Gigi Hadid covers the new issue of AdWeek, “The Millennial Issue”. That’s actually a decent subject, although it makes me feel so old to realize that so many of the up-and-coming models were actually born in the 1990s. Their reference points are totally different!! Gigi is only 19 years old and I would argue that she’s probably the top “up and coming” model these days. She’s doing better for herself than even Kendall Jenner. And with that kind of heat, you know she’s going to say and do some dumb stuff. So far, we’ve already seen her get mixed up in a weird “is she doing coke on camera?” scandal (I think she was doing coke, btw). You can read the AdWeek piece here. Some highlights:
Building her brand on social media: “I think it’s always come naturally to just be genuine on social media and to put things into words that people can relate to, rather than putting things in a way that makes them feel that they can’t be a part of it.”
Gigi’s planning for what comes after her modeling career: “What people want to know is, OK, what’s after modeling? And that’s forcing us to think about those things [even earlier]. It’s not just OK anymore to model until you’re 25 and then stop and be a housewife.”
Gigi’s future plans: Eventually, she would like to go back and graduate college. (She took a leave of absence this year to focus on modeling full-time.) But in the long run, she’ll most likely stay in the spotlight. Hadid suggests she might someday host her own cooking program (she’s an avid gourmand) or a talk show. “I’m an entertainer, and I think that I’ll always be in that business,” she says.
She wants to get a criminal psychology degree: “Who knows? I could always be a fact checker on CSI.”
“It’s not just OK anymore to model until you’re 25 and then stop and be a housewife.” Is she throwing shade at the models who came before her? I can’t tell. I think she’s trying to say “It’s no longer the industry standard to phase out at 25 and then marry some rich guy” but she’s making it sound like a judgment on those models who did do that. Besides, Gigi, Leonardo DiCaprio is coming for you soon.
Oh, and the whole AdWeek article isn’t just about Gigi – there’s a lot of discussion about how models today are building their “brands” like crazy on social media, and Kendall Jenner and Karlie Kloss get name-checked a lot. Surprisingly, the person I associate with using social media to launch herself into a household name? Kate Upton. And there’s barely a mention of Upton in the piece.
Photos courtesy of AdWeek.
I do not like GiGi. Every interview reinforces that even though she hasn’t said anything truly awful.
Possible unpopular opinion: I’d chose Kendall over her.
And why do these models always say they want to work in forsenics/criminology? Hmmm
Isn’t she Yolanda’s daughter from HWOBH’s?
Yep.
Detritus – I agree. I rather Kendall over Gigi by far.
I Choose NO Kendull But I also VOW to not make this girl Happen , she is extremely NO
yep. and daddy buys her these non-stories…
I am old enough to remember when the “Supermodels” ruled the catwalk. Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Christy, etc. These days the models just don’t seem to have that little “extra” that made those models special. But Gigi is a beautiful woman
Your comment inspired me to watch George Michael’s “Freedom” video. One of the best ever…
Three times….about to go on four
Upton got famous via social media. But she’s not that active on it herself at all, especially compared to her peers.
I read a report on models.com last year and Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevigne, Candice Swanopeol are masters at using their Instagram to generate heat.
Kate Upton on the other hand rarely tweets and her Insta account is quite mundane and not that promo filled (especially for an SI model). If it were, trust the DM would report on her and it slavishly every day.
None of these new girls will ever hold a candle to Christy Turlingtons exquisite face, Naomi Campbell’s fierce walk, Kate Moss’s cool, Etc. There’s just nothing outstanding about them to me, but maybe I’m just an old woman holding on to past supermodels with my cold wrinkled liver spotted hands!
I never thought Christy or Cindy to be beautiful. Naomi was stunning.
I also never thought Cindy was beautiful
I have seen all the big late 80s early 90s models in person, except for Kate Moss, in person.
No one was more beautiful up close than Cindy Crawford imo, though Elaine Irwin and Stephanie Seynour came really close.
I have also seen Iman and Beverly Johnson in person as well; when they were younger and when they were older. Absolutely. Stunning.
Iman was absolute perfection. I could just stare at her face.
Yes – Christy Turlington. Le sigh
She’s really really beautiful and, never thought I’d say this but, I agree with her comment about retiring at 25 to be a housewife. Whether that be marrying a rich man or phasing out of modelling, there is always something new to do.
I thought it was unintentional shade thrown at her mom.
I have no idea who her mother is. Is she famous?
@Bea, her mother is Yolanda Foster on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Yolanda modelled until she married Gigi’s billionaire father. Now she’s married to David Foster.
Isn’t that what her mother did?
Oh, yeah – her mother is that insufferable Housewife, right?
Yup.
Ps. Love the name! 🙂
Didn’t occur to me until recently that she and Kendall are probably real friends and have been since before the spotlight. Kendall’s half brothers (Brody and..? Brandon?) stepfather was David foster, with whom I believe the boys are still close. David foster is now, of course, Gigi’s stepfather.
She has come far from being that super adorable baby guess model and I’m glad she’s getting her moment on the spotlight now.
I get what she’s rather tactlessly saying, I think – that you have to build your brand up and grow it into something more than modeling after that short time span runs out, but I’m not sure everyone can do that. Aren’t we a little overrun by life style gurus and bloggers and all that as it is?
Yeah, I took it along those lines, GNAT. I kind of read it as “it’s not as accepted now to just model and call it quits to be a housewife – people expect you to have things worked out in your head from the start of what you’ll be doing next”. But I really don’t know the girl, so she could totally be throwing shade for all I know.
That’s how I read it too. Like she might be totally fine retiring at 25 but feels pressure to put something else in place before then.
I agree that today’s models do not have the IT factor than the 90’s supermodels. GiGi, Cara, Kendall, Karlie et al are beautiful, but they lack the personality, charisma and unique talent of their predecessors.
Frankly I don’t get the fuss over models in general, regardless whether it is the instragram model of today or the supers of the 90s. AlsO I doubt that you need a unique talent to be a model. It probably is a physically exhausting job, but not exactly intellectually challenging.
Right? People need to stop looking up to models. Yeah they look fierce and beautiful and every now and then they have personality but a role model? Really? Chrissy Teigan has commented on this before which is why I find her so fun, shes not delusional and is just having fun with it. Maybe thats because she isnt “high fashion” but its all the same to me. A model is a model.
Phew, stellalovejoydiver, I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I really don’t understand why these women are placed on such high pedestals.
“Besides, Gigi, Leonardo DiCaprio is coming for you soon.” Spot on. First I chortled, and then I cringed.
They don’t even have the IT factor of the aughts models like Daria, Erin Wasson, Natalia V., Natasha Poly, etc…
Lara
She’s the only young model I’ve seen really surprise and beginning to get that “it” factor that is missing with models. She’s probably 20 now. I expect to see her really come into her own as a model. She’s just now exploding in the industry, but she stands out.
I wonder if in some way she isn’t trying to say that my career is going to need to be different than my mother’s in order for me to maintain success… her mother having been a successful model turned real housewife.
I don’t really see the fuss about her. She’s not that striking or anything. Didn’t she start getting famous after becoming friends with Kendall Jenner? Connections help I guess.
You’ve gotta love the ‘wisdom’ of children … because you know she has been through SO much in her life and of course teens and twenty-something’s know EVERYTHING, right? Yeah.
She should try to be more like her Mom. She is a wonderful, kind woman.
I don’t think she was going coke in front of that many people — not saying she doesn’t at all.
How can that be construed as shade? She is obviously saying that modeling can just be modeling, but nowadays everyone is obsessed with their BRAND and building their empire. She was not shading house wives, she was saying it’s okay to be one.
I don’t GET why this kid is considered a super model. Her daddy is beyond wealthy…and I’m sure that’s opened some doors for her. Her step daddy is beyond wealthy and famous so that opened doors too. Her mother is beautiful…and has integrity…but I sense this kid is going to crash and burn. She’s getting a false sense of importance in the universe. She will rise and fall equally as fast…if she takes herself too seriously. Look at the Bieber’s of the world. She’s very young…someone better keep a tight rein on her.
Why is the inner part of her ear green?
Considering how many young models are being scouted around 14/15 and aren’t going to school, what career choices do they have beyond getting married once they age out of modeling? Fashion chews up and spits out young girls every day, I can’t shade someone for making that choice especially if they may not feel like they have any other choices available. It’s not like ‘Instagram Celebrity’ is a job option that has many openings.
“It’s not just OK anymore to model until you’re 25 and then stop and be a housewife.” Why not? Who is she to say?
If her parents weren’t who they are, she’d be the cute girl working at Target.
Bingo!
Mark this discussion page. I bet in a few years Gigi will be marrying the love of her life. She will announce less modeling work while she settles in and enjoys her first months and years of marriage.
My guess is this all happens when the new crop of “IT” models pops up and she’s not the hot commodity anymore.