Why I do like Bella Hadid in Yellowstone

If there’s one series everyone’s talking about right now, it’s Yellowstone. And rightfully so—it’s definitely in my top list of best series ever.

If you haven’t quite gotten into it yet: stick with it. I even took out a SkyShowtime subscription just to keep going with season 5 (seasons 1 through 4 are on Netflix). And surprisingly, season 5 is by far the best. There’s a little surprise in that season—and her name is Bella. The internet had a lot to say about it. Bella Hadid in Yellowstone? Too pretty, too famous, too little acting experience? So what? Honestly: I actually really liked her little role. It just worked. And that’s down to three things: Bella, her style, and the man behind Yellowstone.

1. It’s a small role – and that’s fine

Let’s be realistic: Bella isn’t playing Beth Dutton 2.0 (one of my all-time favorite actresses). She doesn’t save a ranch, she doesn’t wage war. She just has a nice supporting role. A vibe role. And she’s perfect for it. Because Bella is just fun—and in real life, she’s a cowgirl too.

2. She actually is a cowgirl

Bella Hadid may have become famous on the runway, or maybe first as Gigi’s little sister. But she grew up around horses, competed in shows, and spent hours on her family’s ranch. Check her Instagram: cowboy hats, leather boots, halters, stables—it’s more ranchcore than runway.
So if anyone radiates “cowgirl energy” without it feeling forced, it’s her. This isn’t a model suddenly doing western; this is someone just being herself.

3. Taylor Sheridan knows what he’s doing

The man behind Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, is quite the figure. He’s a storytelling machine, a horse trainer, a director—and a major control freak. He wrote Sicario, Hell or High Water, and pretty much every episode of Yellowstone himself. And: he even stars in it, as cowboy Travis.
Sheridan is known for pushing his cast to the limit—which makes his choice for Bella Hadid all the more striking. Everything has to have a purpose. About choosing Bella, he said he appreciated that she genuinely wanted to be involved, not for exposure, but out of love for the series. And he thought that was cool.

4. The cast thought it was fun too

Contrary to what you might think: everyone thought it was a great idea. No eye-rolling, no model behavior. Bella came, saw, and blended in. Even actress Jen Landon (Teeter, with that weird voice) said in an interview that she found Bella “surprisingly at home.”
She showed up early, knew her lines, wore braids in her hair, and literally got in the saddle. There was no backstage whispering—more like: “Oh, she’s just super normal and really nice.”

5. Not everything has to be deadly serious

And this is the most important point: Yellowstone is brilliantly written, but it’s also just a TV show. Bella isn’t intrusive, distracting, or off-putting. She adds something.

So yes, I’m team Bella

In fact, I hope she shows up more often. Because if anyone combines style, horse sense, and presence, it’s Bella Hadid.

Image credits: Paramount