Yolanda Hadid is a woman who has achieved a lot in her professional life, but she’s also a mother, and this is the most important job she has ever taken on. She shares three children, Gigi, Bella, and Anwar, with her ex-husband, Mohamed Hadid, and all of her kids have chosen to forge paths in the modeling industry (although Anwar is not quite as well known as his older sisters, at least, not yet). Having worked as a model herself for decades, Yolanda understands the industry and probably has a few connections, so she’s shared her knowledge with her children, and she’s the first person to celebrate their successes. But, unlike some other celebrity moms out there, she’s not a momager, and she’s stressed that the most important relationships are the ones at home.
Yolanda is a woman whose children are her everything, and she has even stated that being a mother feels like “the greatest accomplishment” in her life. She loves and cherishes the journey that motherhood has taken her on, and it seems that her children could not have asked for a better person to raise them, as they’ve so often expressed in sweet posts on social media. She’s close to all her kids, but below are 20 times Yolanda and her eldest daughter, Gigi Hadid, had the relationship we all want with our moms.
20 Yolanda’s Relationship With Her Daughter Is More Important Than Being A Momager
Yolanda Hadid (or Yolanda Foster as you may know her, before she dropped her most recent ex-husband’s last name) was a model, and so when it came time for her children, Gigi, Bella, and Anwar, to pursue work in the modeling industry she was able to give them a few tips to help out. She also had connections. But Yolanda is able to separate her role as a mother and a manager, which she explained during an interview with Vogue.
“I don’t understand the word ‘momager’,” she told the publication. “The jobs of a mom and manager are very different. My girls have a manager [Luiz Mattos at IMG], and I work very closely with him, but my place as a mum is in the shadow. I put Gigi and Bella in the light rather than controlling every step they make. The journey is about them, not me.”
19 Gigi Has Called Her Mama Her Role Model Since Day 1
Gigi Hadid’s mama, Yolanda, has made it clear she is always willing to encourage and support her daughter in her chosen work, and another role she has to her daughter is that of role model, according to a sweet message Gigi wrote on social media in honor of her mother on her birthday.
“I’ve had the greatest role model since day 1,” Gigi wrote. She continued, “Your beauty is only outweighed by your compassion, ability to help others, and your endless talents.” She then went on to thank her mom for everything that she always does for her, and expressed her deep gratitude, but also love, for the strong women who raised her.
18 Yolanda Is Totally Supportive Of Her Daughter’s Romantic Relationship
Yolanda would make a pretty cool mom-in-law, and what we mean by that is she seems to be incredibly supportive of her Gigi’s romantic relationship with singer Zayn Malik (a relationship that has been off and on, but for the most part, on).
“They’re beautiful together and, you know, that’s up to them,” she told Us Weekly. “It’s their journey. I’m here to support in whatever their journey is. And you know, they’re still young.” Her comments make it clear that not only will she support Gigi’s relationship, she is also not intending to get involved, and that shows a lot of respect for her child and her decisions.
17 She Was Careful To Stop Her Two Daughters From Competing In The Same Industry
Yolanda Hadid is a mother of three children, Gigi, Bella, and Anwar. All three are working in the modeling industry, but sisters Gigi and Bella are better known than their younger brother Anwar and they have been in the industry longer. And, thanks to their mother, they understand that they do not need to compete with each other to both be successful.
When asked by W magazine if her daughters have ever been competitive with modeling, Yolanda responded by saying “no,” and went on to explain, “because I taught them at a very early age that it’s not about competing with anybody — it’s about becoming your personal best." She added, "Elbowing other women — well, there’s just already enough space for everyone to shine. And in Gigi and Bella’s case, they’re so different, especially with their looks...”
16 And Yolanda Is Super Protective Of Her Children (In The Way Only Moms Can Be)
Yolanda Hadid has encouraged her children to be the best versions of themselves, and she is always on the sidelines ready to help and support them in any way. There is no denying that her life revolves around her children, and for Yolanda family is everything.
When asked in an interview The Daily Front Row what kind of mom she was, she gave a beautiful answer. “I am a protective Dutch momma bear and the anchor that keeps our family together,” she explained. “I have always strived to be the best that I can be and lead by example. My relationship with my children is based on consistency, trust, and loyalty. I have always tried to nurture and understand the uniqueness of each child. I don’t believe in having one parenting style that fits one for all. I learned early on that I had to adjust my mothering style to their individual needs.”
15 The Mother And Daughter Duo Are Each Other’s Biggest Supporters
One of the best things about Yolanda Hadid’s parenting is how she takes a unique approach to each child, and she has been vocal about how she doesn’t believe there is just one approach to parenting. Another thing that she’s made very clear, is how proud she is of each of her children and their individual achievements, and she often shares messages and photos of them on social media.
When Gigi landed a Prada campaign, Yolanda took to social media to share how overjoyed she was. “Keep reaching for the stars my love, So proud of all that you do and the person that you are…” she wrote, adding “I got tears in my eyes when I saw this, such an extraordinary campaign…”
14 Gigi Has Gotten Real About How Much She Values Her Mother’s Friendship
It’s not just Yolanda Hadid who loves to share sweet messages about her daughter because Gigi does the same. Gigi uses her social media as a platform to pay tribute to her mom, especially on special occasions. She has also commented on how extremely lucky she is to have a mom who has taught her so many things and has referred to her as “the perfect human mix of brains and intuition, creativity and drive, compassion and strength, friendship and mentorship.”
Gigi and Yolanda don’t just have a traditional parent and child relationship, but they also share friendship.
13 The Proud Mama Has Referred To Her Daughter As Her 'Best Friend'
In continuation from the above point, Gigi has gotten real about how lucky she is to have a mother who is also her friend, but the feeling is clearly mutual and Yolanda has also referred to her both Gigi and Bella as her “best friends forever.”
Sharing a photo of the three of them together, Yolanda wrote, “The little girls that grow up to be your best friends forever..... My loves, my heart, my everything, I’m so grateful to get to live life with you.” The relationship between a mother and her daughter is special, as Yolanda has emphasized.
12 Yolanda Is The First To Encourage Her Daughter’s Dreams And Believes She Can Have Whatever She Wants
When Gigi succeeds in her chosen profession, Yolanda Hadid is the first to celebrate this success. Her social media is filled with photos of campaigns her daughter has starred in, or covers she’s landed, often accompanied with messages of encouragement and pride. Yolanda may be the first to support and encourage Gigi, but she’s also instilled a strong work ethic in her children from the moment they started pursuing work in modeling.
“When my girls started, I sat them down and I said, ‘Listen, there are a million girls out there who are as beautiful as you and deserve success as much as you do,” she told People. “You have to be the hardest working girl and show people you care about everybody.'"
11 She Also Has Nothing But Unconditional Love For All Of Her Offspring
Yolanda Hadid shares a close bond with her three children (and if you’re wondering why Anwar doesn’t feature in the media as much as his sisters, that’s because Yolanda told W magazine he’s “kind of shy”). Yolanda has nothing but unconditional love for her kids, and she views motherhood as the most beautiful journey.
In an interview with The Daily Front Row, she commented on what motherhood means to her, explaining, “I am grateful that my children chose me to be their mommy when they came into this world, and I love the journey that has come with it. It’s a powerful feeling to be so deeply connected to another human being at all times. They inspire me every day, and teach me the meaning of unconditional love through all the seasons of life.”
10 They Go To Big Events Together And Are Always At Each Other's Sides
Gigi Hadid and Yolanda Hadid are often each other’s dates to big events, including Glamour's 2017 Women Of The Year Awards in Brooklyn, the Tommy X Lewis launch party, as part of New York Fashion Week, and a Lifetime event to celebrate Yolanda’s show, Making a Model (among many other outings).
They choose to go to these events and awards together because they like spending time with each other, and they like getting ready together (as Yolanda has said in an interview with E! News) but they also help each other out if one of them can’t make it to an award show. An example of this was the time when Yolanda appeared at the Fashion Los Angeles Awards to accept an award on Gigi’s behalf because she was sick at home.
9 For Yolanda, She Thinks Of Motherhood As a Privilege And An Honor
"I'm just honored to be a mom every day," Yolanda Hadid told E! News. "I love being a mom. Every day I feel like it's a blessing." And this is not the first time she has shared her thoughts on what an honor she feels it is to be a mother to her three children.
On Mother’s Day in 2018, Yolanda decided to share her thoughts about her children via social media, stating, “Motherhood is a privilege.” She went on to thank each of her children for choosing her and giving her the “honor” to guide them through life. “Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of unconditional love and for igniting the deepest part of my soul,” she added.
8 Gigi Is Her Mother’s Mini-Me (And They Freely Admit This)
Yolanda Hadid’s children are all different and each has their own unique traits, but it’s her eldest daughter, Gigi, who is the most like Yolanda (and she looks like her mini-me).
In an interview with The Daily Front Row, Yolanda stated that her children “are different yet they are fundamentally the same,” and she then went on to list the ways they differ, but admitted, “Gigi is a copy of me in many ways.” She then listed some of her daughter’s attributes, explaining, “She’s very practical, hardworking, extremely loyal, and she likes a quiet life. She can set her emotions aside and have a clear perspective on things. That’s why she studied criminal psychology—her mind is brilliant.”
7 Yolanda Literally Saves All Of Her Daughter’s Magazine Covers
We have established that Yolanda is always supporting her daughters and she has spoken about how proud she is of them on numerous occasions, but if you were wondering whether she keeps all their magazine covers, well, the answer to that question is yes, she does.
In an interview with The Daily Front Row, she was asked this very question and explained what she does with the growing amount of covers. “I started a really cool wall in my apartment with framed covers, but it’s getting a little overwhelming, because there are a lot more than I had imagined, so I am running out of wall space,” she said.
6 No Mother’s Day Goes By Without A Public Mention Of Just How Important Gigi’s Mom Is
Yolanda and Gigi Hadid appear to spend a lot of time together and are often photographed together at big events, or they share sweet photos together online, including throwbacks from when Gigi was a kid. The bond that these two share is heartwarming, and they are not afraid to publicly declare just how much they mean to each other, which is probably why every year, on Mother’s Day (but not only on this day), Gigi makes a special tribute to her mom.
She has referred to her as “the greatest mom I could ever ask for!” And has some of the kindest things to say about her mother, including a comment on how her “compassion for others and unconditional love” continue to inspire her each day.
5 Yolanda Doesn’t Claim To Be The Perfect Mom, But She Tries Her Best (Which Is More Than Enough For Gigi)
Most people will look at the bond that Yolanda Hadid shares with her children and think “wow, what a great mom.” It’s clear that her kids love and appreciate her, and it’s also clear that Yolanda would do anything for her brood, but she’s not a perfect mom, because really, there’s no such thing.
"I am far from perfect, but I have been consistent and have given them the best I have to give," Yolanda told CR Fashion Book (via E! News). "I believe that I have lived my life by example and invested the time to create a strong and old-fashioned foundation for them. My unconditional love for each of their individual needs and 24/7 support keeps us connected as a very strong family unit. It's a forever commitment that I take very seriously and thrive on."
4 For This Mama And Daughter, Family Really Is First
Gigi Hadid and her mama may live busy lives, but at the end of the day, it’s incredibly important for them to spend time with their family. In fact, it’s the reason that inspired Yolanda’s move from Los Angeles to New York.
In 2017, she was asked by The Daily Front Row why she had made the move, to which she replied, “My girls.”
“I am looking forward to being based in the same city and setting up the support system they need while managing their busy lives,” she continued. “Anwar will be going to college in New York in the fall, so the timing is perfect…”
3 Gigi Says She Has Her Mom To Thank For Preparing Her For The Fashion World
Yolanda’s experience in the modeling industry helped prepare her children for their own professions, and this is something that Gigi Hadid is very thankful for. According to International Business Times, she told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that her mom taught her so much about working in the industry that she went into it with her eyes wide open.
''One of the reasons why I have to thank her [Yolanda] is that I've come to the fashion industry world without illusions: she told me everything to prepare me,” Gigi said. “She told me about casting in ... humid basements in London. She told me about other models who cut your tail during the night before the show. When the supermodels of the 90s say that we are not like them they say something true. We were born in different times but we work hard too. In different ways…”
2 Gigi Had A Fantastic Childhood, And She Has Fond Memories Of It
Gigi Hadid is the eldest daughter of Yolanda and Mohamed Hadid, and her childhood has influenced the woman she has become today, in more ways than just her mom preparing her for the industry, in which she would become a megastar. Vogue notes an example of Gigi’s sheer determination from when she was a child, which took the form of riding a miniature pony, and despite falling off multiple times, she continued to try and try again.
“I saw it as a way of me being able to get better. I think it built me into a rider who was very strong,” Gigi told the publication. And it’s this idea to keep trying which she has applied to all aspects of her life.
While she may not have been saying what a fantastic childhood she had, her comments do indicate that she has a lot of good memories about growing up, and how they shaped her into the woman she would become.
1 They Have A Lot Of Fun Together And Have Even Parodied 'Beetlejuice'
If ever we needed an example of how much fun Yolanda Hadid and her children have together, then we need not look any further than there Beetlejuice parody, which they created for Vogue. The video, inspired by the 1988 fantasy film, Beetlejuice, features the family dressed in high fashion, making fun of each other, and singing and dancing to Harry Belafonte’s "Banana Boat Song (Day O)" track. It’s hilarious, it’s silly, and it’s a perfect example of how this family is not afraid to have fun together.
For all these reasons and so much more, we all want the relationship Yolanda has with not only Gigi, but with all her children.
Sources: Vogue, Us Weekly, W Magazine, The Daily Front Row, People, E! News, E! News, International Business Times, Vogue.