Background and career
Jelena Noura "Gigi" Hadid ( JEE-jee hə-DEED; born April 23, 1995) is an American fashion model and television personality. In 2016, she was named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. Throughout her career, Hadid has made at least 50 appearances in international Vogue. Models.com ranks her as one of the "New Supers". Since 2017, Hadid has been one of the highest-paid models in the world, earning $20 million.
Born in Los Angeles, Hadid began her career as a child model for Baby Guess. She signed to IMG Models in 2013 and made her New York Fashion Week debut the next year. She has appeared in numerous high fashion campaigns and editorials, and is a spokesmodel for Maybelline.
Jelena Noura Hadid was born on April 23, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, to Palestinian-American real-estate developer Mohamed Hadid and Dutch former model Yolanda Hadid (née van den Herik). Through her father, she claims descent from Daher al-Umar, Prince of Nazareth and Sheik of Galilee. Her younger sister, Bella, and younger brother, Anwar, are also models. Additionally, she has two older paternal half-sisters, Marielle and Alana. In May 2025, Hadid and her sister Bella announced in a statement that they have a younger half sister through their father named Aydan Nix. They shared that they connected with Nix in late 2023. Nix was welcomed by her mother, Terri Hatfield Dull, after a brief relationship with Mohamed that came after his divorce from Yolanda. She and her siblings were raised on a ranch in Santa Barbara. The family moved to Beverly Hills after ten years.
Hadid has stated that "Gigi" was a childhood nickname that was also used by her mother while growing up in the Netherlands. She began using it in school to avoid confusion with a girl in her class named "Helena".
In 2013, Hadid graduated from Malibu High School, where she was captain of the varsity volleyball team, as well as an equestrian. After high school, she moved to New York City to study criminal psychology at The New School. She suspended her studies to focus on her modeling career.
How Gigi Hadid makes money
Since 2017, Hadid has been one of the highest-paid models in the world, earning $20 million. Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid have donated $1 million to Palestinian relief agencies. The shirt, designed by Giles Deacon, sold for $15 with 70% of all the proceeds going to the charity.
