One of the most famous models in the world just won Paris Fashion Week. Gigi Hadid Instagrammed a body positive message on Monday, and what she had to say was pretty powerful. The stunning model was responding to the haters who have criticized her for being an agent of change in the fashion world, for her body type, for her runway walk, and for the way designer clothes fit her shape when she walks in their fashion shows.
Hadid also effectively slowed the roll of those who suggest that she got where she is in the modeling world due to her familial connections; her pal Kendall Jenner, with whom she socializes, has had the same issue.
Hadid shut them all down with a heartfelt, sincere, and impassioned statement. In the text-only post, Hadid admits that she tries to drown out the hate, but sometimes it gets to her.
That's understandable. How can she escape or avoid the chatter when all the trolls flood her IG and Twitter with comments while hiding behind keyboards? It's amazing and refreshing that she admitted that she is human, just like the rest of us, and those nasty comments hurt.
But what's even more amazing is how she rose above all the nonsense with grace and class, defending her shape and her work ethic with confidence.
Preach, sister! Her post was succinct and powerful. Here are the three most important takeaways from her statement.
1. Accept The Things You Cannot Change
Hadid shuts it all down by noting that changes are happening in fashion, in terms of what is sexy and accepted, and that she's part of it. She essentially says that you can't stop it, so don't fight it. It's futile. Stop wasting time being a hater and making comments about things that are happening.
2. Opening Doors
Hadid also notes that her boobs-and-butt body type is not the norm in high fashion. But she points out that she is opening doors for those who share her shape and she is happy about that. Fashion rules and regulations can and will change. Digging your heels in the dirt and talking smack about changes aren't going to prevent them from happening in any facet of life.
3. Love Me For Who I Am
Her most powerful proclamation, though? "Your mean comments don't make me want to change my body." She also says the digital hate doesn't make her want to turn down requests from designers to appear in their shows. The comments don't mar the opinions that designers have of her, either. She is who she is — love her or leave her.
On the surface, this post might seem like, "Oh, the poor model is dealing with criticism! Boo hoo. Woe is her." But it's anything but that. It's humanizing and empowering.
Hadid is celebrating diversity, her differences, her ability to overcome those who are mean for the sake of being mean, and reminding her followers to love themselves as they are. It also reminds us that we can't stop change. It's how we evolve.
That's what all fans, followers, and haters really need to take away from Gigi Hadid's empowering post.
Images: Gigi Hadid/Instagram (1)
