Supermodel Gigi Hadid has built a sparkling career, walking runways, fronting campaigns, and becoming one of the most recognized faces in fashion. Yet behind the glamour lies a story of early struggles, emotional vulnerability, and a raw confrontation with criticism — especially when she first stepped into the modeling world. In a recent video and interviews, Hadid opened up about how harsh scrutiny shaped her beginnings, and how, even now, she sometimes still feels the weight of public expectation.

The Moment That Sparked Reflection

On October 10, 2025, Victoria’s Secret shared a video announcement revealing that Gigi Hadid will return to the VS Fashion Show. The clip included Hadid looking back at her first Victoria’s Secret runway in 2015 — a career‑defining moment that was also one punctuated by intense external noise.

She recalls auditioningtwo or three times” before finally landing that first show, and the emotional relief when she did. But it wasn’t just relief — there was also raw awareness. Her voice breaking, she said, I look back at pictures of that time and the world was so hard on her — and not just me, hard on girls.” Hadid’s teenage self, she says, had “wanted it so bad.”

The juxtaposition of her longing, doubts, and the harsh commentary from critics created a fertile ground for self‑criticism and insecurity — feelings that many models face behind the scenes but few express so publicly.

Early Criticism: “Not the Right Body” & the Pressure of Appearances

Hadid has spoken openly about how, very early in her career, she was told she didn’t have a “runway body.” She described being “coming out of high school,” still athletic and lean from playing volleyball, with muscle in her body — a physique she once loved — but which was criticized in the fashion world.

Comments about her shape, her curves, her thighs, her abs — things most people might assume as normal — were at times reframed by media, by designers, by public opinion, as flaws. Those criticisms landed hard, especially for someone so young and so early in the limelight.

In interviews, she describes looking at photos of herself as a teenager, seeing someone whom she later felt she had to prove worthy, someone she almost didn’t believe deserved her place. Yet now, reflecting back, she states: That was an awesome time. I deserved to be there.”

Emotional Toll & The Invisible Pressure

The spotlight, Hadid suggests, demands more than just physical presence. It demands constant performance. And from the moment she first walked into major runway casting (“go‑sees”), she was very aware of the sweeping judgments — by stylists, by photographers, by social media, by fans.

In a 2023 interview with Elle, Hadid got emotional when asked, What does the world not know about me?” and described how being in front of cameras and seen in snapshots gives no context. She said: You see a lot of snapshots and really quick moments where … there’s not a lot of context given.” She wiped away tears.

That pressure, she says, has required her to grow boundaries, to learn self‑worth, to protect emotional space. She has also mentioned therapy, and that both she and her younger sister Bella have grappled with different sides of the scrutiny that come from life in public view.

The Victoria’s Secret Debut: A Milestone of Strings Attached

The first Victoria’s Secret show was a dream come true — but it wasn’t a pure victory. The audition process was grueling. Hadid says she tried out multiple times before being chosen, and in that process, felt the sting of rejection, the weight of comparison.

She describes looking back at early photos and feeling proud: proud for handling the criticism, proud for showing up despite the doubts. But also aware of how young she was, how sensitive the beginning of her career felt, and how deeply the world’s harshness cut. The scrutiny didn’t stop after she made it. In fact, for many models, it intensifies: once “in,” there is fear of not being enough, or being judged for every curve, every sign of aging, every change. Hadid, in her reflection, acknowledges that now, but also that those moments shaped her resilience.

Growth, Perspective, and Reclaiming the Narrative

What stands out in Hadid’s recent reflections is how she sees her younger self now, with gratitude. In the video, she said she is “just so happy for that girl that got the first show and also my teenage self who just watched the show.” It’s a statement of compassion toward her past — recognizing the hunger, the struggle, the courage to persist in the face of widespread criticism.

Hadid also uses the platform to push for change: urging critics to “at least be open if not part of the change,” in an industry she believes is “undeniably” evolving.

As time has passed, she has set clearer boundaries for herself — choosing which jobs to take, when to step back, balancing motherhood, and protecting her emotional well‑being. She speaks warmly about the support around her, the responsibility she feels for teams behind big shows, and how the adrenaline still hits her at moments: “The VS show still makes my heart beat really fast.”

Wider Implications & What Her Story Tells Us

Gigi Hadid’s story is not unique. Many young women and men entering modeling, or any highly visible field, face early and intense scrutiny. Body shaming, comparisons, public commentary — these are often “invisible” burdens, but ones that can deeply affect self‑esteem, mental health, and identity.

Her willingness to speak so candidly helps illuminate the hidden cost of glamour. It raises questions:

How fair are beauty standards, particularly those that favor one body type over others?

What responsibility do brands, media outlets, and social platforms have in the way they frame images and stories about young models?

How does early criticism shape long‑term self perception? Can the praise later in one’s career ever fully heal the wounds of early judgment?

Hadid’s reflection also shows that success doesn’t erase the scars. She carries memory: the doors she knocked on, the rejections, the silence behind applause. But she also carries pride — in the perseverance, in growing strength, in the fact that she persists and still loves the job, still steps into runway lights even now. Her narrative suggests that while the fashion world is hard, it’s possible to reclaim one’s value on one’s own terms.

Conclusion: From Vulnerability to Empowerment

Gigi Hadid’s tears, as she looks back, don’t signal regret so much as acknowledgment. She acknowledges the fear, the criticism, the nights of doubt. But she also acknowledges her own ambition, her drive, and ultimately, her worth. “I deserved to be there,” she affirms now — a declaration that, for her younger self, must’ve seemed distant and hard to believe.

Her story is a reminder: that behind professional success are often years of invisible strain; that scrutiny doesn’t just shape outer image but inner life; and that reflecting, sometimes tearfully, is part of healing and strength. For Hadid, opening up about those early days — about not feeling perfect, about learning to hold her ground — shows her not just as a supermodel, but as someone who has fought quietly, carried wounds, and still stands proud.