Gigi Hadid opens up about being body shamed during panel with Ashley Graham and Kendall Jenner

‘Yeah I know I’m skinny, I’m looking in the mirror’

Gigi Hadid has opened up about being body shamed after losing weight, saying that she believes people will always find reason to criticise her body.

Hadid has been under heavy scrutiny ever since signing with IMG Models at the age of 18.

While taking part in a panel discussion on modelling and the #MeToo movement with fellow models Kendall Jenner, Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser and Vogue runway director Nicole Phelps, the model outlined the criticism that she’s received about her body throughout the years.

“I loved my body when I was curvier,” Hadid said. “Then as I lost it people were still mean.”

She continued, explaining the impact that people’s comments have had on her self-esteem.

“Yeah, I know I’m skinny. I’m looking in the mirror,” she said. “I’m trying to eat burgers and do squats.

“I want an ass, too. I get it. I got it. Thank you!”

Ashley Graham, who’s had to deal with her fair share of trolls and body shamers throughout her modelling career, emphasised the need for people to change the way in which they discuss women’s bodies.

“People feel that they have ownership over your body in society today and I think that it’s really ridiculous because you don’t – my body is mine,” she said in response to Hadid’s comments.

“I work out because I want to stay healthy and if I happen to gain 10 pounds or lose 10 pounds it’s none of your business.”

Earlier this year, Hadid tweeted about how her weight has fluctuated over the years as a result of Hashimoto’s disease.

Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder that can cause the thyroid to become damaged.

“For those of you so determined to come up with why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started at 17 I was not yet diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease,” she wrote.

“Those of you who called me ‘too big for the industry’ were seeing inflammation and water retention due to that.”

There have been many calls for the fashion industry to become more diverse and accepting of different ages, races and body types.

Rihanna was praised at this year’s New York Fashion Week for her body-positive line-up of models, which included Hadid, her sister Bella, Slick Woods who was heavily pregnant at the time, Duckie Thot, Joan Smalls and Leomie Anderson.

“This fashion show is diverse in so many different ways,” one person wrote.

“Slick Woods fully pregnant in lingerie at @SavageXFenty! And EVERY other body shape and colour as well. Watch and learn,” another person remarked.