Gigi Hadid: today's hottest supermodel in photos

We've heard a lot about Gigi Hadid in recent years, both in her professional life as a highly sought-after model and in her personal life as the girlfriend of celebrities. 

The biggest names associated with the top model are former One Direction singer Zayn Malik and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. Malik is her ex and DiCaprio, allegedly, her current boyfriend.

But who is Gigi Hadid really? Where does the model with the striking name come from, and how did she get her start as a fashion star? Read further to find out. 

The famous model started her career at a very young age. She was only 2 years old and worked in the Baby Guess campaign.

Gigi was born Jelena Noura 'Gigi' Hadid in Los Angeles, California in 1995. Her mother was a famous model, which explains how she got her toddler to pose for the Guess campaign.

Image: Gigi Hadid / Instagram

Gigi's mother, Yolanda Hadid (Van den Herik) was a Dutch woman who married the Palestinian real-estate developer Mohamed Hadid. After working as a model, she became a reality TV personality in 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.'

Gigi Hadid has two siblings. Her sister Bella (1996) is also a top model and her brother Anwar (1999, not in the photo) is a rising star in the fashion and TV industry. The famous Hadid trio has two half-siblings, Marielle and Alana, from their dad's previous marriage.

Even though she had started modeling as a child, it wasn't until her late teens that Gigi Hadid became really famous.

In February 2014 she made her debut at the New York Fashion Week and in November 2015 she appeared in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Both have been returning, prestigious projects for her. 

Gigi Hadid has modeled for countless brands, such as Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Fendi, Michael Kors, Desigual, Moschino, Victoria's Secret, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Max Mara.

She began her romance with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik in November 2015. By 2016, they made their debut as a couple on the red carpet of the Met Gala.

Pretty soon after their grand, public debut, the couple broke up for the first time. They got back together and continued with the exception of a one-month break in March 2018. Finally, in January 2019, Gigi and Zayn separated once again, and this time it seemed definite.  

To many people's surprise, the couple not only got back together in January 2020, but they also welcomed a daughter, Khay, nine months later. 

In October 2021, they ended their relationship for good. The cause of the breakup was an alleged incident between Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid's mother, Yolanda.

Read more about the curious relationship timeline of Gigi and Zayn

For Khai's sake, Zayn and Gigi have strived to maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship. A source told US Magazine that "there is no custody battle going on right now - they’re just trying to work things out as co-parents."

In 2018, Gigi Hadid announced that she would be working together with Unicef to help children around the world. In August of that year, she made a visit to Bangladesh on a mission with Unicef.

Gigi has also collaborated with the non-profit organization 'Feeding America.' When the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, she spoke out in support of the Ukrainian people. 

Her support of the Black Lives Matter movement and her campaigns for the freedom of Palestine have been a bit more provocative. Just like her sister Bella, Gigi is not afraid to speak her mind about delicate topics. 

The supermodel can afford to make controversial comments now and then. She has plenty of reserves in case one or two brands stop hiring her. Gigi Hadid's current fortune is estimated at $29 million, Marca reports.

In 2022, showbiz media began to report sightings of Leonardo DiCaprio and Gigi Hadid together. The actor had just broken up with Camila Morrone in August 2022, and only a month later he seemed to be courting Gigi.

A source told Entertainment Tonight that Leonardo (47) and Gigi (27) "are dating and into each other." According to People, an insider said that "she seems very happy and excited about seeing him. She is attracted to him. He treats her really well. She finds him mature and charming."

While she is keeping a low profile with Leonardo DiCaprio to spare the feelings of her ex Zayn Malik, ET reports, it seems that the couple is getting quite serious. Yet, as a successful model, millionaire, and single mother, she will surely continue to be an independent woman, whatever the future holds.