Hanne Gaby Odiele is a vibe. If you’ve followed high fashion at all over the last two decades, you’ve seen that face—the sharp cheekbones, the deep-set eyes, and an energy that feels less like a mannequin and more like a high-voltage wire. They aren't just another model who walked for Chanel or Prada.
They’re a disruptor.
Born in Kortrijk, Belgium, Hanne Gaby Odiele didn't take the traditional path to superstardom. Honestly, their career started with a bit of a fluke. Discovered at a rock festival in Belgium by Tom Van Dorpe, they were quickly thrust into the meat grinder of international fashion weeks. But while most models from that era—the mid-2000s "doll face" boom—faded into obscurity, Hanne stayed. They stuck around because they were interesting.
The Street Style Pioneer Who Didn't Care About Trends
Before Instagram was a thing, there was street style. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, photographers like Tommy Ton and Phil Oh were basically obsessed with Hanne. Why? Because Hanne Gaby Odiele dressed like they were from a future where rules didn't exist. They would mix vintage sportswear with high-end couture and clunky orthopedic-looking shoes long before "ugly chic" became a marketing strategy for Balenciaga.
It wasn't curated by a stylist. It was just them.
This authenticity is exactly what kept them booked. Designers like Alexander Wang and Dries Van Noten saw a muse in Hanne because they brought a specific, chaotic intelligence to the clothes. You can’t teach that. You either have that weird, magnetic spark or you don’t. Hanne has it in spades.
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They've walked for everyone. Seriously. Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Rodarte, Calvin Klein. The list is endless. But the clothes were always secondary to the person wearing them. In an industry that often tries to erase the individual to highlight the brand, Hanne Gaby Odiele refused to be erased.
The 2017 Revelation That Rocked the Industry
In 2017, Hanne Gaby Odiele did something incredibly brave. They came out as intersex.
At the time, nobody in the mainstream fashion world was talking about being intersex. Most people didn't even know what it meant. Hanne partnered with interACT, an advocacy group, to share their story. They revealed that they were born with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). This means they were born with internal testes but have the outward physical traits of a woman.
The most heart-wrenching part of their story wasn't the biology. It was the "corrective" surgeries they were forced into as a child without their consent.
"I am proud to be intersex," Hanne told USA Today at the time. "But I am very angry that these surgeries are still happening."
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By speaking out, Hanne Gaby Odiele broke a massive taboo. They shifted the conversation from "pretty clothes" to "human rights." They explained how doctors pressured their parents into surgeries that were medically unnecessary and physically traumatizing. It was a huge moment. It made people realize that the gender binary isn't just a social construct—it's something that medicine has been trying to enforce through scalpels for decades.
Understanding Intersex Advocacy Through a Fashion Lens
The impact was immediate. Hanne became the face of a movement. They started using their platform—which was built on aesthetic perfection—to talk about the messiness of medical ethics. They didn't just mention it once in a tweet. They made it their mission.
- They advocated for the end of non-consensual surgeries on intersex infants.
- They pushed for better representation in media.
- They helped people realize that being intersex is actually quite common—roughly 1.7% of the population, which is about the same percentage of people born with red hair.
Think about that. You probably know someone who is intersex and you don't even know it. Hanne made it okay to talk about.
Survival and Resilience in a Brutal Business
It’s easy to look at a successful model and think it’s all private jets and champagne. It’s not. Hanne’s career was almost cut short very early on. In 2006, they were hit by a car in New York City.
It was bad. Both of their legs were broken.
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The doctors told them they might not walk the same way again, let alone walk a runway. Most people would have quit. But Hanne isn't "most people." They went through months of intense physical therapy. They stayed away from the spotlight, healed, and then came back stronger than ever. That kind of grit is what defines them. Whether it’s recovering from a literal car crash or dismantling systemic medical trauma, Hanne Gaby Odiele is a fighter.
They eventually came out as non-binary as well, using they/them pronouns. This felt like a natural progression for someone who had spent their whole life being told they had to fit into a specific box and deciding to kick the sides of the box out instead.
Why We Still Talk About Hanne Gaby Odiele Today
The fashion industry moves fast. Models are often treated like seasonal produce—fresh for a few months, then tossed aside for the next big thing. Hanne has stayed relevant for two decades. That’s a lifetime in this world.
They’ve transitioned from being a "cool girl" model to a legitimate cultural icon.
When you see a model today who isn't afraid to look "weird" or who speaks out about social justice, they are standing on Hanne’s shoulders. Hanne proved that you can have a high-fashion career and a soul at the same time. You don’t have to be a blank canvas. You can be a loud, opinionated, intersex, non-binary human being and still be the most beautiful person in the room.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Their Journey
If you’re inspired by Hanne’s story, don't just look at their runway photos. Look at the work they do with interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth.
- Educate yourself on intersex rights: Most people don't realize that "corrective" surgeries on infants are still legal in most parts of the world.
- Support inclusive brands: Look for labels that don't just use diverse models for "clout" but actually support the causes those models represent.
- Challenge the binary: Hanne’s career teaches us that gender and identity are vast. We don't need to fit into small categories to be successful.
- Check out the "Street Style" archives: Go back and look at Hanne’s outfits from 2010 to 2014. It’s a masterclass in personal style that ignores what’s "in" or "out."
Hanne Gaby Odiele showed the world that beauty isn't about what you lack or what you've had "fixed." It’s about the parts of you that are unique, even the parts that society tells you to hide. They took the ultimate risk by sharing their truth, and in doing so, they gave a voice to millions of people who felt invisible. That’s the kind of legacy that lasts way longer than a magazine cover.