My Name Is Bella Hadid
I wanted to share this (somewhat relevant) funny story without inputting it directly in my blog: I was at dinner with a guy in college once, and he asked me to indulge in some of my interests. Naturally, I started talking about runways because it is a passion of mine to keep up with Global Fashion Week. It doesn’t matter where it is, Paris, Milan, New York, I am there (at least in spirit, thus far). While the style of the new season is an empowering concept on its own, my fascination is shared with the models themselves. After I spent over 10 minutes conveying this in great detail and excitement, he clarified if runways referred to airplanes taking off (…). He genuinely thought my interests included watching different aircraft depart and land at international airports. Safe to say, I limited future interactions.
My mom tends to surprise others by sharing rather important information in the middle of a conversation so nonchalantly. She will share the most intriguing anecdote as if it were nothing. It was at a time like this when I found out my mother is friends with Mohammed Hadid on Facebook (are you joking?). She can actively see his posts regarding his children, activism, and honestly anything beyond. For some reason, she can’t remember how exactly this relationship formed (???), but I find it to be something you’d outwardly share. I have confirmed that she didn’t confuse Facebook followers as an actual friend, so it is really beyond me. Although he isn’t necessarily the celebrity himself, two of his kids, Gigi and Bella Hadid are. The fashion industry has become quite diluted, but the Hadid sisters have continued to pique my interest. At a superficial level, they are both stunning models no question. Yet, when you observe the trajectory of their career, you learn something a little bit more valuable. In previous years big fashion houses or magazines, like Vogue or Harpers Bazaar, centered a lot of their content around Gigi Hadid. Brands were willing to keep her in the spotlight, and there were girls all over the world who wanted to become reflections of her. When Bella started her modeling career, the narrative was that she was less talented. Her attributes were lacking regarding modeling techniques and physical attractiveness. It isn’t necessarily surprising that people took the opportunity to compare the two, but her “loss” or damaging public opinion is worth noting here. Despite these odds, Bella continued to model for several years. Her most prominent competition was her sister, so she couldn’t necessarily take a vindictive route. Bella became a model that was representative of herself. The harder she tried, the more the narrative shifted. When you look at the same picture now, the name Bella Hadid is amplified just as loud if not louder. Through accolades such as Model of The Year, Bella has solidified her value from public recognition. If you ask me, I would honestly argue that her career is far more empowering than Gigi's. Bella isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what it means to be a model. A woman with the ability to speak up is one worth my respect. She’s vocalized her support for the liberation of Palestine for years (using many of you as an example, that isn’t necessarily easy). She’s become the epitome of elegance, grace, and even strength. There are many unique aspects about her that the media pushes forward, encouraging others to be like her. Referred to as the prettiest woman in the world, Bella Hadid is a reminder that winning comes with an ounce of loss. Just because you can’t win right now, doesn’t mean you can’t at all. In a world full of Gigi’s there is a reward for putting in the effort to be a Bella Hadid.
- With love, Fiza Usman
heh :)
