How 20-year-old Gigi Hadid became the world's hottest fashion model
(Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
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.
(Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)
"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."
(instagram.com/Gigihadid)
Hadid embraces the business side of the modeling industry and understands the importance of seamlessly moving between mass and class.
(W magazine)
"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.
From being one of 16 top models featured in the annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated ...
(Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated)
... to being named the newest face of Maybelline, the No. 1 cosmetics brand in the world, which counts models like Christy Turlington and Jourdan Dunn among its spokeswomen.
(Brad Barket/Getty Images for Maybelline)
She walked countless runways.
(Fulvio De Filippi/Getty Images)
And was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row's Fashion Awards.
(Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
She starred in the "Bad Blood" music video alongside bestie Taylor Swift.
(Youtube/TaylorSwiftVevo)
And has appeared on many magazine covers.
(Teen Vogue)
(VOGUE ESPANA)
After starting her career as a Guess model at age 2 ...
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jan 30, 2015 at 9:03am PST on Jan 30, 2015 at 9:03am PST
... she is still modeling for the brand 18 years later.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
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.
(Bravo/)
Foster is married to mega music producer David Foster.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real-estate entrepreneur, whose estimated worth is about $200 million.
A photo posted by Mohamedhadid (@mohamedhadid) on Feb 14, 2015 at 6:15pm PST on Feb 14, 2015 at 6:15pm PST
Gigi's younger sister, Bella, is also a model.
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Image)
In June, the two appeared on the cover of V magazine.
(V Magazine)
And while this year saw the breakup of Gigi and singer Cody Simpson ...
(Danny Moloshok/Reuters)
It has also seen the new relationship between Hadid and Joe Jonas, together dubbed "G.I. Joe."
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
And judging by her Instagram account, it's good to be Gigi Hadid.
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jun 9, 2015 at 7:11pm PDT on Jun 9, 2015 at 7:11pm PDT
We love you @lewishamilton. Everyone knows you da champ. #TEAMLH
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on May 24, 2015 at 8:28am PDT on May 24, 2015 at 8:28am PDT
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jul 12, 2015 at 3:26pm PDT on Jul 12, 2015 at 3:26pm PDT
better to celebrate late than never 🎓🎓
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jul 23, 2015 at 8:43pm PDT on Jul 23, 2015 at 8:43pm PDT
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:45am PDT on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:45am PDT
NOW WATCH: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model reveals her diet and exercise routine
More From Business Insider