Gigi Hadid, born Jelena Noura Hadid on April 23, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, is one of the world’s highest-paid supermodels, earning $20 million annually since 2017. The daughter of former model Yolanda Hadid and real estate developer Mohamed Hadid began modeling at age two before launching her professional career with IMG Models in 2013. She has appeared on over 50 international Vogue covers, walked runways for luxury fashion houses including Chanel and Versace, and earned the International Model of the Year award from the British Fashion Council in 2016, establishing her prominence within contemporary fashion.
Supermodel Jelena Noura “Gigi” Hadid, born April 23, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, has emerged as one of the fashion industry‘s most recognizable figures through her extensive runway work, high-profile brand collaborations, and international magazine covers.
Her modeling career began remarkably early when Guess co-founder Paul Marciano discovered her at age two, though she paused this work during her school years to focus on academics and athletics, including captaining the volleyball team at Malibu High School before graduating in 2013.
Gigi Hadid’s modeling journey started at age two with Guess, interrupted by academics and high school volleyball before her 2013 graduation.
Hadid’s professional modeling career launched in 2013 when she signed with IMG Models, leading to her New York Fashion Week debut in February 2014 for Desigual. Her breakthrough moment came with her appearance on the cover of CR Fashion Book in spring 2014, which she has credited as pivotal to her career trajectory.
Since then, she has appeared in over 50 international editions of Vogue magazine and walked runways for prestigious fashion houses including Versace, Chanel, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Balmain, and Victoria’s Secret, participating in their fashion shows in 2015 and 2016.
The British Fashion Council recognized Hadid’s impact by naming her International Model of the Year in 2016, while Models.com ranked her among the “New Supers.” Her commercial success reflects her industry prominence, with annual earnings of $20 million making her one of the world’s highest-paid models since 2017.
She has also won Model of the Year at Daily Front Row’s fashion awards and achieved at least 50 Vogue cover appearances globally.
Brand partnerships have defined much of Hadid’s commercial success, beginning with her return to Guess as campaign face in 2012. Subsequent collaborations include serving as Maybelline spokesmodel and brand ambassador starting in 2015, Tommy Hilfiger global brand ambassador in 2016 with co-designed capsule collections, and partnerships with Stuart Weitzman and Reebok.
Her media presence extends beyond traditional modeling through appearances in music videos, including Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” and Zayn Malik’s “Pillow Talk.”
Hadid comes from a family deeply connected to fashion and entertainment, as daughter of former model Yolanda Hadid and real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, with siblings Bella and Anwar also pursuing modeling careers. She has been open about her diagnosis with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune thyroid disorder that affects metabolism and has influenced her approach to body image and health advocacy.
Her Palestinian and Dutch heritage reflects her multicultural background, while her involvement in philanthropy and social advocacy demonstrates engagement beyond commercial modeling. She launched her first solo clothing line, Guest in Residence, in September 2022.
Industry analysts regularly feature Hadid in publications like Business of Fashion and Vogue, recognizing her influence on global fashion trends and her significant social media presence.
