Yolanda Hadid, born Yolanda van den Herik on January 11, 1964, in Papendrecht, Netherlands, is a Dutch-American television personality and former model. She is best known for her role in the American reality show “The Housewives of Beverly Hills” and as the mother of renowned models Gigi and Bella Hadid.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Yolanda grew up in a small farming town in the Netherlands alongside her brother, Leo.

Tragically, her father passed away in a car accident when she was seven, leaving her mother to raise the family.

At 13, Yolanda began working to support her family, engaging in various jobs.

Her modeling career commenced when Dutch designer Frans Molenaar asked her to replace a model in one of his shows.

This opportunity led to her discovery by Eileen Ford, founder of Ford Models, propelling her into a 15-year international modeling career across cities like Paris, Milan, Sidney, Cape Town, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, and Hamburg.

Personal Life

In 1994, Yolanda married real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, with whom she had three children: Jelena “Gigi” (born April 23, 1995), Isabella “Bella” (born October 9, 1996), and Anwar (born June 22, 1999). The couple divorced in 2000. She later married musician and producer David Foster in 2011, however they divorced in 2017. In 2019, Yolanda began a relationship with Joseph “Joe” Jingoli, and they announced their engagement in August 2024.

Guiding Her Children’s Career

Yolanda played a pivotal role in shaping the modeling careers of her daughters, Gigi and Bella. Drawing from her extensive experience in the fashion industry, she provided guidance and support, ensuring they navigated the modeling world effectively. Her insights and mentorship were instrumental in their rise to prominence in the fashion industry.

Children’s Humanitarian Efforts

Both Gigi and Bella Hadid have been actively involved in humanitarian work:

• Gigi Hadid: In January 2016, Gigi participated in “MasterChef” and raised $25,000 for the Global Lyme Alliance. She has also supported initiatives like UNICEF, visiting their programs in Bangladesh to raise awareness about the Rohingya refugee crisis. Additionally, Gigi has been vocal in supporting movements such as Black Lives Matter and has pledged earnings from fashion shows to support victims of global crises, including those in Ukraine and Palestine.

• Bella Hadid: Bella has used her platform to advocate for various haminatarian causes. She has shown support for Palestinian relief efforts and has been involved in raising awareness about global issues through her social media presence.

Yolanda Hadid’s influence and guidance have not only led to the successful modeling careers of her children but have also instilled in them a strong sense of social responsibility, leading them to engage actively in humanitarian efforts worldwide.

In a nutshell, we can conclude Yolanda Hadid, a self-made woman, is the ideal matriarch to lead the House of Hadid. As she proved to be one.