Posted By: John Abrar
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WILLIAM BUCKLEY: For our Power of Love issue, we wanted to shoot you like some of our favorite ‘80s icons – Annie Lenox, Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry – that for us, really represent the power of love, and you took to the prole so well. How was channeling that kind of character?
YOLANDA HADID: I wanted to channel the power of love for oneself, which meant showing up to set and trying not to control the outcome of the way that I look. This was a great exercise for me; I got to wear all those different wigs and try on a new persona. As we get older, we can easily get stuck on looking a certain way; I wanted to be open to the photographer and the team’s creative vision. I believe practicing flexibility is what keeps us vibrant as we go through the journey of life.
WB: That’s a great mantra to follow and the wigs were major. Of course, photoshoot settings are not new to you, you’ve had a successful modeling career. What drew you to the industry?
YH: I was discovered in Holland by Eilleen Ford when I was 16 years old. It was never my intention to become a model, but the universe brought this opportunity to me. My mother encouraged me to take it so that I could make enough money to buy the horses I dreamed of having. Coming from very humble beginnings, I was mostly driven by the opportunity to be financially independent and to travel the world.
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WB: After being discovered at such a young age, how long did it take for you to get your first big break?
YH: I was very lucky in the sense that I started working as soon as I entered the industry. I worked in Paris and Milan before I came to New York full time at age 17. My first break in America, about 40 years ago, was a Jordache Jeans Campaign. The second was a hair campaign for Faberge Shampoo which enabled me to move into my own little apartment in the village.
WB: How did your upbringing in the Netherlands shape your values and your approach to the new life and career in New York?
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YH: My dad was a young fashion designer of a men’s clothing company called Van Den Herick Shirt Makers, but he died in a car accident when I was 7 years old. So, my brother and I were raised by my extraordinary Dutch mother. This experience taught us to persevere in the most difficult of times in life. She passed along the most incredible work ethic. She made me clean toilets, iron on Friday afternoons after school, and clean my room at a very early age. I started washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant in my small town at age 12. All that seemed so normal at that time, she ran our home with a lot of love and discipline. I had so much respect for my mom and just wanted to make her proud. I am who I am because of her: down to earth and super practical. Unfortunately, she passed away four years ago and there is not a day that goes by without thinking of her, she was my anchor and I miss her very much.
WB: She sounds like a wonderful woman and I’m sure she was very proud. And when your children were young, did you ever think they would have the kind of fame they have today?
YH: Fame has never been a motivation for me, I always wished for my children to be strong, financially independent young people that could thrive in something they love to do and are passionate about.
WB: Now that they’re all celebrities in their own right, how does that make you feel?
YH: None of us are without flaws and being constantly watched by the world isn’t always easy. I am very proud of who they are as human beings, the way they conduct themselves in the world, their work ethic, kind hearts, and passion for others. I feel super grateful that they have found their own path that is authentic to who they are.
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WB: They also have some of the most beautiful genes on the planet. Did you mentor them in modeling? Was it a path you thought they might take?
YH: I’ve always had a passion for photography, so I’ve captured the kids since they were very young, which made them comfortable in front of the camera (and sometimes a little annoyed). I always thought they could be great models, but I didn’t want to expose them to that life before they turned 18. I wanted them to experience life away from the spotlight first. I guided them into the industry at a very slow pace, but it was always their choice at the end of the day. The universe just led us there.
WB: How do you balance the role of mum and mentor? Is it challenging to be both?
YH: Being their mom is my greatest accomplishment and number one priority in life. As their mother agent I am learning to take more of a back seat – they’re young adults now. They need me less and less as they have learned to make great decisions on their own, which is a wonderful thing because that means I did my job right. We brain storm and, of course, I am always here to catch them when they fall or hit a crisis (we adjust as we go) but I am super confident in our management teams and grateful for the magic we have created together over the past 12 years.
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WB: Wow, has it been 12 years already since you found fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Feels like yesterday. How was that experience?
YH: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was a very difficult time of my life because I was very ill and debilitated by chronic neurological Lyme disease. It was difficult to stay committed to filming three seasons of the show, but it was a blessing for the Lyme community because they could see the difficulties of this disease in a social setting on TV.
We all look so normal on the outside while suffering on the inside and the judgement from cast members is something that Lyme patients experience everyday of their lives within their community, family, and friends. So, from a spiritual perspective bringing awareness to Lyme disease and trying to find a cure affordable for all was the greatest gift I took away from that experience.
WB: I’m sorry to hear you were struggling. How are you doing now?
YH: Unfortunately, I still haven’t found a cure for Lyme disease, so I try to live a very balanced life and have grown to accept that the flareups are just part of my journey. I will never stop my search; I just went to Malaysia to meet Dr. Mike Chan who is by far the most advanced stem cell doctor. I have made it this far, and his treatment seems to be working for now, so I thank God for this experience and pray that I keep feeling this good.
WB: You were also very open about your battle with Lyme disease in your book, Believe Me. Did the journey of writing the book deepen your understanding of yourself, and in what ways?
YH: Writing my first book was a beautiful and cathartic experience of just sharing the simple journey of a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend with a chronic debilitated disease. In this world, it is so easy to judge, but when you pull back the curtain and really understand the detail of what other people go through, it changes your perspective. That was the reason and goal of me sharing my journey. I hope it has given people a little more empathy for others who suffer from any chronic disease.
WB: I’m sure it does. Today, we often see you and your family on your incredible farm; how important is it for you to step away from the spotlight and enjoy the more grounded moments?
YH: Gigi, Bella and Anwar were raised in Montecito on a horse farm; I grew up with horses too, so I wanted to create that in Pennsylvania. I believe that the pressure of social media and millions of people telling you who they think you are or what you should be is a heavy load for us all to bare. Being on the farm is the perfect reminder of who we truly are as human beings and where we came from. Being in nature with animals is our happy place.
WB: Your family is obviously very vocal about what is happening in Palestine, including yourself. How are you navigating that?
YH: I believe God has given us this tremendous platform to shine light on darkness, I don’t believe it was given to constantly post selfies and only show the good parts of life. Sometimes we must use our platform to have uncomfortable conversations or opinions which are not always going to be loved and liked by everyone. But I truly believe that if you come from a place of kindness with honest intentions you are allowed to have an opinion.
WB: Gigi and Bella donated $1m to support Palestinian relief efforts – here in the region, we’re really in awe. How proud are you of them? And as their mother, do you worry about the scrutiny?
YH: As a mom, their safety is always a concern, but their donation is an extraordinary effort that I am extremely proud of.
WB: We’re proud moms too. Can you tell me about your hopes for the future?
YH: My hope is for a gentler and more peaceful world, one with more compassion for others, unity, and solutions for all countries currently war. I pray for peace and safety of all my Jewish and Palestinian friends and family that are stuck in the middle of this lifelong war.
WB: Ditto. What about your plans? What is left to achieve? What’s next?
YH: My plan is to be present in the lives of my loved ones in this last chapter of my life. I pray for good health, and I hope that I can learn to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Over the past two years, I built and designed a home in Texas where I love to spend time with my fiancé.
My greatest passion is everything ‘home’ and I have been working on a home-focused product line that I am super excited about. And of course, being Oma to my granddaughter Khai is one of the most important things in my life at this time, there is no greater joy than spending as much time with her as I can. I grew a whole other heart for this beautiful being that has blessed our life.
WB: That’s truly the power of love. Make sure you show Khai our photoshoot, her Oma is a rockstar. Before we go, we always ask, what is
your favorite flavor of sorbet?
YH: Mango.
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