She’s landed major runway slots, global ad campaigns and a slew of magazine covers: Gigi Hadid’s modelling career has gone from strength to strength over a few short years, but that’s not to say that things have always been easy.
Be it for her network of famous friends, her high profile relationships or her ‘atypical’ model body type, the 21-year-old has faced more than her fair share of criticism. Each time, though, Gigi has hit back at the naysayers with a pitch-perfect, well-considered response – and her latest brush with online body-shaming has been no exception.
After posting an envy-inducing holiday photo to her Instagram account this week – complete with palm trees, blue sky and the ocean in the background – the model was taken to task by a follower for appearing thinner than in the past.
In response, Hadid stated that yes, her body has changed over time – just like that of any other young woman.
'It’s called growing up,’ she wrote. ‘Bodies change as girls become women, just as my mom’s body changed at the same age. Having my body judged over the span of the 4 teen-to-woman years has really shown me the human tendency to label and make uneducated judgement.’
'I loved my body as a 17 year old athlete and I love my body now. Yes, I’ve lost some “baby fat”, but muscle mass from my intensive volleyball training in high school has changed over the years into lean muscle from boxing and work stress can have its affect [sic], naturally, but purposefully changing my body has never been my thing... ;) lol.'
'I still eat what I want, I’m still strong, and I’m still healthy,' she added.
While Gigi revealed that she's no longer affected by people talking about her body, she went on to point out that such comments could have a negative impact upon others, writing that 'Your comment won’t get me down, but next time, please think about the young women who may read body-judgement comments and judge themselves as they see their bodies growing and therefore naturally changing, too.'
It’s not the first time that Gigi, who revealed her first fashion collaboration with all-American label Tommy Hilfiger earlier this week, has felt the need to defend herself from body-shaming comments.
Last year, the model posted an open letter on her Instagram, aimed at those who had criticised her for deviating from the standard model figure (ironically, a criticism opposite to the one levelled at Hadid this time…)
After admitting that she ‘did let the negativity get to [her] a little,’ Gigi once again came out fighting, writing: ‘No, I don’t have the same body type as the other models in shows […] I represent a body image that wasn’t accepted in high-fashion before, and I’m very lucky to be supported by the designers, stylists and editors that I am.’
‘Yes, I have boobs, I have abs, I have a butt, I have thighs, but I’m not asking for special treatment […] Your mean comments don’t make me want to change my body.’
Amen to that – and if one of Gigi’s most recent Instagram posts is anything to go by, she’s certainly got this whole ‘balanced lifestyle’ thing sorted.
A girl who loves Nutella is a girl after our own hearts…
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