While celebs such as Lucy Hale, Kate Upton, and Cardi B hit the front row for all the biggest fashion shows at NYFW, supermodel Gigi Hadid has been busy hitting the catwalk for the likes of Jeremy Scott, Brandon Maxwell, and Bottega Venetta. The 22-year-old was forced to take time out from her busy schedule to address a growing controversy over her weight, however, when she shared a shot from the Jeremy Scott show of herself in an intergalactic space getup topped off with a pink wig.
While it’s unclear exactly what comments prompted Hadid to sound off about the issue, sound off she did, taking to Twitter to let fans know that she wasn’t here for their criticisms and that there was actually a reason she appeared to be a bit thinner than normal.
“For those of you so determined to come up with a reason why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started at 17, I was not yet diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease; those of you who called me “too big for the industry” were seeing inflammation and water retention due to that,” she wrote.
Hashimoto’s disease is essentially a condition where your body’s immune system attacks your thyroid and can result in everything from a puffy face and unexplained weight gain to fatigue, hair loss, muscle aches, joint pain, depression, and more.
The fashion icon-in-the-making went on to explain how it had affected her directly, saying, “Over the last few years I have been properly medicated to help symptoms, including those, as well as extreme fatigue, metabolism issues, body’s ability to retain heat, etc… I was part of a holistic medical trial that helped my thyroid levels balance out.”
For those of you so determined to come up w why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started @ 17 I was not yet diagnosed w/Hashimoto’s disease; those of u who called me “too big for the industry” were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
Over the last few years I’ve been properly medicated to help symptoms including those, as well as extreme fatigue, metabolism issues, body’s ability to retain heat, etc … I was also part of a holistic medical trial that helped my thyroid levels balance out.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
As a result, Hadid says her body now responds differently to food. “I may be ‘too skinny’ for you, honestly, this skinny isn’t what I want to be, but I feel healthier internally and am still learning and growing with my body every day, as everyone is.”
Although stress & excessive travel can also affect the body, I have always eaten the same, my body just handles it differently now that my health is better. I may be “too skinny” for u, honestly this skinny isn’t what I want to be, but I feel healthier internally and (cont)
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
(cont) am still learning and growing with my body everyday, as everyone is.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
In closing, she said that she would no longer be addressing her haters, saying, “I will not further explain the way my body looks, just as everyone, with a body type that doesn’t suit your ‘beauty’ expectation, shouldn’t have to… Please, as social media users and human beings in general, learn to have more empathy for others and know that you never really know the whole story.”
I will not further explain the way my body looks, just as anyone, with a body type that doesnt suit ur “beauty” expectation, shouldnt have to. Not to judge others, but drugs are not my thing, stop putting me in that box just because u dont understand the way my body has matured.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
Please, as social media users & human beings in general, learn to have more empathy for others and know that you never really know the whole story. Use your energy to lift those that you admire rather than be cruel to those u don’t.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
It’s not the first time Hadid has opened up about her disease. Back in December 2016, she revealed to Elle that it had resulted in weight loss prior to her stint in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. “My metabolism actually changed like crazy this year,” she shared. “It’s now been two years since I’ve been taking the medication for it, so for the VS show I didn’t want to lose any more weight, I just wanted to have muscles in the right place, and if my butt can get a little perkier, then that’s good.”
Kudos to Hadid for standing up for herself and letting women everywhere know that body shaming is NEVER okay, in any of its ugly forms.
What do you think of Gigi’s message? Share over @BritandCo.
(Photo via Jamie McCarthy +Frazer Harrison/Getty)
