Fun & Famous

6 Things I Learned from Gigi Hadid

If you meet Gigi Hadid twice in one week (with high fives, touching, selfies, and everything in between, so don’t think I’m exaggerating here), it does something to you. As a person. You learn certain things about someone. This.

1. Gigi has an insane fanbase

Okay, if you tell your 25 million followers that you’ll be waving and greeting at the Max Mara store in Milan on Wednesday evening between six and eight, you can expect a turnout. But this, I found this quite insane. The crowd waiting for David and Victoria Beckham outside restaurant Balthazar in New York was a meager affair compared to this.

Thousands of girls. Screaming, shouting, and hoping that someone on the other side of the fence (like me) could bring them closer to Gigi.

2. Gigi finds it all a bit much too

We chatted a bit (me in Dutch, her half, which creates a bond) and talked about the Tommy Hilfiger show, the week before in New York. “How insane was that?” she asked. “I think this is pretty unreal too” (yeah, I know my Fashion Week classics), I replied, and Gigi actually agreed. Just like her whole life lately.

3. Gigi thinks it’s perfectly normal to redo the selfie

And again and again and again. Because either I had my eyes closed, or I looked wrinkly like a shar-pei, or too shiny or just too ordinary. She didn’t mind. Look. Gigi gets those things.

4. Gigi is really extremely tall

Two heads above mine. Okay, she was wearing heels and I was in my Miu Miu ballerinas, which might not have been such a good idea. But actually, I was on my way to the Disney Store and had initially forgotten about Gigi a bit. How could I? But the Disney store has its cultural value too.

5. Gigi is also really nervous

During the press conference where she talked about her collection with Tommy Hilfiger; for half an hour her voice kept trembling. That’s just too sweet.

6. Gigi likes it when you talk to her

Just imagine that everyone is hunting you down with the sole purpose of taking a photo of you. Standing next to you, clicking, and then moving on. You’d almost feel abused. At least, that’s how it seems to me. But, and now I’m going to say something very important, Gigi is a human. Yes, just like us. What am I saying: a girl. A girl who is away from home for a long time and also finds it very nice when you share a little fun together. So, if you happen to meet her; you know what to do. And send her my regards.