Instagram/@bellahadid
Bella Hadid is not only recognized as a supermodel but also as an influential artist who is constantly pushing the boundaries in her universe. The latest recognition—the cover of Dazed Middle East’s “Lanniversary” issue—comes with the participation of a creative team that looks like a family, as well as sharing the photographers’ emotions and almost palpable sensations from that day.
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The thing is, the new Bella Hadid cover is out, and it feels… very, very personal. Besides another fashion shoot, this one has been dedicated to Dazed Middle East and is very personal, as the artist Yasmin Diba who is one of Bella’s best friends took the whole thing. Bella was very emotional in her caption, expressing gratitude and also saying that thinking about the day of the shoot brings all different feelings to her. She mentioned a lot of people like Stylist Ashling Massoumi and the hair and makeup artists whom she calls her ‘greatest friends.’ But the main thing? Her pride towards Yasmin Diba. ‘Thanks for being you; I’m so proud of you,’ she wrote. It’s as if that was not just a job and at the same time a moment with her inner circle returning to the same place.
Needless to say, the post received immediate hearts from followers and the team. Yasmin Diba simply replied with ‘I love you soooo much.’ Another one pointed out the strong implied meaning and labeled Bella as ‘Our Palestinian-Dutch icon’ and complimented her as ‘classic beauty.’ This comment associated with a good pull received responses like ‘yuuup. All that’ which might be a sign that Bella’s background and identity are very much part of her public story even in this case of regional publication and especially in this case.
A fan mentioned a fashion detail and exclaimed, ‘The kuffiyeh dress is back!!!’ What a significant observation! It connects Bella’s stylistic choices to cultural meanings. The overwhelming majority of the rest of the comments were just a tremendous outpouring of support-‘So proud of you’,’we are totally in love with these covers,’ and messages wishing Bella that she gets ‘all the softness and love in the world.’ It is a reaction that appears to be warmer than your typical celebrity post, perhaps because Bella herself was at her most candidly vulnerable.
Bella Hadid has never shied away from saying that she is halting modeling for the time being in order to pay attention to her health and therefore, this cover feels like a huge comeback for her. On top of it, the fact that she chose to be with friends doing it for a Middle Eastern publication adds even more layers to it. It is not just a comeback; it is a statement of the community and personal roots. The emotional burden that was carried throughout the project to tell where she is now—giving priority to meaningful collaborations with trustworthy people over everything else.
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In the end, it is less about a new image in a magazine and more about a public figure who decides for herself how to tell her story. Bella Hadid took this chance to celebrate the friendship, the culture, and the artistic collaboration, and the public understood it very well. The reaction was not only about her looks (but, to be honest, she does look amazing), it was about the symbolism of the moment. It is a reminder that sometimes the biggest flex is not the gig itself but who you can share it with. Her father Mohamed Hadid has been a supportive figure in her life. Her recent focus on wellness and fragrance is evident, as seen in an intimate behind-the-scenes look where she revealed her go-to fragrance. She also shared an intimate night cap moment with her Orebella fragrance. She recently celebrated her birthday with Hailey Bieber, and expressed overwhelming love for Kuwait during a fragrance launch.
