American model Gigi Hadid has spoken out about facing severe weight criticism early in her career in a new interview with French Vogue.
The 31-year-old model of Palestinian-Dutch origin admitted she was bullied over her figure and repeatedly told to lose weight when she began working in fashion.
Hadid recalled being told by industry critics that her body type meant she would never walk the runway for lingerie brand Victoria's Secret. She said critics insisted she needed to drop a significant amount of weight if she wanted to succeed.
Victoria's Secret, the major American lingerie retailer famous for its annual televised runway shows featuring top international models, long maintained rigorous physical standards for its performers.
However, Hadid explained that she refused to let the harsh judgments break her spirit. She told herself at the time that if people continued to doubt her, she would seek opportunities elsewhere, such as on television, because she remained confident she had something to offer.
According to the celebrity, she gradually learned to accept herself and her natural appearance despite the pressure from critics.
Versace turning point
A major turning point in her life and career arrived when she met Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace. The creative head of the luxury fashion brand praised Hadid's looks, telling her she was the sexiest girl she had ever seen.
Following that encouragement, Hadid was invited to walk in the Versace Spring/Summer 2016 fashion show.
Hadid stated that Versace gave her something priceless by instilling her with self-confidence. She explained that participating in the fashion house's show in Milan and being selected as the face of its advertising campaign suddenly helped her see herself in a new light.
Versace is one of Italy's premier luxury fashion houses, based in Milan, which is widely recognized as one of the fashion capitals of the world alongside Paris, London, and New York.
Recent Met Gala appearance
The reflection on her early struggles comes after Hadid made a high-profile public appearance in May at the annual Met Gala in New York City.
The model attended the event wearing a dark grey transparent dress by luxury brand Miu Miu, worn without a bra and featuring a decorative flame print made of sequins.
The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, known for attracting international celebrities wearing custom designer fashion.
