Jelena Noura “Gigi” Hadid is an American fashion model who was born April 23, 1995 in Los Angeles.  She has graced the covers of the world’s top fashion magazines, including more than two dozen Vogue covers. 

According to the Washington Post, she “managed to elevate her profile through the strategic use of social media.” Her keen understanding of her ‘girl-next-door’ sensibility, enviable wealth, and uber-famous friends launched her supermodel career.

Parents: Her father, Mohamed Hadid, was a Palestinian real estate developer, and her mother, Yolanda Van den Herik, was a Dutch fashion model.

Siblings: She has two older sisters, Marielle and Alana, one younger sister, Bella, and one younger brother, Anwar.

Charities Gigi supports: UNICEF, Pencils of Promise, American Foundation for AIDS Research, Elton John AIDS Foundation

Trivia

• Rode competitive horseback during school.
• Loves to box.
• Dreamed of attending culinary school.
• In 2017, Forbes magazine named her the fifth highest-paid model in the world.
• She served as captain of the Malibu High School varsity volleyball team.
• Favorite memory from childhood includes being with her horses, morning to night.
• Her high school was across the street from Zuma beach.
• Her mother was a model and was discovered when she was 16 years old.
• Studied criminal psychology at university.
• Loves to paint, cook and read.
• Has her own Barbie doll.
• Won the award for 2016 International Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
• Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease in 2014.
• Style icons include Rhianna and the Olsen twins.
• Favorite supermodel is Candice Swanepoel.

Quotes:

• “Stand up for yourself and let them know you stand strong in who you are and in your future. Bullies bully to feel big because of their own insecurities.”
• “If you’re not the nicest, most hardworking girl in the industry, there’s going to be someone prettier, nicer and more hardworking.”
• “I feel very luck to be a model, working in a time like this, where when you walk into a roompeople are really paying attention to, and remembering why and how they celebrate each person.”
• “Women are being celebrated for celebrating each other – that’s very important.”
• “I don’t wake up in the morning always feeling empowered or confident.”
• “I don’t mind where you send me, just send me to a place where we (UNICEF) can continue to help people.”
• “I come from privilege and recognize my privilege. My mom moved to the United States when she was 16 to send money to her family in Holland. My father was a refugee and worked his way up in every way. I work hard to honor my parents.”
• “My family was grateful to be given the chance to make a different life for themselves. Everyone could have stories like that if they were given the chance.”
• “As I’ve gotten more successful, people listen to me more. I have more confidence to know when I think something is wrong and stand up for that.”