INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Bella Hadid Throws A Few Punches After Nike Ad Controversy

By Chanel Adams
Published on: 06:57 PST, Nov 23, 2016

Bella Hadid is showing off her athletic skills after her controversial Nike ad hit the streets of New York. The 20-year-old was seen boxing and wearing a Victoria’s Secret sports bra as part of her preparation for the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut.

Bella Hadid decided to wear just a bra while doing her workout, according to Teen Vogue. This is her first time in the annual fashion show, and she wanted to show her support for the lingerie and sportswear brand by rocking a Victoria’s Secret sports bra. Hadid paired her black-and-white sports bra with a black oversized cardigan and black leggings. She also donned dark sunglasses and tied her dark tresses up into a top knot.

Bella wore the attire as she made her way to her boxing class in New York on Monday, November 21. According to the Daily Mail, Bella was seen doing an intense workout while wearing a pair of boxing gloves. She will make her debut appearance in the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show later this month. Her sister, Gigi Hadid, is returning as well as favorites Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, and Lily Aldridge.

Previous Victoria’s Secret Angels Karlie Kloss, Josephine Skriver, Martha Hunt, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell, and Taylor Hill will also be joining the ladies.

Bella Hadid’s latest sighting comes after she was slammed simply for becoming the latest face of Nike. The dark-haired beauty made the announcement on Instagram, seen posing next to a gigantic billboard of herself in the center of New York City.

“So excited to announce that I am OFFICIALLY PART OF THE @NIKE FAMILY! More coming very soon,” she wrote in her Instagram post.

Hadid followed up with a black-and-white behind-the-scenes photo by Renella Madrano, who previously took photos of the model at her birthday party just a month ago, according to InStyle. Hadid quickly became the center of controversy when she received online criticism from those who wondered if she was a good fit for the athletic brand.

Fans of Nike argued that Bella’s “way too skinny to represent a sports brand” and that she “doesn’t even have an athletic body.”

Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, fired back at her critics. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum defended her daughter via TMZ. She explained that Bella used to compete in equestrian riding from when she was 3-year-sold until she was diagnosed with Lyme disease at the age of 15. She had to stop riding due to the autoimmune disease that’s crippling and can affect the brain.

“[Bella] had to give up her lifelong dream of having a professional riding career and a shot at the Olympics due to her severe symptoms and inability to ride,” Yolanda previously wrote on her Bravo blog earlier this year. “[She] struggles with symptoms of chronic Lyme every day.”

Even if Bella didn’t have her athletic background, Yolanda still thinks her Nike deal is deserving.

“You obviously don’t have to be an athlete to wear or enjoy Nike wear,” she said in her latest interview with TMZ.

After Bella’s deal was announced, Olympic skater Meryl Davis tweeted her disappointment over a model being used to promote athletic apparel. She shared a photo of Bella wearing Nike, Kylie Jenner in Puma, and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman wearing Reebok.

Hadid previously told People that she accidentally lost weight due to her strenuous workouts.

“I want my boobs. I want my a** back,” she admitted. “But it’s not my fault. My weight fluctuates and so does everybody’s and I think that if people are gonna judge, that’s the worst you can possibly do because everybody is different.”

[Featured Image by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images]

Share this article: Bella Hadid Throws A Few Punches After Nike Ad Controversy
nike bella hadid
More from Inquisitr