been spotted more often.

There has been speculation since October 2023, Hadid Date actor Bradley Cooper (50). Although kissing pictures appeared, she also kept extremely covered – until March 2025. In the US “Vogue” she finally revealed about the relationship: “Bradley made me go to the theater again.” They are “very romantic and happy”. She also revealed where she got to know the “Hangover” star, who has an eight-year-old daughter with Model Irina Shayk (39): at a children’s birthday party of a common friend.

Speaking of friends: The supermodel has a super clique of prominent women who support each other. In addition to Kendall Jenner, her close friends also include Model Karlie Kloss (32) as well as actress Selena Gomez (32) and singer Taylor Swift (35). In her music video “Bad Blood” she had an appearance. Swift retreated at the comeback show by Victoria’s Secret in October 2024 by giving Hadid the crucial tip for her catwalk performance: she taught her the famous “arm high” pose of her “Eras Tour”.

Hailey Bieber (28) also belongs to Hadids BFFS. She was also there as a support when the model celebrated a very special occasion: the store opening of her cashmere brand “Guest in Residence” on December 7, 2024 in Los Angeles.