Gigi Hadid Acknowledges She's A 'Nepotism Baby' While Addressing Ongoing Debate

Gigi Hadid, one of the world's most famous models, has recently opened up about her rise to fame. According to Hadid, her privileged upbringing played a significant role in her success.

Despite being featured on several Vogue covers and strutting down the runways of the most high-profile fashion events, she humbly acknowledged that she is not the most attractive person in the world and that she required assistance to reach her current position.

Keep on reading to learn more.

The term Nepotism babies or 'nepo babies' has become prevalent in 2023. The phrase making waves is used to describe children of famous parents who easily get a head start in various industries. Lately, the focus has been on children of movie stars, producers, singers, and models.

One such 'nepo baby' is none other than Gigi Hadid, whose rise to fame in the modeling world has been nothing short of phenomenal. Born Jelena Hadid, the 27-year-old beauty is the daughter of Yolanda Hadid, a former Dutch model turned interior designer and reality TV star of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Meanwhile, her father is Palestinian-born property developer Mohamed Hadid. Her parents divorced when she was five, and she also has two famous model siblings, Bella and Anwar. Despite her family connections in showbiz, Hadid's talent and hard work have been integral to her success in the competitive world of modeling.

According to Daily Mail, while speaking to the Sunday Times about the nepotism debate, Hadid said, "Technically I'm a nepotism baby. My parents came from very little. I've always acknowledged that I come from privilege."

During her interview with the Sunday Times, the supermodel spoke candidly and acknowledged she was a beneficiary of nepotism, as her parents came from humble beginnings. She further stated that she has always been aware of her privileged upbringing.

Despite her well-connected background, Hadid emphasized the importance of hard work and kindness in achieving success. She shared that her parents instilled in her the belief that even with their success, she should approach every job with dedication and a good attitude. 

The model said per Daily Mail, "My parents told me, 'Just because you have parents who were successful, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't walk into the job being as nice and as hard-working as you can be.'"

Hadid credits these values for helping her achieve her goals and becoming one of the world's most sought-after models. She also insisted that she does not consider herself the "prettiest person," joking that she could use some botox to help enhance her facial features.

Hadid's comments about being a 'nepo baby' come after fellow model Kaia Gerber talked about being the daughter of world-renowned supermodel Cindy Crawford.

As reported by The Blast, Gerber recently spoke with Elle about people's assumptions of how she launched her career. While she acknowledged the privilege that comes with her upbringing, Gerber also emphasized that her success is not solely attributed to nepotism. 

"I won't deny the privilege that I have. Even if it's just the fact that I have a really great source of information and someone to give me great advice, that alone I feel very fortunate for," the model said. She added, "My mom always joked, 'If I could call and book a Chanel campaign, it would be for me and not you."

Gerber also noted that nepotism isn't as prevalent as people make it out to be, and success is not solely due to family connections, as she believes that no artist would sacrifice their vision for someone's child. She emphasized that hard work, talent, and being a pleasure to work with are equally important factors essential for success in any field.

Although Hadid and Gerber have benefited from their family connections, the young models also understand the importance of dedication and treating others with respect. They are grateful for the opportunities they've been given but also recognize that their success is a result of their hard work and abilities and not solely their famous last names.