IN CONVERSATION WITH YOLANDA HADID
interview by MAREK BARTEK
Numéro Netherlands presents YOLANDA HADID as cover star of our 11th issue. The runway model turned Real Housewives star, mother, and grandmother – is a driving force and an icon of both the reality television realm and the fashion industry. Coming from a small village in South Holland, she has paved her way into the world of glamour, only to return to a peaceful life on the farm.
full look DOLCE & GABBANA
jewellery CARTIER
If you had a chance to introduce yourself without any constraints, how would you like to be known? Who is the real YOLANDA HADID?
My name is YOLANDA van den HERIK-HADID. I’m proud to be 100 percent Dutch at heart, but I’m grateful for all the opportunities America has given me. My greatest joy in life has been the gift of motherhood, and my greatest accomplishment has been raising and guiding my three children.
You were discovered at a FRANS MOLENAAR show, after you were asked to replace one of the models, which sounds almost like a scene from the movies. When we chatted before, you mentioned something to me that really stuck in my head. You said that you ‘have started modelling not for fame but because you really needed to make money.’ Can you tell me more about the beginning of your modelling career?
I never dreamed of being a model. I had never even seen a fashion magazine before I was discovered by PIETER van der VLIET from INTERMODEL, who was also a scout for EILEEN FORD in New York. My mother, brother Leo and I lived a very humble life, which was the greatest gift of my childhood, because it is what made me driven to be successful and financially independent. I grew up at the barn and my heart was set on being a professional horseback rider, but we couldn’t afford fancy horses or a lifestyle to make that dream a reality.
Once I was discovered, my mom told me that I should take the opportunity because that would give me the financial ability to buy horses. Sure enough, I was one of the few models that hit a lucky streak and I started working immediately after I arrived in Paris, Milan, and New York. My driving force has always been horses. I wanted to work hard so that I could return to Holland and start my horse business, and here we are now forty years later, I live on a horse farm, just not in Holland.
turtleneck, shoes, and jewellery DIOR
jacket LOEWE
panties DOLCE & GABBANA
After 15 years of a successful career, you decided to settle down and start a family. In today’s world, it almost feels like women are pressured to ‘have it all’ and manage successful careers while being devoted wives and role model mothers. Have you ever regretted pausing your modelling career and devoting all your time to your family?
Travelling the world for 15 years was enough for me, I was ready to make a home and start my family. For me, becoming a mother has always been the greatest honour of my life. Being a single mom to three children required me to be home. I had a small interior design company on the side during those years, but my main job was raising my children.
In 2018, you hosted a TV show called MAKING A MODEL WITH YOLANDA HADID and later on you moved on to being a judge on HOLLAND’s NEXT TOP MODEL. As a seasoned model, what do you think is the biggest change in the industry compared to when you were starting out?
The biggest change in our industry is the addition of social media. The global recognition and fame that comes with it is something we’ve never seen before.
coat BOSS
shoes JIMMY CHOO
A question from all aspiring models: What do you think makes a great model these days?
A great model, to me, is somebody that can be a chameleon – a person that has a certain vulnerability and magnetic energy, along with the ability to express that in front of a camera.
For the latest edition of HOLLAND’s NEXT TOP MODEL, you have joined as the main judge. What has this season been like for you?
This season of HOLLAND's NEXT TOP MODEL was exciting for me because I was given the role of a coach, which is more aligned with my interests. I think in today’s world there is too much judgement in everyday life through social media, so I would rather have a positive supporting role in the development of young talent. It has been nice to share my wisdom from the past 40 years in this industry. It is exactly what I did with my children in the early stages of their careers.
You have starred in one of the most iconic reality TV shows, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS. With every episode packed with some drama, there has always been a lot of gossip and rumours and fans guessing what is going on. I would love to know first-hand though, what was the reason you have decided to join the show in the first place and how was the experience for you?
I joined the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills because I always wanted to launch a home accessory business. Unfortunately, I became very ill shortly after I started filming the show. Nine months into the first year, I was diagnosed with chronic neurological Lyme disease.
It was a very difficult time in my life because I was severely debilitated with a disease that nobody knew much about. It was difficult to stay committed to the three seasons I was on, but it was a blessing to be able to bring awareness to Lyme disease and to try to find a cure that is affordable for all.
jumper RALPH LAUREN
trousers STELLA MCCARTNEY
Being a fan of THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS and having friends who have watched the show religiously, something we have all agreed on is that you have always been a voice of reason and trying to give everyone a chance. In the environment where it seemed quite easy to pick up a fight, was it important for you to stay grounded?
It is a non-scripted reality show, so what you see is what you get. I was just being myself to the best of my ability during the most difficult time of my life. I think my humble and realistic point of view is nothing other than my Dutch upbringing.
After the sixth season, you have made a decision to leave the show due to health issues connected to Lyme disease. Over this period, you have been suspected to a lot of doubt over actually having Lyme disease by many, which couldn’t have been easy. Why was it important for you to keep fighting to bring awareness to the “invisible disability”?
Receiving judgement and doubt from others was probably one of the most painful experiences in my life, but it was an accurate representation of what it’s like to live with the invisible disability of chronic Lyme disease. I wasn’t looking for any sympathy, but I was looking for a cure that could heal this horrific disease that had taken over my life, and the lives of two of my children. I often prayed to God that if I lived, I would spend the rest of my life helping others and continuing to search for a cure that is affordable for all.
left
full look AMI
right
jacket SPORTMAX
panties DOLCE & GABBANA
jewellery CARTIER
boots AGL
What adjustments have you had to make to your lifestyle in order to make it easier for you to deal with the effects Lyme disease had on your health?
I was forced to make drastic lifestyle changes. I needed to get away from Hollywood, check into a lifestyle that resonated more with who I am as a human being, and be in an energetic field that I could heal in. I ended up living the farm life, exactly where I started 60 years ago. It’s all come full circle really.
Your book BELIEVE ME: MY BATTLE WITH THE INVISIBLE DISABILITY OF LYME DISEASE sheds some light on life with Lyme disease. If there was one thing you’d like readers to take from the book, what would it be?
My book is an honest and raw story of my lyme journey and the deep suffering of a person with a chronic disease, it gives insight of how my family and I navigated our way through it.
coat and trousers STELLA MCCARTNEY
top DOLCE & GABBANA
shoes JIMMY CHOO
All in all, I am curious to know how you are doing now?
Knock on wood, I am doing great now but unfortunately, I have experienced many ups and downs in the past 15 years. I don’t remember what normal life feels like, but I’ve learned how to ride the waves of life with this debilitating disease.
I don’t like to talk about it very much anymore, I rather just buckle down and continue to do the work. I still travel all over the world and continue to try new things. I was recently in Malaysia to work with Dr. Chan, a world-renowned stem cell doctor, and the results are very promising. Unfortunately, I have not found a cure yet, but I will continue my search for as long as I live and when I finally do I will for sure write another book about it.
Last but not least, what makes you happy these days?
What makes me happy these days is spending time with my family. Being a mom is my greatest accomplishment, and still my number one priority in life. The greatest gift of my life is my granddaughter Khai who turned four in September. I never imagined that being an Oma would be such an extraordinary experience. I feel like I grew a whole other heart for this magical little being that has blessed my life with so much love and joy.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent YOLANDA HADID
photography PHILIPPE V
styling GABRIELLA NORBERG
hair HESTER WERNERT RIJN using Ukysah and Authentic Beauty Concept
make up DOMINIQUE SAMUEL
styling assistant MAREK BARTEK
lighting ROB BOWLER & DEBORAH DEMI
digital operator BART VAN STAVEREN
production and editor TIMI LETONJA
location STAL WILTEN BY ROY WILTEN
interview MAREK BARTEK
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
