Honestly, if you think you know everything about Gigi and Bella Hadid because you follow them on Instagram, you're probably missing the biggest parts of the story. Most people see the private jets, the Chanel runways, and the high-profile breakups. They see two genetically blessed sisters from Malibu who "made it" because of a famous last name.
But as we hit 2026, the narrative around the Hadid sisters has shifted into something way more complex than just "nepotism babies" or "it girls."
It’s been a wild year for both. Gigi just shocked everyone by ditching her Californian sun-kissed blonde for a "matte black" mini bob—a look so sharp it basically redefined the "bixie" trend overnight. Meanwhile, Bella is pivoting hard into acting, recently making her debut in Ryan Murphy’s new FX horror series, The Beauty.
They aren't just walking runways anymore. They are building empires, fighting chronic illnesses, and navigating a family dynamic that recently got a whole lot more crowded.
The Sister Nobody Knew About
One of the biggest bombshells to hit the family recently wasn't a fashion collab or a dating rumor. It was Aydan Nix.
In May 2025, Gigi and Bella confirmed they have a younger half-sister. Aydan, who is 23, is the daughter of Mohamed Hadid and Terri Hatfield Dull. She grew up in Florida, far away from the paparazzi and the high-fashion circuit, only discovering her biological connection to the famous family through a DNA test after the man she thought was her father passed away.
Basically, the "Hadid Five" (Gigi, Bella, Anwar, Marielle, and Alana) became six.
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"We've embraced Aydan with open arms," the sisters said in a joint statement. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for a family that usually keeps its internal gears tightly locked. Seeing them navigate this in 2026—with Aydan living in New York and the sisters asking for her privacy—shows a level of maturity that goes beyond the "social media model" label people used to slap on them.
Gigi Hadid and the "Guest in Residence" Empire
Let's talk about Gigi. For years, she was the "girl next door" of the fashion world. But in 2026, she's essentially a knitwear mogul. Her brand, Guest in Residence, has moved past being a "celebrity side project" and into a legitimate luxury staple.
While other celebs were launching skincare lines, Gigi went for 100% cashmere.
She often talks about how her parents gave her second-hand cashmere sweaters when she first moved to NYC, and that's the vibe she’s leaning into—heirloom quality. For the Spring 2025 collection, she famously promoted the brand by going "pantless" in a fuchsia crewneck, which, predictably, sold out in hours.
Why Gigi is Pivotting
- Longevity: Modeling has a shelf life. Designing doesn't.
- Khai: Being a mom to her daughter, Khai, changed her schedule. She’s famously protective, rarely showing Khai’s face, and a business she can run from her farm in Pennsylvania makes more sense than a 20-city runway tour.
- The Hair: That matte black bob she debuted in January 2026? It’s more than a haircut. Stylists are calling it the "Gen Z Black" era. It signals she's done being the "sunny blonde" and is ready for a more editorial, serious phase of her career.
Bella Hadid’s Acting Pivot and "The Beauty"
If Gigi is the business mogul, Bella is the artist. After taking a significant break from the industry to deal with her Chronic Lyme Disease, she’s come back with a different energy.
In January 2026, Bella officially transitioned from model to actress.
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She stars in The Beauty, a series where a "super drug" makes people unnaturally beautiful but eventually kills them. It’s a meta-commentary on the very industry that made her famous. Working with Ryan Murphy is no small feat—he’s the guy who gave us American Horror Story.
Bella told The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere that acting has always been the dream. "I've brought my art side to modeling, but I love being able to move," she said. It’s a huge shift from the girl who used to admit she was terrified of the camera and suffered from debilitating anxiety during her early years on the runway.
The Orebella Factor
Then there’s Orebella. Launched in 2024, her alcohol-free fragrance line has become a massive hit by 2026. The newest scent, Eternal Roots, launched in late 2025 and is currently one of the top-selling fragrances at Selfridges in the UK.
What makes Orebella different is that it’s "skin-centric." It’s an oil-based formula you have to shake before spraying. It feels more like a wellness ritual than a perfume, which perfectly aligns with Bella's "horse girl in Texas" era she’s been living with her boyfriend, Adan Banuelos.
The Real Impact on Fashion
You can't talk about Gigi and Bella Hadid without mentioning how they changed the "Model of the Year" standard. Back in 2015, people like Rebecca Romijn and Stephanie Seymour famously criticized them, saying they weren't "true" supermodels.
How wrong that turned out to be.
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- Runway Dominance: Bella’s return to the Saint Laurent runway for the Spring 2026 show was the talk of Paris Fashion Week. She walked in a tangerine windbreaker dress with 80s-style shoulder pads, looking almost unrecognizable.
- Cultural Currency: They don't just wear trends; they start them. From "quiet luxury" (Gigi) to "weird girl aesthetic" (Bella), their influence is why you see people wearing Sambas and oversized leather blazers in every coffee shop in America.
- Health Advocacy: By being so open about Lyme disease and mental health, they’ve humanized a profession that used to be about being a "silent hanger" for clothes.
What This Means for You
If you're watching the Hadids to see what's next, stop looking at the red carpet and start looking at their business moves. Here is the takeaway for anyone following their trajectory:
Don't Box Yourself In
Bella was told she was "just a model" for a decade. Now she’s a leading lady in a major TV series and the owner of a fragrance brand that’s disrupting the market.
Invest in Quality
Gigi’s "Guest in Residence" success proves that the "fast fashion" celebrity era is dying. People want things that last, which is why her $600 sweaters are outperforming cheaper alternatives.
Control the Narrative
Both sisters have moved away from the "always accessible" lifestyle of early 2010s influencers. They post less, they speak with more intention, and they protect their family—even when that family gets bigger and more complicated with the arrival of Aydan.
The Hadid era isn't over; it just got a second wind. Whether it's Gigi's "matte black" reinvention or Bella's foray into horror, they are proving that "staying power" in 2026 isn't about being seen everywhere—it's about being seen on your own terms.
To keep up with their latest moves, keep an eye on the Guest in Residence seasonal drops and the weekly releases of The Beauty on FX, which officially started airing episodes on January 21, 2026.