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How 20-year-old Gigi Hadid became the world's hottest fashion model

Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid

(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.

Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid

(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."

gigi hadid instagram
gigi hadid instagram

(instagram.com/Gigihadid)

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

Gigi Hadid W magazine
Gigi Hadid W magazine

(W magazine)
Hadid on the August cover of 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 ...

Gigi Hadid Sports Illustrated
Gigi Hadid 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.

gigi hadid maybelline
gigi hadid maybelline

(Brad Barket/Getty Images for Maybelline)

She walked countless runways.

Gigi Hadid model
Gigi Hadid model

(Fulvio De Filippi/Getty Images)
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.

Gigi Hadid paparazzi
Gigi Hadid paparazzi

(Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

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

taylor swift bad blood
taylor swift bad blood

(Youtube/TaylorSwiftVevo)

And has appeared on many magazine covers.

Gigi Hadid teen vogue
Gigi Hadid teen vogue

(Teen Vogue)

Gigi Hadid Vogue Espana cover
Gigi Hadid Vogue Espana cover

(VOGUE ESPANA)

After starting her career as a Guess model at age 2 ...

@GUESS then & now 🌻🌺

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.

Gigi Hadid Guess
Gigi Hadid Guess

(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.

Gigi Hadid Yolanda Foster real housewives
Gigi Hadid Yolanda Foster real housewives

(Bravo/)


Foster is married to mega music producer David Foster.

Gigi Hadid David Foster Yolanda Foster
Gigi Hadid David Foster Yolanda Foster

(Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real-estate entrepreneur, whose estimated worth is about $200 million.

Missing this kid. @gigihadid

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.

GIgi Hadid Bella Hadid
GIgi Hadid Bella Hadid

(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Image)

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

Gigi Hadid Bella Hadid V magazine
Gigi Hadid Bella Hadid V magazine

(V Magazine)


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

Gigi Hadid Cody Simpson
Gigi Hadid Cody Simpson

(Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

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

Gigi Hadid Joe Jonas
Gigi Hadid Joe Jonas

(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

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

Thank you @rosacha for a beautiful time in São Paulo, and to everyone that came out today- it made me so happy to meet you all ☺️

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

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

I'll be your Minnie ;)

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



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