Gigi Hadid is many things: international supermodel, Victoria's Secret Angel, my pretend BFF. Another fun fact about Gigi, and this is like totally whatevs: her face is on the cover of 17 issues of international Vogue. 17. I'm pretty sure my mom doesn't even have 17 photos of me in our entire house, but I'm not salty or anything. Anyway, Gigi's 17th cover is particularly special because it is the first-ever paper issue of Vogue Arabia, which launched online in 2016.
“The collage of countries across the Arab world are long-deserving of a place in fashion history,” said editor-in-chief Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz. “And there’s no better first ‘face’ to lead the charge for Vogue Arabia than Gigi, a model who defines tomorrow’s entrepreneurial and dynamic generation.”
For Gigi, who is half-Palestinian, this cover is a very big deal. In an inspiring Instagram post, the 21-year-old model expressed her hopes that the fashion industry will continue to become more inclusive.
Although Gigi has recently come under fire for racial insensitivity, reactions to this cover shoot have been widely positive so far, with dissenters trickling in slowly. Here is a sample of the Twitter conversation happening right now:
Maybe Gigi wasn't he 100% best candidate for the cover of vogue Arabia but do not remove her Palestinian heritage because of her skin colour pic.twitter.com/v8gvAufULc
— adam (@plasticrouge) March 1, 2017
so Gigi Hadid remembers her Palestinian roots when vogue Arabia want to feature her but when it comes to political problems she's quiet
— saeedah (@saeedahx) March 1, 2017
There are numerous Arabic models who could've made it to the cover of vogue Arabia but it had to be Miss Gigi racist Hadid. What a shame pic.twitter.com/7aRXf3VrjK
— ㅤ (@harrysvinyl_) March 1, 2017
Gigi is Palestinian and you can't erase that. Yes she's white passing but she has just as much right to be on Vogue Arabia as those ladies
— tangie (@velvetmalik) March 1, 2017
gigi: an arab
vogue arabia: puts an arab on their first cover
everyone: angry they put an arab on the cover— (@sdpinterludes) March 1, 2017
Gigi's Vogue Arabia cover is absolutely stunning
— ▪️ (@BoRdEr5z) March 1, 2017
Gigi Hadid X Vogue Arabia: Shook is an understatement pic.twitter.com/q7SIk5EPwY
— $teve (@styledbysteve) March 1, 2017
Do you think Gigi was the right choice for this historic cover?