Model Bella Hadid has spoken frankly about her debilitating chronic condition that makes even mundane tasks a challenge.
The 28-year-old American runway star has spoken openly about her chronic Lyme disease, with which she was diagnosed in 2012.
Bella, her brother Anwar, 25, and their mother, Yolanda, 61, all have the chronic illness. It refers to non-specific symptoms (such as extreme fatigue, muscle pain, and brain fog) to describe their condition, even if there is no evidence that they had Lyme disease before.
In a new interview, the Victoria’s Secret angel reflected on the struggles she’s faced in conjunction with the effects of depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), endometriosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
‘There are days that I felt down on myself for being so sensitive,’ she began.
‘For apologising so much, or saying thank you so much, or whatever the things are that sometimes people make fun of me for, where I’m overcompensating.’
Bella admitted to British Vogue that she believes ‘nobody really understands chronic illness.’
‘It’s hard to take a shower most days,’ she shared, before joking that she does ‘shower every day’.
‘But sometimes, if I have one day off, if I can get in the shower and make myself breakfast, I see that as an accomplishment.’
The interview was recorded at 3pm that day, with Bella revealing she was in ‘excruciating pain until 11’ after a ‘tough morning’.
‘Can you make this all sound a little bit prettier and less dramatic?’, she asked the interviewer.
Bella, who often works 14-hour days on set for films and shoots, has to ‘push [herself]’ to get through, with things often getting ‘really bad’ amid the comedown.
The younger Hadid sister is still working on her self-confidence, having fallen victim to ‘toxicity’ on social media.
‘I’m back in therapy working on my confidence and my self-love issues.’
As for the future, Bella ‘can’t wait’ to become a mother.
The supermodel has been dating cowboy Adan Banuelos for over a year now, and has been left feeling broody after watching her ‘superhero’ sister Gigi raise four-year-old daughter Khai, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik.
‘Family is on my mind,’ she confessed to the magazine’s June issue. ‘I can’t wait to be a mom. I think that I’m somebody for a lot of people. But in the real intimate way of being the person that somebody can count on consistently, that will change my life for me. And I cannot wait.’
She added that her niece is ‘the best thing since sliced bread.’
‘I want to be the best auntie to her.’
And it seems children are a huge focus for her in many ways at the moment, as Bella’s ‘biggest dream’ is to open a summer camp aimed at kids with her partner.
She said they often have chats about how her ‘passion is philanthropy’ because she wants to use her wealth and earning power to help others around the world.
Bella is famous for her activism, having been a vocal supporter of Palestine for a long time and also protesting against Donald Trump.
Just last year, she and Gigi donated $1million (£752k) to support Palestinian relief efforts amid the Gaza war, splitting the money between four charities
See the full feature in the June issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday, May 20.
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