Gigi Hadid is a master of the "glimpse." You know what I mean—those tiny, grainy Instagram snippets of a toddler’s hand, a messy breakfast plate, or a pair of miniature pink cowboy boots. Honestly, in a world where celebrity kids are often treated like accessories for a personal brand, Gigi has taken a hard left turn. She’s raising her daughter, Khai, with a level of privacy that feels almost radical for someone who literally gets paid to be seen.
But it’s not just about hiding a face from the paparazzi. It’s about a five-year-old girl who loves baby goats, eats "rainbow cake" for breakfast on her birthday, and is growing up as the bridge between two very different, very famous worlds.
The Reality of Co-Parenting with Zayn Malik
People love to speculate. They want to know every detail of the "custody schedule," but Gigi and her ex, Zayn Malik, have kept it surprisingly tight-knit. Last year, around Khai's fifth birthday in September 2025, Gigi finally shut down the noise. When fans started whispering about Zayn’s absence from a birthday photo carousel, she made it clear: Khai spent time with both parents. Period.
They’ve moved into what Gigi calls a phase of "camaraderie." It's not just "getting through it" for the sake of the kid; they actually have each other's backs.
They plan things months out. But life happens. Schedules shift. According to Gigi’s recent interview in Vogue, they navigate those changes with a weirdly normal level of flexibility. "We’re not interested in giving everyone our whole story," she basically told the world. And why should they? They’re focused on the 5-year-old who is obsessed with Descendants and wants to be in the water "from dawn til dusk."
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The Privacy Pact
Have you ever noticed that you still don’t know exactly what Khai looks like? That is 100% by design. Back in 2021, Gigi wrote this super-vulnerable open letter to the paparazzi. She basically begged them to blur Khai’s face. Her reasoning was simple: Khai is a human being who should get to choose how she presents herself to the world when she’s old enough.
It’s a struggle, though.
Especially in New York. Khai is at that age where she wants the sunshade on her stroller up. She wants to see the "amazing city," as Gigi puts it. She doesn't understand the media circus. She just wants to look at the yellow taxis and the people. So, Gigi has to balance that curiosity with the need to keep her daughter’s identity from becoming public property. It’s a tightrope walk every single time they leave the apartment.
A "Very Mom" Morning Routine
Forget the glam squad and the 4 a.m. gym sessions. Gigi’s current life is centered around a hand-drawn breakfast menu. Yeah, she actually draws out the options—pancakes, eggs, whatever—with little doodles so Khai can choose what she wants. It’s sweet, it’s grounding, and it’s a far cry from the runway.
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Khai is a "nature kid." She spends a ton of time on the Hadid family farm in Pennsylvania. We’re talking:
- Hanging out with baby goats (in tie-dye pants and rain boots, obviously).
- Greeting horses in those iconic pink cowboy boots.
- Getting messy with crafts and coloring stations (specifically Lilo & Stitch themes lately).
Gigi has admitted that being a "young mom" was a blessing she didn't necessarily plan for but now can't imagine life without. She’s learning as she goes. She’s given herself the "grace" to realize she doesn't have to be perfect.
The Bradley Cooper Factor
Then there’s the new family dynamic. Gigi and Bradley Cooper have been together for a while now, and it’s not just about them. Bradley has a daughter, Lea De Seine, who is about three years older than Khai.
Sources have mentioned that Lea is "sweet and gentle" with Khai. It’s a blended family situation that seems to be working because both parents prioritize their kids over everything else. Gigi has even talked about how Bradley’s support has given her a new kind of belief in herself. It’s a healthy, low-key vibe that fits right into the private world she’s built for her daughter.
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Cultural Identity and the Future
Khai is a mix of so many things. Palestinian, Dutch, British, Pakistani. Gigi and Zayn talk a lot about how to raise her in a multi-ethnic home. They want her to feel connected to all those roots without feeling pressured.
"I think she will find her own way to bring her different cultures together," Gigi once told i-D. She’s excited to see who Khai becomes—not who the media wants her to be, but the actual person.
What We Can Learn from Gigi’s Parenting
It’s easy to look at a supermodel and think her life is unreachable. But at the core, Gigi’s approach to motherhood is something a lot of people are starting to lean into. It’s about boundaries.
- Protect the Digital Footprint: You don’t have to post your kid’s face to prove you’re a good parent. In fact, keeping them offline is a gift they’ll appreciate later.
- Flexible Co-Parenting: Putting the ego aside and having each other's backs—even after a messy public split—is the ultimate win for the child.
- Follow Their Lead: Whether it's breakfast or a trip to the Museum of Natural History, letting the kid's interests dictate the day keeps things authentic.
Khai Malik is five years old now. She’s starting school, she’s exploring New York, and she’s doing it all without a camera lens permanently fixed on her face. That’s a massive win in 2026.
If you’re looking to follow Gigi’s lead on privacy, start by checking your own social media settings. You can choose to share "moments" rather than "identities." Blur those faces, keep the location tags off, and let your kids just be kids for as long as possible. It’s the one thing they can’t get back once it’s gone.