Supermodel Bella Hadid, 25, is fast becoming as famous for her activism as for her runway work.
In a recent interview on Libyan-American journalist Noor Tagouri's podcast Rep, Hadid discussed a range of personal and professional issues she faced over her vocal support of Palestine.
“When I was 14, I wrote, ‘Free Palestine’, on my hand literally with flowers in paint,” Hadid said. “And I was being called names and being immediately blasted as a person of hatred for another people.”
Hadid, the daughter of Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and Dutch model Yolanda Hadid, also mentioned other instances where her identity became a source of conflict during her childhood. Despite being told that her father was a liar, and being “called a terrorist by the head of the football team,” the model wasn’t deterred from connecting with her Palestinian heritage or from being vocal about the plight of the people from the country.
“I never knew who Bella actually was until I reconnected with my Palestinian side,” she said.
The model has continued to engage with Arab talent and causes, and is set to make her acting debut on the Hulu original show Ramy, starring Egyptian-American comedian Ramy Youssef. In a recent interview with GQ, she also opened up on her relationship with her Muslim and Arab heritage, expressing regret for not having been raised in a more “Muslim culture”.
Hadid and her sister Gigi have both been active on their social media platforms, celebrating their Palestinian heritage, supporting the Palestinian cause and documenting their attendance of pro-Palestinian protests. The sisters have accused Instagram of shadow banning their posts on the Palestinian conflict.
Online commentary from the Hadid sisters, along with pop star Dua Lipa, resulted in a full page advertisement being run in The New York Times in 2021, condemning their pro-Palestinian views. The advert featured the faces of the three women alongside text implying that their support for Palestine equated to anti-Semitism, terrorism and genocide.
“When I speak about Palestine, I get labelled as something that I’m not,” Bella Hadid said. “But I can speak about the same thing that’s happening there, happening somewhere else in the world, and that’s honourable. So, what’s the difference?”
Hadid also discussed “this overwhelming anxiety of not saying the right thing” when it comes to discourse around Palestine.
“But I’ve also realised that I have done my education enough, and know my family enough, I know my own history enough, and that should be enough.”
With an estimated net worth of $25 million and more than 54 million followers on Instagram, Hadid is one of the most sought after models in the world.
She started her professional career at 16, and has walked the runways for brands including Tom Ford, Chanel, Versace and Dior. She has made 27 appearances on international Vogue magazine covers, breaking the record for the most Vogue September covers in one year, appearing in five international editions.
See Bella Hadid's style evolution — in pictures
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Bella Hadid, wearing a simple black dress, with Yolanda Hadid and David Foster, at the Grand Slam for Children benefit concert on October 9, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a black jumpsuit, attends the David Foster Foundation benefit concert on December 5, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a classic LBD, attends amfAR's 22nd Cinema Against Aids Gala on May 21, 2015 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in two-tone Prabal Gurung, arrives at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 7, 2015. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in Alexandre Vauthier, arrives at the 58th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 15, 2016. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in fringed Julien Macdonald, attends The Elle Style Awards on February 23, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in strapless Givenchy, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2016. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in beaded Roberto Cavalli, attends the 'Cafe Society' premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in scarlet Alexandre Vauthier, attends 'The Unknown Girl' premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a Dior halterneck, arrives at amfAR's 23rd Cinema Against Aids Gala on May 19, 2016 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Jason Wu for Boss, arrives for the GQ Men Of The Year Awards at Tate Modern on September 6, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a woollen jumper dress, leaves the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 24, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Alexandre Vauthier and Bella Hadid, in Alexandre Vauthier, attend a Swarovski dinner on January 24, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in soft pink Alexandre Vauthier, attends the 'Ismael's Ghosts' screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in quilted Dior, attends the 'Okja' screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in silver Roberto Cavalli, attends a Chopard party on May 19, 2017, in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in sequinned Roberto Cavalli, attends Fashion for Relief during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Miu Miu, attends the Miu Miu show as part of Haute Couture Fashion Week on July 2, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in corseted Alexandre Vauthier, attends the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after-party on November 20, 2017 in Shanghai, China. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in sunny Fendi, attends the opening of Bulgari Dubai Resort on December 5, 2017 in Dubai. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in tulle Dior, attends a Dior event as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a puffer jacket, attends a football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at Parc des Princes on March 6, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in relaxed Dior suiting, attends a Dior party on April 10, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Make-up artist Peter Philips and Bella Hadid, in Dior, attend a Dior event on April 11, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Gareth Pugh x Chrome Hearts, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in Alexander Wang, attends a Magnum party during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival on May 10, 2018 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in strapless Dior, attends the screening of 'Ash Is The Purest White' during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2018 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in romantic Dior, attends a Dior dinner during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2018 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in a Julien Macdonald two-piece, attends Fashion for Relief Cannes during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2018 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in sparkling Elie Saab, attends the screening of 'BlacKkKlansman' during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2018 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in distressed jeans and a simple vest, poses at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix on May 27, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in chiffon Dior, attends the Dior Backstage launch party on June 11, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Louis Vuitton, attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Dior, attends the Dior Homme show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 23, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in golden Versace, attends a Bulgari dinner on June 28, 2018 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Emilio Pucci, attends a YouTube party during Paris Fashion Week on September 26, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Dior, attends the Dior pre-fall show on November 30, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Versace, and Gabrielle Caunesil attend a Bulgari party on February 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Moschino, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in tiered Dior, attends the screening of 'Rocketman' during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2019 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Roberto Cavalli, attends the screening of 'Pain And Glory' during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2019 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Charlotte Knowles, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey on August 26, 2019. EPA -
Bella and Gigi Hadid, in Tommy Hilfiger, at the Tommy Hilfiger show during New York Fashion Week in New York on September 8, 2019. EPA -
Bella Hadid, in Alexander Wang, attends the Vogue Fashion Festival on November 15, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Louis Vuitton, attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 16, 2020 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Dior, attends the Dior Homme show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 17, 2020 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Bella Hadid, in Balenciaga, attends the Harper's Bazaar Exhibition as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 26, 2020 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Nevertheless, despite her success, Hadid revealed that publicly engaging in the criticism of Israel, along with a desire to understand and communicate more of the Palestinian experience, comes at cost she’s willing to pay.
“I had friends that completely dropped me,” she said. “Even friends that I’ve been having dinner at their home on Friday nights for seven years now, just won’t have me at their house anymore.”
Her personal and several professional relationships have been affected by the consequences of Hadid being “vocal about the Palestinian cause".
“If I started speaking about Palestine, when I was 20, I wouldn’t have gotten the recognition and the respect that I have now,” she said. “I had so many companies stop working with me.”
However, Hadid is adamant and fearless when it comes to her speaking up for Palestine.
“I have no fear when it comes to this,” she said.
“I really believe that it’s like what happens, happens, and what is going to happen is bigger than me. If I lose every job, the reason why I did all of the work that I did was to get to this point.”
Bella and Gigi Hadid aren't the only models with Arab heritage: here are eight others — in pictures
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Imaan Hammam walks the runway at Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2021. Photo: Getty Images -
Azza Slimene walks the runway at Paris Fashion Week on July 2, 2018. Photo: Getty Images -
Nora Attal walks the runway at the Boss show during the Milan Fashion Week on September 22, 2019. Photo: Getty Images -
Habiba El-Kobrossy backstage at the Michael Cinco show in the Dubai Design District on October 31, 2019. Photo: Getty Images -
Shahad Salman wearing the autumn-winter 2020 Tory Burch collection. Photo: Tory Burch -
Malika El-Maslouhi walks the runway at the Milan Fashion Week on February 25, 2022. Photo: Getty Images -
Sonia Ben Ammar on the runway at Paris Fashion Week on October 5, 2016. Photo: Getty Images -
Tilila Oulhaj for Yves Saint-Laurent Beauty. Photo: Yves Saint-Laurent
