Bella Hadid is currently living a life most of us only see in movies. She's basically traded the high-stress chaos of Paris Fashion Week for horse trailers and dusty arenas in Fort Worth. It's a huge shift. If you’ve followed her for a while, you know this isn't just some random phase. It’s a total 180 from the high-profile, often turbulent relationships that defined her early twenties.
People are obsessed with the "new" Bella. They want to know how she went from dating global pop icons to falling for a man who literally works in the dirt.
To understand why she’s so happy now, you have to look at the Bella Hadid ex boyfriends list. It’s not just a roster of famous names; it’s a map of someone trying to find their footing while the whole world watched.
The Abel Era: A High-Voltage Romance
When people think of Bella’s dating history, they immediately think of Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. This was the big one. It was glamorous, it was public, and honestly, it was pretty exhausting to keep up with.
They first linked up in early 2015. He actually asked her to be on the cover of Beauty Behind the Madness. She said no to the cover but yes to a date. By the time they made their red carpet debut at the 2016 Grammys, they were the "It" couple of the industry. But fame has a way of squeezing the life out of a relationship.
Their timeline is a bit of a maze:
📖 Related: Erik Menendez Height: What Most People Get Wrong
- The First Split: November 2016. Schedules were the cited reason.
- The Selena Interlude: Shortly after, Abel started dating Selena Gomez. That was... messy for the tabloids.
- The Reunion: By 2018, they were back together, kissing at Cannes and looking like they’d finally figured it out.
- The Final Break: August 2019. This time, it felt permanent.
Looking back, that relationship was peak "celebrity." It was filled with music video cameos, Met Gala appearances, and songs likely written about their late-night fights. It was a lot of pressure for someone who was simultaneously becoming the most in-demand model on the planet.
Marc Kalman and the Shift Toward Privacy
After the spectacle of The Weeknd, Bella took a hard left. She started dating Marc Kalman, an art director, around July 2020. They managed to keep it a secret for an entire year. Can you imagine? One of the most photographed women in the world kept a boyfriend hidden during a global pandemic.
Marc wasn't a "star" in the traditional sense. He worked behind the scenes with people like Travis Scott. Their relationship felt grounded. They’d be spotted grabbing coffee in New York or volunteering at food banks. It wasn't about the red carpet; it was about the "real" stuff.
They stayed together for nearly three years. By the spring of 2023, though, things had "run their course." There was no drama, no shady song lyrics. Just a quiet ending. It felt like Bella was outgrowing her old life in New York, and maybe that included the people in it.
The Rumor Mill: Drake, Odell, and "The Others"
You can't talk about Bella Hadid ex boyfriends without mentioning the names that weren't officially confirmed but kept the internet spiraling.
👉 See also: Old pics of Lady Gaga: Why we’re still obsessed with Stefani Germanotta
There was the Drake rumor in 2017. He reportedly threw her a massive 21st birthday party. People swore his song "Finesse" was about her. Bella eventually shut that down on Twitter, basically saying they were just friends. Then there was Odell Beckham Jr. They were spotted together a few times, but it never seemed to go anywhere serious.
She was also linked to Duke Nicholson (Jack Nicholson’s grandson) for a minute, and even Jordan Barrett. Most of these were likely just people hanging out in the same tiny circle of elite celebrities.
Why Adan Banuelos Changed the Game
Then came the cowboy.
In October 2023, photos surfaced of Bella kissing Adan Banuelos in Fort Worth, Texas. Adan isn't a model or a singer. He’s a Hall of Fame equestrian. He’s the real deal.
For Bella, this wasn't just a new guy; it was a return to her roots. People forget she was a competitive rider long before she was a supermodel. She had to give it up because of her struggles with Lyme disease. Meeting Adan at a horse show—where he apparently had no idea who she was—was the "breath of fresh air" she’d been looking for.
✨ Don't miss: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes in 2026
Life in the Lone Star State
Bella didn't just date a cowboy; she moved to Texas. She bought property. She’s now winning her own "championship buckles" in cutting horse competitions.
In a 2025 interview with British Vogue, she mentioned that for the first time, she’s with someone who understands her passion for something other than fashion. She’s talking about family. She’s talking about motherhood. It’s a version of Bella Hadid that feels settled.
What This Tells Us About Finding Balance
If you’re looking at Bella’s history for a "lesson," it’s probably about the importance of boundaries. She spent years being what everyone else wanted her to be—the perfect model, the perfect celebrity girlfriend.
She’s been open about her past struggles with "people-pleasing" in relationships. She admitted in a 2022 podcast that she often went back to people who didn't treat her well because she didn't know how to say no.
Her current situation is the result of a lot of work on herself. It’s a reminder that sometimes, you have to leave the environment that made you famous to find the life that actually makes you happy.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Path
- Audit Your Environment: If you feel "overstimulated" or unhappy like Bella did in NYC, look at whether your surroundings align with your actual hobbies.
- Value Anonymity: There is a specific kind of peace that comes from being with someone who likes you for you, not for your "brand" or status.
- Reconnect With Your "Before": Bella went back to horses—the thing she loved as a kid. If you’re lost, look at what you loved before life got complicated.
- Prioritize Health Over Hustle: Bella’s move was partly about managing her Lyme disease and mental health. No job or relationship is worth a burnout.
The era of Bella Hadid ex boyfriends appearing in every tabloid seems to be over, replaced by a much quieter, muddier, and seemingly more joyful chapter.