Bella Hadid is getting real about the emotional toll of her health struggles. In a candid interview with her sister Gigi Hadid for Vogue Italy, the supermodel opened up about what it felt like to step away from work while undergoing treatment for Lyme disease. For nearly a year, she had to say no to every job that came her way. And that silence from the industry taught her a painful lesson about self – worth.
The Emotional Cost of Saying No
Bella, now 29, was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2023 at just 16 years old. But last year, her condition required intensive treatment that forced her to pause her career entirely. For someone whose life and identity are deeply tied to work, that pause came with unexpected emotional weight.
“I was emotional because you feel disposable”, Bella told Gigi in the interview published February 23.
For years, she had operated with a mindset that saying no to a job was simply not an option. Turning down work felt like turning down her own value. But the treatment left her with no choice. She had to step back, whether the industry understood or not.
Learning a New Definition of Self-Worth
The time away forced Bella to rethink her relationship with her career. She came to a simple but powerful realization. Her worth is not determined by the jobs she accepts or the projects she turns down.
“How good I am doesn’t have to do with the jobs that I say yes to,” she explained.
She had to release the fear saying no would make her forgettable. Instead, she chose to trust that people know her heart, her personality, and who she truly is. That trust allowed her to be more selective, saying yes only to work with people she loves, respects, and supports.
Learning Boundaries from Gigi
Bella also credited her sister Gigi with showing her what healthy boundaries look like. Watching Gigi advocate for herself in the industry became a model for how Bella wanted to navigate her own career.
“It’s so important, not only advocating for yourself, but for your friends and people around you”, Bella said. She described watching friends succeed and feel inspired as one of the most energizing parts of her work now.
New Creative Risks and Acting Debut
Stepping back from the runway did not mean stepping away from creativity. Bella has taken on a new challenge: acting. She is set to appear in Ryan Murphy’s new show, The Beauty.
The experience pusher her far outside her comfort zone. Murphy encouraged her to let go of control, especially the need to look perfect or perform flawlessly. Instead, she channeled her physical and emotional pain into the character.
“I was able to really manifest that in my body and put it into the art and to the work”, Bella shared. “That, for me, was really fulfilling to be able to express myself in that way”.
A Career of Bold Fashion Choices
Throughout her career, Bella has never shield away from taking risks on the red carpet. From spray – painted latex dresses at Paris Fashion Week to sheer gowns at Cannes and daring cutouts at the Met Gala, she has consistently pushed boundaries. Her willingness to be bold in fashion mirrors the vulnerability she is now bringing to her personal life and new creative ventures.
Bella Hadid’s journey through Lyme disease treatment taught her something no photoshoot or runway show ever could. She learned that her value does not come from constant visibility or nonstop work. It comes from knowing herself, setting boundaries, and choosing projects that align with her heart. At 29, she is not just a model recovering her health. She is an artist discovering new ways to express herself, on screen and off.
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