Gigi Hadid Hits Back at Critics Over Privileged Upbringing Claims
Having graced hundreds of runways, starred on countless magazine covers, and with a cult global following behind her-Gigi Hadid is undoubtedly one of the most famous models to walk the planet.
But that doesn't stop critics claiming her success is down to privilege, with many giving her parents, Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid, the credit.
In response to the widespread criticism, the 23-year-old recently spoke out against fan backlash at the launch of her collaboration with Reebok.
At the Sydney-based event, the model spoke candidly about her upbringing: "People say that I don’t deserve to be where I am because I come from this successful family, but my parents were f*cking hardworking."
She continued, "My dad was a refugee. My mom was on a farm, went to New York, and worked to send money back to her family. They worked their asses off, and they’ve given me a life because of their hard work, and I work hard to honor that."
The model added, "I shouldn’t stay in my house because people say, 'You don’t deserve to be here because they were successful'. That’s not how I consider it in my house."
On the notion that she found her footing in the modeling industry courtesy of her privileged home life, she continued:"We are all given titles by the world and we are told we’re one thing, and we’re flattened. We’re told that we’re not good enough."
Hadid also opened up about her biracial identity saying, "When I shot the cover, I wasn’t 'Arab enough' to be representing those girls, even though I’m half-Palestinian. I’m as Palestinian as I am Dutch. Just because I have blonde hair, I still carry the value of my ancestors, and I appreciate and respect that."
The model continued: "I talk about this with my boyfriend [Zayn Malik] too: He’s half-Pakistani, half-English. I feel like when you’re mixed-race, when you come from two different worlds, you get to see how both sides treat each other, and you feel like the bridge of those two sides."
Hadid arrived in Australia on Thursday to launch her debut campaign with Reebok just a week after walking in the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York.
For more royals and can't-miss fashion and beauty news, sign up for the Harper's BAZAAR Newsletter.
('You Might Also Like',)
