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Seriously, the paps took shoots from her hotel bedroom?![]()
November 25, 2015 Gigi and Zyan in hotel room
vk.com/gigi_hadid
Gigi Hadid: It's not you Instagram, it's me.
Is it me or is it Instagram? Why Gigi Hadid is more than just an Instagram model...
Gigi by Solve for LOVE
With 9.2 million followers, you’d be correct in calling Gigi Hadid pretty Instagram savvy. But to reduce her success as a model to her prowess on a social media site that, let’s be honest, is more associated with basic b*tch bathroom selfies, badly applied contouring and pictures of mashed avocado on toast, than it is launching the career of supermodels, would be an insult to one of the most credible models of her generation.
Following in the footsteps of her mother Yolanda Foster, who was a pretty mega model in the 80s, the 20-year-old beauty has managed to carve out a career for herself, entirely on her own. We live in a world that seems to relish objectifying women by their weight; that Gigi has managed to make it as one of the most in demand models of our time, without conforming to the unrealistic body ideals the industry all too readily foists upon young girls, surely speaks for itself. Furthermore, from model to role model, Gigi has also taken it upon herself to stand up and speak out about how proud she is of her healthy and athletic body. In fact, it was only last month that she took to social media to call out all body shaming trolls who lurk, like, and leave horrid comments, and occupy a corner of the web where people like to post pictures of grown men in baby grows and are into all things cyborg. “No, I don't have the same body type as the other models in shows,” she wrote, “No, I don't think I am the best at any given show. No, I'm not the first or last model of my type in this industry…Your mean comments don't make me want to change my body, they don't make me want to say no to the designers that ask me to be in their shows, and they definitely don't change the designers opinions.”
It’s basically been only been a year since she launched her career, and already she’s bagged campaigns for Guess, Balmain, Maybelline (yes, she’s totally born with it) and Tom Ford, graced the cover of practically every major magazine, was featured in Pirelli’s iconic 2015 calendar and even starred in her best friend Taylor Swift’s’ music video. But why, you may well ask (and if you didn’t you should listen up anyway) is she so successful? Well, for starters, it’s not because of who she dates or who may or may not have unfollowed her, nor is it anything to do with what she posts on Insta. It’s simply down to that fact that she works hard, stands up for what she believes in, and is determined to prove everyone wrong. Plus, with her golden hair and cherubic features, she’s the ultimate girl next door (if next door was actually a gigantic castle in the sky where angels roam freely, occasionally falling down to earth each season to walk the Victoria’s Secret show). I mean, even her clothes are made out of stardust. As Gigi has said herself, “You can make up all the reasons you think I am where I am, but really, I'm a hard worker that's confident in myself, one that came at a time where the fashion industry was ready for a change. I’m just doing my job.”
So, sorry, Instagram, it’s not you, it’s Gigi.
Versace is pleased to present the SS16 advertising campaign, which was shot by Steven Klein under the creative direction of Donatella Versace.
Art Direction:
Giovanni Bianco
Hair:
Jimmy Paul
Talents:
Gigi Hadid, Natasha Poly, Raquel Zimmerman.
Make-Up:
Lucia Pieroni
Stylist:
Jacob Kjeldgaard