Yolanda Hadid: Supermodel Mom and Reality TV Icon
| Full Name | Yolanda Hadid (born Yolanda van den Herik) |
| Age | 59 years old |
| Birthday | January 11, 1964 |
| Birth Place | Papendrecht, Netherlands |
| Residence | Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Model, TV personality, interior designer |
| Years active | 1982-present |
| Spouse | Mohamed Hadid (divorced) |
| Children | Gigi, Bella, Anwar |
| Net worth | $45 million |
| Social media |
Instagram, Facebook, |
As a fan of Yolanda Hadid for many years, I‘ve greatly admired her grace, kindness, and determination as she‘s navigated modeling, motherhood, illness, and reality TV fame. Here‘s a closer look at her journey.
Small Town Girl Becomes International Model
Yolanda van den Herik was born in rural Papendrecht, Netherlands in 1964. At 17, she was discovered by Ford Models and moved to Paris, then built an impressive career walking runways and starring in campaigns for Chanel, Versace, and more top designers.
"Modeling gave me an amazing life. I got to travel the world, learn about new cultures and meet incredible people," Yolanda has said of her globetrotting ‘80s/‘90s modeling days.
Settling Down and Starting a Family
After tiring of modeling‘s loneliness, Yolanda settled down in Los Angeles where she met and married luxury real estate developer Mohamed Hadid in 1994.
The couple welcomed three children: daughters Gigi (1995) and Bella (1996), and son Anwar (1999). As a mom, Yolanda was devoted to giving her kids a normal upbringing, telling Harper‘s Bazaar "We lived on a farm in Santa Barbara where the kids could be free. They all rode horses competitively."
Though she was busy with motherhood, Yolanda also nurtured a passion for interior design. She founded her own firm, designing high-end projects for A-list clients and Hadid family properties.
Battling Lyme Disease
In 2012, Yolanda‘s life changed when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. The chronic illness caused her intense fatigue, migraines and memory loss.
"Living in the shadows of these symptoms that no one could see was very isolating and extremely difficult," she shared in her 2017 memoir Believe Me: My Battle With the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease.
Yolanda has been a tireless Lyme disease advocate ever since. Through speaking engagements and social media, she uses her platform to bring awareness to this often misunderstood condition.
Becoming a Real Housewife
The same year as her diagnosis, Yolanda joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her poise brought some grace to the show, though she also revealed her struggles with Lyme disease.
After 3 seasons, Yolanda left RHOBH in 2016 to continue focusing on her health. "I could not live up to what was expected of me with the show’s grueling schedule," she explained. Her honesty helped shed light on what it‘s like living with an "invisible illness."
Guiding Gigi and Bella’s Modeling Careers
Yolanda had the ultimate momager role, nurturing Gigi and Bella‘s development into two of fashion‘s biggest stars. She helped coach their runway walks, build their confidence, and weather rejections.
"My mom was extremely strict, and critical, in the best way,” Gigi has said. “That is the reason I can work the way that I do.”
With their mother‘s support, Gigi and Bella represent a new generation of models thriving in the industry with poise and good values.
At 59, Yolanda Hadid shows no signs of slowing down. She continues using her platform to be a role model – whether by advocating for Lyme disease awareness or mentoring up-and-coming talent through projects like her Lifetime show Making a Model.
After nearly four decades in the public eye, she remains a beloved pop culture icon thanks to her ever-graceful attitude, courage in the face of health struggles, close bonds with her children, and timeless elegance.