How 20-Year-Old Gigi Hadid Became The World's Hottest Fashion Model

Gigi Hadid is only 20 years old, but she's already climbed her way to the top of the modeling industry. Hadid's success is due in part to her relatable social-media presence and the connection she has with her fans.

 

"I have more than 4 million followers on Instagram. All the companies I work for want me to guarantee how much I’ll post for them, but I’m not going to force my career onto the people who follow me," Hadid said this month in a W magazine cover interview (she has gained over 1.2 million followers since the issue came out on August 3). "I refuse to do 40 Instagram posts about any campaign."

 

Hadid embraces the business side of the modeling industry and understands the importance of seamlessly moving between mass and class.

"I have always been aware of the business side of this industry. I’ve always seen it as a career that required work and planning," she tells W magazine.

 "My Pirelli calendar is hanging on the wall of my friend’s frat house, and he doesn’t know anything about fashion. That balance is what leads to big campaigns outside of fashion. But I never want to choose one or the other. Both commercial and high fashion are what make my job so interesting."
Hadid has had quite the year.

 

 

Hadid walks the runway at the Moschino show during the Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015.
And was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row's Fashion Awards.

 

She starred in the "Bad Blood" music video alongside bestie Taylor Swift.

And has appeared on many magazine covers Teen

 

After starting her career as a Guess model at age 2 ... she is still modeling for the brand 18 years later.

 

But modeling is in Hadid's blood. 

Her mother, Yolanda Foster, was a successful model in the '80s and rejoined the spotlight as a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Gigi entering the modeling world was an early storyline on the show.

Foster is married to mega music producer David Foster.

 

Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real-estate entrepreneur, whose estimated worth is about $200 million. Gigi's younger sister, Bella, is also a model.

 

In June, the two appeared on the cover of V magazine.

 

And while this year saw the breakup of Gigi and singer Cody Simpson ...

 

It has also seen the new relationship between Hadid and Joe Jonas, together dubbed "G.I. Joe."

 

And judging by her Instagram account, it's good to be Gigi Hadid. 

Source: Business Insider