Gigi Got Pregnant at the Height of Her Career, but She Said No to Babysitters and Decided to Raise Her Daughter on a Farm Herself
How do you choose the right time to have a baby? Every woman asks herself this question. The dilemma makes one think hard: am I too young for this, what will happen to my career, is my partner ready to be a father, can I rely on him? All the more interesting to find out is how model Gigi Hadid overcame all her doubts and decided to put a successful career on pause to dive headfirst into diapers, onesies, and other delights of motherhood.
Queen of the catwalk
Gigi is not just a model with a pretty face. She is a superstar on the catwalk. She’s recognized by designers as having an amazing gift for transformation with a complete immersion into any character. Gigi coolly shows off her power with her gait and sultry gaze.
At first, Hadid was not known for her cool stride. She learned the right way to walk on the runway from veteran supermodel Naomi Campbell, who admitted that her gait was also described as odd at the beginning of her career. The lessons were not in vain; now Hadid walks like a pro.
Her career success was accompanied by a rocky relationship with Zayn Malik. They posted photos together on social media, attended public events together, such as the Met Gala in 2016, and tried to lead the life of a normal couple. In an interview, Hadid was candid: “I like being with my boyfriend and doing art and cooking. We like late-night movies and we order from this amazing place that does lattes and gingerbread cookies.”
But things turned out to be not so perfect in their relationship. Hadid broke up with Malik three times: in 2016, 2018, and 2019. And each time, the media relentlessly repeated, “They might get back together.” And so it happened, in 2020, Hadid celebrated her 25th birthday with him.
A pleasant surprise
The couple rekindled their relationship having fun together on the farm of Hadid’s mother. Not long after the birthday party, rumors started surfacing of Gigi’s pregnancy. The news came as a surprise not only for the tabloids but for Hadid herself. She confirmed that she was pregnant and started sharing touching posts on social media about the new stage in her life — preparing for motherhood.
Gigi had photo shoots, took pictures of her belly, confessed to hormonal fluctuations, and shared plans for the baby’s nursery. The anticipation of motherhood had completely consumed Hadid, who only a few months ago was strutting down the runway in Jacquemus outfits.
In an interview, Hadid excitedly admitted: “In the morning, my family brought out an everything bagel cake, which already blew my mind because my craving has been everything bagels. I eat an everything bagel a day, so I was so excited that my birthday cake was an everything bagel.”
The miracle of motherhood and her family’s support
In September 2020, Gigi gave birth to a baby girl, who she named after her grandmother, Khai, which means “crowned.” The young mom was said to be very organic in her new role and doing well with her new responsibilities. The model’s mother even admitted that Gigi and Zayn have “completely thrown themselves into being hands-on parents.”
Hadid’s parents were beyond thrilled. Yolanda called her granddaughter “an angel from heaven” and Mohamed dedicated an entire letter to his granddaughter. The birthing process lasted 14 hours at home, on the farm that Malik had especially purchased next to the farm of Hadid’s mother. There they grew vegetables and bred horses. Malik himself acted as a midwife. As Gigi recalled in an interview: “I was so exhausted, and I looked up and he’s holding her. It was so cute.”
In the safety and seclusion of their farm, Gigi and Malik celebrated their daughter’s 11 months. The model is still keeping her baby’s face hidden from cameras and keeping her away from prying eyes. Hadid shared on social media that she wants her daughter to have a normal childhood without too much attention being drawn to her looks: “For a child, I can imagine that close or dramatic paparazzi frenzies must be overwhelming and disorienting.”
Having decided to raise her daughter herself, Gigi rarely leaves the farm, and she refuses to hire a nanny. According to Yolanda, Gigi has decided to take care of her child alone. The model found her place in the secluded family life on the farm and admitted that she would love to always live like this, as she feels happier there than in the city.
Her return to the catwalk and magazine covers
Gigi embraced her changed figure and just over two months after giving birth agreed to take part in a photoshoot: “I know that I’m not as small as I was before, but I also am a very realistic thinker. I straight up was like, ’Yeah, I’ll shoot a Vogue cover, but I’m obviously not going to be a size 0,’ nor do I, at this point, feel like I need to be back to that.” Gigi got back to work but no longer has the frantic schedule she had before.
Hadid is now convinced that she will definitely raise her daughter on her farm, especially since she herself grew up surrounded by nature. According to the model, it’s important to give a child the opportunity to explore nature and to make their own little discoveries.
Despite breaking up with Malik in October 2021, they both continue to be caring parents and show first-hand that caring for the baby comes above all else. They recently celebrated Khai’s birthday together with a Peppa Pig theme.
When, do you think, is the best time for motherhood?