GQ Model Of The Year: Bella Hadid Thanks Mom Yolanda Amid Lyme Disease Struggle


Bella Hadid was recently crowned as GQ’s Model Of The Year. The stunning 19-year-old stepped out on the red carpet at the event held at the Tate Modern in London on Tuesday, September 6.

Yolanda Foster’s daughter even picked up her trophy for Model Of The Year at the GQ Awards, reports MTV. All eyes were on Hadid as she wore a custom-made nude Hugo Boss gown designed by Jason Wu. She complemented her look with diamond jewelry, gold strappy sandals, and her signature sleek straight hair with a middle part. Hadid was also joined by her mom, Yolanda Foster, on the red carpet who chose to wear a black over-the-shoulder pantsuit with gold zipper detail.

She also graced the cover of GQ magazine, in which she wears a short and simple navy blue silk slip. Her signature dark tresses are pulled back and styled in a middle part.

“This is crazy. I’ve worked really hard it’s crazy to be recognized,” Bella said during the event, also paying tribute to her mom, who also suffers from Lyme Disease. “This is the first time my mum has been out of bed in four years and gotten her hair and makeup done and I’m so happy she’s here.”

Hadid was presented the award by fellow model Ashley Graham, who also stunned in Hugo Boss. Also at the event was music producer Calvin Harris, who picked up his award for GQ Man of the Year. Hadid addressed her big win to BBC News. She referred to it as one of her “wow moments” of the year and said it was “so crazy” to attend the event.

For the model who battles the crippling autoimmune disorder, work can pose a challenge because she often feels exhausted and needs to take regular medication to deal with her daily struggle with Lyme disease. According to the Daily Mail, Lyme disease is an infection caused by an infected deer tick, which spreads bacteria to the bite. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, fever, and malaise.

“Even today I was struggling to get up and get here. ven though I’m so excited it’s still that little bit of struggle,” she was quoted telling Newsbeat.

Bella’s younger brother, Anwar, also suffers from Lyme disease. He was diagnosed back in 2012, at the same time as Yolanda and Bella. Their older sister, Gigi Hadid, is the only one who doesn’t have the disease. Bella is not willing to back down, though. She said that she’s “just got to keep moving and keep living life. You can’t just step back.”

“Keep going. I’m here winning model of the year which is so crazy, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it unless my mum and people around the world pushed me, and said it is OK. You know, there’s people with other diseases too, it’s not only Lyme’s. But everybody has to keep moving forward and stay confident – you’ll get there.”

She recently gave fans a glimpse into her ongoing struggle with the chronic disorder. She posted a photo of herself hooked up to an IV on Snapchat, writing, “everyday,” as reported by Reality TV World.

But on late Tuesday night, Hadid looked like she had a little too much to drink. The GQ Awards are always a big affair and this year wasn’t any different. Both Hadid and TV star Claudia Winkleman were seen leaving the Tate in London as they appeared blurry eyed, notes The Mirror. But, the two stars could have just been blinded by the flashing lights.

The British tabloid did note that Claudia almost lost her balance when she stepped out of the venue. The 44-year-old had noticeably smudgy eye makeup while Bella looked impeccable, as usual. Bella could have been exhausted from all the celebrating, since she revealed how taxing Lyme disease can be.

What are your thoughts on Bella Hadid’s red carpet look at the GQ Awards? Sound off below in the comments section.

[Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images]

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