Gigi Hadid was supposed to have another major fashion moment in Paris. Instead, the supermodel found herself at the center of an old debate all over again.
Keep reading to learn more.
Gigi Hadid closed Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2027 show in Paris on October 4, stepping onto the runway in a sporty-meets-glamorous look that perfectly matched designer Miuccia Prada’s collection.
But once footage of her final walk began circulating online, some viewers weren’t talking about the clothes.
They were talking about Gigi’s walk and whether she really earned her place among fashion’s biggest models.
One person wrote, “Supermodels era ended at 2005. Since then we’ve only had nepo babies or instagram models.” Another person added, “Most models aren’t good looking. Case in point this nepo baby.”
Gigi Hadid closed Miu Miu’s latest show in a sporty-meets-glamorous look
Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, titled “Here and Now,” played with the contrast between everyday sportswear and more glamorous, sophisticated pieces.
Hadid’s closing look captured that idea perfectly.
She walked out wearing a charcoal-gray performance jersey top with a dramatic halter neckline and an ultra-low back, paired with a matching low-slung pleated skirt.
The skirt was decorated with rows of sparkling embellishments along its sides, giving the athletic-inspired outfit a much more glamorous finish.
She completed the look with colorful sneakers, gemstone earrings and her hair pulled back.
It was certainly a memorable way to close the show.
But for some viewers, the outfit wasn’t what stood out.
Viewers quickly turned their attention to Gigi’s runway walk
As clips of the model’s appearance spread across social media, commenters began dissecting everything from her posture to her facial expression and the way she moved down the runway.
“Gigi is a naturally beautiful girl but her walk here is not it and I love Miu Miu however this look is not flattering,” one person wrote.
“Why does she have a soldier walk?” another added.
A third viewer argued that Hadid has never had the kind of commanding runway presence associated with some of fashion’s most celebrated models.
“I miss real models. Where are the 90’s esque fierce models at?” one viewer wrote. The criticism wasn’t limited to her runway technique.
Once the debate started, many people brought up the same question that has followed Gigi for years:
How much of her success came from talent, and how much came from her family connections?
Gigi has actually admitted that she is a “nepotism baby”
Unlike some celebrities who have strongly rejected the label, Hadid has openly acknowledged that she benefited from being born into a well-connected family. In a 2023 interview, she said,“Technically I’m a nepotism baby.”
But she also pushed back against the idea that having famous or successful parents meant she didn’t have to work for her career.
Her parents, she explained, had always taught her that their success didn’t give her an excuse to be lazy or difficult. Hadid said she understood that she had advantages other aspiring models didn’t have but believed she still needed to show up, work hard and treat people well.
Her mother was already a successful model before Gigi entered the industry
And it’s easy to see why the nepotism discussion follows Gigi.
Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, was already an established model long before Gigi became famous.
The Dutch model worked internationally, including in major fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan, New York and Los Angeles, before later becoming a television personality on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Gigi’s father, Mohamed Hadid, also built a successful career as a real estate developer.
So fashion wasn’t an unfamiliar world when Gigi began modeling.
She grew up around people who already understood the industry, and she had access to connections and opportunities that many aspiring models could only dream about.
Gigi started modeling as a child
In fact, Hadid’s modeling career began long before she became a global supermodel.
She worked with Guess as a child, appearing in campaigns for Baby Guess and Guess Kids.
Her mother’s career meant that Gigi was already familiar with the fashion world, while her family connections helped put her in rooms where other young models might never have had access.
Eventually, she signed with IMG Models and began building a career of her own.
And there was no shortage of success.
She went on to appear on major magazine covers, front campaigns for luxury brands and walk for some of the biggest names in fashion.
She became one of the most recognizable models of her generation.
But critics still question how much of her success was earned
That’s what makes the debate so difficult to settle.
There is little question that Gigi entered the industry with significant advantages.
At the same time, she has spent years working at the highest level of fashion and has continued to book major campaigns and runway appearances.
Even Gigi herself doesn’t deny the privilege.
She has simply argued that having an easier entrance doesn’t mean you can stay successful without putting in the work.
And that distinction is at the heart of the ongoing “nepo baby” debate surrounding her.
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