Model Gigi Hadid has revealed she was body-shamed and told to lose weight during the early years of her career before a pivotal encounter with designer Donatella Versace helped her accept her figure.
Speaking to Vogue France, the 31-year-old runway star reflected on her decade in fashion, recalling how critics questioned her physique when she first broke into high-fashion modelling.
Hadid modelled as a child before pursuing a full-time career after leaving school, signing with IMG Models at the age of 17. She made her New York Fashion Week debut in February 2014 and walked her first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show a year later, but she struggled to accept her body amidst industry pressure.
"When I started out, people would tell me: 'With that body, you'll never walk the runway for Victoria's Secret.' Or: 'You'd have to lose so many kilos...'" Hadid told Vogue France.
She refused to let the comments stop her, saying: "I didn't let those judgments get to me. I told myself, if people continue not to believe in me, I'll find my way elsewhere, on TV, but I knew I had something to offer."
Versace Turning Point
Hadid explained that a decisive encounter came when she met Italian designer Donatella Versace, who changed everything for her at a time when people were less accepting of her physique.
"I was learning to accept my body. And then Donatella said to me, 'Darling, you're the sexiest girl I've ever seen.' She gave me something invaluable: confidence," Hadid recalled.
Donatella hired Hadid to walk in Versace's Spring/Summer 2016 show in Milan, a moment the model credits as a major turning point in her career.
"Walking in Milan for such a prestigious fashion house, and being chosen to be the face of the campaign, suddenly helped me see myself differently," Hadid told Vogue.
Versace, established in Milan in 1978, is one of global fashion's most prominent luxury houses. For Hadid, securing the endorsement of such an established house helped transform how she was perceived by the industry.
Upcoming Projects and Personal Life
Looking ahead, Hadid is preparing to launch her latest collection with her knitwear brand Guest in Residence. She is also returning to the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in October, which will mark her sixth appearance for the brand.
The star admitted she finally feels she has found the right work-life balance. When she is not travelling across the globe for assignments, she enjoys spending quiet time at her home in Pennsylvania with her five-year-old daughter, Khai.
Hadid is also enjoying a romance with Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper, telling the magazine she currently feels serene. Asked whether the couple discuss their respective careers, Hadid confirmed they do.
"We don't necessarily understand all the challenges of each other's jobs, but the important thing is to have someone who supports you and helps you stay grounded," she said.
Hadid highlighted the role of communication in their partnership, explaining: "What's beautiful about my current relationship, and so different from what I've experienced before, is the ability to be deeply honest. To say what we think, when we think it."
Relocating to Paris
The couple are currently living together in Paris while Cooper films a prequel to Ocean's Eleven starring Australian actress Margot Robbie. Hadid revealed she is relishing her time in France and could see herself living in the country full time.
"For a long time, Paris was a city of work. I'd land there, rush to a hotel where twenty photographers were waiting for me, no walking around was possible, then I'd be in a car to a windowless studio," she explained.
"But recently, thanks to my boyfriend who loves France and speaks French, I've discovered a completely different Paris that I adore. So, at some point, why not settle there, yes," Hadid added.
