Supermodel Gigi Hadid has broken her silence following the torrent of body-shaming comments she received after being announced as part of Victoria's Secret's "The Icon" collection, revealing the emotional toll the criticism took on her as a new mother.
The Emotional Revelation
In a heartfelt social media post, the 29-year-old model shared that she was moved to tears by the negative commentary about her body. "Yesterday I was looking at the comments and I started crying," Hadid confessed, highlighting the very real impact online criticism can have, even on established figures in the fashion industry.
Postpartum Reality in the Spotlight
The timing of the backlash proved particularly painful for Hadid, who welcomed her daughter Khai with partner Zayn Malik in 2020. "I'm three years postpartum, and I'm not a Victoria's Secret model, like, in my prime," she explained, pushing back against unrealistic expectations placed on women's bodies after childbirth.
Hadid delivered a powerful message to her critics: "If you have a problem with my belly being a little bigger than it was before I had a kid, then that's your problem."
Industry Double Standards Exposed
The supermodel's experience sheds light on the persistent double standards within the fashion world. Despite Victoria's Secret's recent efforts to embrace body diversity and inclusivity through their rebranding initiative, Hadid's treatment reveals that old attitudes die hard.
Her emotional response has sparked important conversations about:
- The pressure on women to "bounce back" after pregnancy
- The fashion industry's evolving but inconsistent standards
- The human cost of public scrutiny on social media
- The need for greater empathy in online discourse
A Mother's Perspective
Hadid emphasized that her focus has shifted since becoming a mother to Khai. "My body is actually the thing that has made me proudest in my life because it made my daughter," she stated, reframing the conversation around what truly matters.
The model's candid response has been met with overwhelming support from fans and fellow mothers, who have praised her for speaking out against body shaming and standing up for postpartum women everywhere.
