Here’s the cruel truth: whether you’re just another woman in the crowd or a supermodel walking on the ramp, you will be judged for your physical appearance: Judge her because she is too fat; no wait, judge her because she’s too thin! She eats a lot; she doesn’t eat enough! No matter how perfect the rest of the world thinks she is, there will always be those who will want to pull a woman down by body shaming her. And to all those pieces of vermin, there’s a huge but respectfully shown middle finger from Gigi Hadid.
You might find it hard to believe this, but the beautiful Gigi Hadid, 21-year-old US supermodel and girlfriend to singer Zayn Malik, has been, on several occasions, shamed for her ‘skinny’ frame.
Back in 2015, Gigi had shared an Instagram post making her stand on the whole body shaming issue very sternly known and asked people to focus on talking about things that inspire them, rather than bringing other people down.
But despite her outright condemnation of the issue, the haters continued to hate and the shamers continued to shame.
And now, in yet another fitting response to all of those body shamers, Gigi Hadid has shared a series of tweets, outright slamming them and revealing the real reason behind her slim frame.
In a no holds barred Twitter thread, Gigi summoned the courage to talk about her struggle with Hashimoto’s disease and how she was diagnosed for it after she began her modelling career at 17.
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
Hashimoto’s disease is caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland, which then makes it swell and even causes damage to it. The condition is known to lead to fatigue and weight gain.
Gigi went on to explain how, after receiving proper medical help, the symptoms have mitigated.
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
According to her, her lifestyle has been the same always, but it is just her body that has learnt to deal with it differently with the right medical help and she is, in fact, much healthier.
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
Just like every other woman, Gigi is constantly learning to love her body, with all its big and little changes.
(cont) am still learning and growing with my body everyday, as everyone is.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
As respectfully and as bluntly as she could, Gigi has stated that she no longer plans to justify how her body to anyone and has asked people to not judge her just because they cannot grasp the inner workings of her body.
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
In a nutshell, my body, my rules. Period.
In her final tweet, Gigi went ahead and directly addressed every individual on social media and every human being to have a little empathy for others and to not be cruel.
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
All I can say to that is, “Yaaaas Queeen!”
And I’m definitely not alone! All of Twitter rallied in support of the supermodel and praised her for speaking up against her body shamers.
Probably the most endearing thing was when her fellow supermodels and actresses gave her a shoutout in a stellar show of female solidarity!
We girls gotta have each others’ back, right?
1. You can count on Kendall Jenner keeping up with BFF Gigi’s words!
preach. https://t.co/fZvDT66Lsv
— Kendall (@KendallJenner) February 11, 2018
2. Slay, Gigi! Though you’ve got to agree with Hailey: nobody should have to explain their personal issues in public like this.
https://twitter.com/haileybaldwin/status/962858187392192512
3. Xander Cage actress Ruby Rose sends her love to all, even the haters who gotta learn to love others!
https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/962855405415145472
4. Oh and there you go! Thanks to Lilly Aldridge, we all now know she and Gigi love their burgers!
I love you!!! Love your body!!! Love your beautiful soul!! And just FYI for everyone the last meal I had with G was a FULLLLY LOADED @kfc FEAST
— Lily Aldridge (@LilyAldridge) February 12, 2018
5. ‘Healthy’ looks different on everyone. Word.
I stand with @GiGiHadid – The body shaming has to stop! The truth is no matter who you are, we all struggle with being criticized about our bodies. “Healthy” looks different on everyone! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
— Martha Hunt (@MarthaHunt) February 12, 2018
6. One supermodel supporting another! Woohoo to that!
@gigihadid 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 well said.
— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) February 12, 2018
7. Preach, Chrissy Teigen! May all women have men like your husband John Legend, all of whom loves all of you!
alternate tweet: “fuck off” ❤️
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 12, 2018
There were also women who shared their own stories of struggling with Hashimoto’s disease and how Gigi had nothing to feel ashamed of.
1. Much appreciated!
https://twitter.com/PandaJerrrk/status/963012755740442625
2. You’re wonderful and beautiful!
#gigihadid My mom has hasimotos disease also. Get well soon. You have nothing to ashamed of you are wonderful beautiful.
— algator17 (@algator17) February 12, 2018
As a woman who has lived with body issues all her life, I can tell you, it wouldn’t have been easy for someone like Gigi Hadid and all the other women to come forth and talk about their problems so openly. But the point is, should they really have to? A woman’s body undergoes so many changes in her lifetime, and with it comes a hoard of complications. Why talk about their bodies when you don’t fully comprehend what goes on in there?
More power to you, Gigi Hadid, for rightly shutting those body shamers down!