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Gigi Hadid Hates the Gym, Loves Carbs, and Just Got Her First Fitness Campaign

From ELLE

Gigi Hadid wears her athletic background proudly. On top of using sporty moves while modeling, the former equestrian and volleyball player has also made known her love–and skill–for boxing. Surely you've been mesmerized by videos of her in the ring with her trainer, Gotham Gym's Rob Piela? Allow us to remind you:

It was only a matter of time before she'd team up with a sports brand, and today is the day. Reebok has announced that Gigi is the face of their #PerfectNever campaign–previously fronted by UFC Champion Ronda Rousey–which encourages women to not only celebrate their imperfections, but be motivated by them.

"So many women around the world in so many different career paths and places are expected to be perfect and I know that it sounds cliché, but none of us are," Gigi tells ELLE.com over the phone as we catch her in between Paris Fashion Week shows, "I think that it's important to just be open about that. It makes life so much easier when you can just say 'I'm human' at the end of the day." Here, we chat more with the supermodel about her anti-diet ways, how leggings became a staple in her street style, and how walking a runway definitely counts as a workout.

Photo credit: Reebok
Photo credit: Reebok

What are some imperfections that you embrace?

You know, I started going to castings a few years ago when people didn't know who I was. People forget about [that time] because they've seen my career–the path that it's had in the last couple years. There were a lot of times where I didn't get any shows and even until recently got a lot of kind of negative commentary from social media about my runway walk. It's been something that has always been kind of okay with me–not in the sense that I didn't want to get better, but I always knew that I could get better. I didn't expect myself to be perfect my first season because no one ever pulled me aside and said "This is how you walk." Now, I've met people and have mentors that have taught me and I'm still trying to get better today. People think that I don't even think about it before the show, but I totally do. I think that not being perfect has given me the freedom to keep getting better.

I think that not being perfect has given me the freedom to keep getting better.

You grew up with sports coaches–who would you consider your "coaches" in your career now?

I'd say probably the most epic experience was before the Victoria's Secret show–I think it was before the casting–and I saw Naomi Campbell at a party. I was saying that I was nervous about my walk and she said "Come to my hotel tomorrow and we're going to practice." So I went in New York and we practiced in the hallway of her hotel with all of the hotel staff watching. She just said "Don't even flinch. Keep going!" It was hilarious, but I think that was kind of a confidence booster. Recently, I kind of found that if I just step into my own skin and relax and just walk like I'm just walking down the street, it always looks better than if you try too many cool moves.

Photo credit: Reebok
Photo credit: Reebok

What's your current workout routine like–does it change especially with all the traveling for fashion weeks?

When I'm home in New York, I box every day that I have off at Gotham. When I'm on the road, a lot of the times–even though people don't really think it–we walk on heels and the runways are really long! My legs get a pretty good workout just from being on the runway. It sounds kind of funny, but it's true. Besides that, I stretch in the morning a lot and I do a lot of saunas and steam rooms during fashion week just to keep my blood flowing. Besides that, yoga is fun. I used to go on runs, it's kind of hard for me now unfortunately in Paris because it's a little bit hectic. My knees aren't that great, so recently I haven't been on the treadmill that much but that's why I like to box on a soft floor. It's good for me.

Photo credit: Reebok
Photo credit: Reebok

How would you describe your diet?

I mostly just listen to my body. I can't say that I follow a diet plan cause that would be a lie. I love eggs in the morning. I eat a lot of eggs. I love juice. I love sandwiches with protein and veggies. I love pasta with meat sauce. Anything that's a well-rounded meal, I'm really happy with. As long as there is good protein and veggies then I'm all good with some carbs.

I can't say that I follow a diet plan cause that would be a lie.

Do you ever workout with friends?

I think my best memories are when I go home to California and I get play beach volleyball with my friends from home. I get to go back and ride my horses with all the people that I grew up with because that's really fun for me. I still love doing that. There's nothing like being able to go back and play volleyball again with a team cause, you know, I can have my volleyball in my New York apartment but we can't do so much there [laughs]. Besides that, I feel like when I'm working and when it's not my time off, I like working out alone because it's kind of like that time that my mind gets to just shut off and I can just focus on working on being a better boxer. My coaches are always my friends. I've always had a coach a year of my life and they're really important part of being a better human for me.

How would you say your workout routine compares to Bella's?

I've always been more of the athlete in my family, but Bella is just good at―when she needs buckle down for like two weeks and be in [the gym] every day, she's really good at that. But Bella is also very naturally gifted in beauty so she can also go whenever she wants to go to the gym [laughs].

When I got a gym membership in New York, I thought I was going to die.

Is there any workout that you hate doing?

I grew up as a horseback rider and a volleyball player so honestly when I got a gym membership in New York, I thought I was going to die. Going and running, just to run on the treadmill, wasn't my thing. I have so much respect for people that can do it, I wish I could because it looks really cool and really fun. There's always stories about cute girls in the gym, I'm just not one of those people. But I had to start boxing because I missed working on something and learning and I guess there's a little more aggression in boxing. I couldn't really get that side of me out, but I used to be able to by hitting a volleyball. That's why I started boxing.

Do you follow anyone on Instagram for fitness inspiration?

My fitness inspiration has always been athletes, my whole life. Serena Williams is a great friend of mine and Ronda Rousey–we did Sports Illustrated together. Obviously, following powerful women and seeing their bodies and how hard they work is really inspiring to me.

Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

How does your love of fitness influence your personal style? You're always pictured in sporty looks.

Honestly my style sense, I guess, started in high school when I was a volleyball player. That was just what I wore: leggings every single day with my sports bra so I didn't have to change into it in the girls' gym locker room and that's kind of how it started. When I moved to New York, leggings were always a staple piece in my closet and I'm always with leggings, a T-shirt, a cool jacket and shoes cause that's what would be easier for me when I was a kid. I always feel better and more beautiful in things that I'm comfortable in so I was fine with putting a little makeup on and keeping my leggings on and going to a party. That's why when I moved to New York, obviously I work with a lot of high fashion brands and I get to wear insane, totally crazy bags and all this crazy stuff but still, I'll always go back to my original sense of style.

Find out more about the #PerfectNever campaign at Reebok.com/PerfectNever

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