Instagram/@bellahadid
Bella Hadid, a supermodel, offered a peek into an intimate and culturally laden photoshoot, the day of which was the best for her, and at the same time, ignited debates about the Persian impact and her striking resemblance to another Hollywood star.
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Not only in the model business, but Bella Hadid is also enjoying her best life. The model was very generous and shared a series of casual and personal images that were more than a backstage view at a photoshoot. Besides, she thanked her collaborators, one of whom was her stylist Ashling Massoumi who, according to Bella, is a ‘true DIY fairy god Stylist’. The images come closer to personal snapshots than to smooth campaign ads; they show the model in plus and minus moments. One of the images depicts her lying on a rug with a Persian block-print outfit being the only visible part of her. In some of the other images, the props tell an even deeper story: an Iranian newspaper, a box of traditional Persian chocolate, and a bottle of Momtaz rosewater are all around her. It is a scene that appears to be intentionally intimate, a soft homage to certain cultural symbols.
Furthermore, that peculiarity attracted people’s interest. The post soon turned into a place where Iranian spectators met, pointed out, and praised the gestures made towards their heritage. One of the observers, who seemed to be very much moved, commented, ‘I am Iranian, and as soon as I saw this post, I was so happy.’ The comment thread changed to a praising one, with people pointing out each detail: ‘Iranian newspaper and chocolate,’ one said, while another added, ‘and in the first picture, she is in Persian block prints.’ Another user simply put it as ‘Wow, it is Iranian rose water.’ For many, it was a rare and confirming instance of finding their cultural artifacts that were hitherto placed in the narrative of a world celebrity. It was not only about aesthetics; it was also about recognition.
Nevertheless, the cultural debate was not the only one that was sparked off. A different and more pop-culture-related observation began to mingle in the discussion. One person set off a modest uproar by saying, ‘I thought the first pic was Jennifer Lawrence!’ The mere mention was enough to cause an instant flood of agreement replies. ‘Same,’ was one person’s reply. Another one said, ‘I thought it was young JLo.’ The likenesses kept coming: ‘I thought it was young Paris Hilton!’ and ‘I came to the comments to check if anyone thought that too!’ It became a celebrity lookalike game where Hadid’s relaxed, no-makeup face in a striped top was directly connected to the faces of other well-known blondes. It was a demonstration of her changing traits, and how one simple, casual picture could remind one of so many different icons.
In the midst of the enjoyable mentions and cultural recognition, a more grave tone was introduced. One user, in reply to a comment that praised Hadid, wrote a message in which he asked for help regarding his family in Gaza saying, ‘The war might have ended but I lost my home, my father, and my brother… Now, I want to erase my family.’ That was a strong indicator of the continuing humanitarian disaster which very often forms the backdrop of the fashion industry’s glitz and a powerful opposing voice to the day’s celebration. It was a reminder of the complicate situation where Hadid herself is with her Palestinian background in the limelight of the world.
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The photoshoot was for Dazed Middle East, and the feeling of happiness in teamwork was very clear in Hadid’s short remark: ‘best day.’ It is a statement that represents the very rare case of the coming together of creative collaboration and personal comfort. The pictures support that—they are soft, genuine, and full of personal and cultural context. They show a supermodel in a situation that looks more like a casual hangout with friends than work, surrounded by objects that tell a story. From pleasing the Iranian community to unintentionally kicking off a Jennifer Lawrence lookalike thread, the post did not just show pictures; it sparked conversations. And in the end, that is usually the sign of a truly powerful moment—that it has different meanings for different people, yet it unites them all under one common, shared gaze. This project is part of her ongoing work with Dazed Middle East, and she recently shared an intimate night cap moment with her fragrance line. Her go-to fragrance was also revealed in a behind-the-scenes look. The model’s connection to the region was further highlighted when she expressed overwhelming love for Kuwait and helped celebrate her father Mohamed Hadid’s birthday with an Orebella launch in the Middle East.