Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima belong to different generations of fashion, yet their careers have crossed at some of the industry’s most visible institutions. Both became global faces of Maybelline, walked for Versace, and appeared in major Victoria’s Secret productions. They are not related, and there is no verified public evidence of a rivalry between them. Their connection is professional: two internationally known models whose careers show how the meaning of “supermodel” changed between the television era and the social-media age.
Lima built her reputation through exceptional longevity, especially during her years as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. Hadid rose later, combining runway work, magazine covers, beauty campaigns, television, social media, and business ownership. Studied together, their stories reveal two different routes to lasting fame in an industry known for rapid turnover.
Gigi Hadid’s Early Life and Family
Gigi Hadid was born Jelena Noura Hadid on April 23, 1995, in Los Angeles, California. She is an American model of Dutch and Palestinian family heritage. Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, worked as a model before becoming known to television audiences, while her father, Mohamed Hadid, built a career in real-estate development.
Hadid grew up with her younger siblings, Bella and Anwar Hadid, who also entered modeling. Her family background gave her early exposure to fashion, photography, and public life, though her adult career still required her to secure repeat work from designers, magazines, and global brands. She attended Malibu High School and later moved to New York, where she briefly studied criminal psychology at The New School before concentrating fully on modeling.
Her first experience in front of a professional camera came during childhood. Paul Marciano of Guess discovered her when she was very young, and she appeared in Baby Guess advertising. She later stepped away from regular modeling to focus on school before returning as a teenager.
Adriana Lima’s Early Life and Upbringing
Adriana Lima was born on June 12, 1981, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. She was raised primarily by her mother, Maria da Graça Lima, after her parents separated when she was young. Lima has described a childhood far removed from the international fashion circles she later entered.
Her route into modeling began through competitions rather than family connections. At age 15, she won Ford Models’ Supermodel of Brazil contest. She later placed second in the agency’s international Supermodel of the World competition, giving her a path into the global market.
Lima moved to New York while still young and signed with Elite Model Management. Her early runway work included an appearance for Anna Sui in 1997. From there, she developed a career that moved between high fashion, beauty advertising, editorial work, and large-scale commercial campaigns.
Gigi Hadid’s Career Breakthrough
Hadid signed with IMG Models in 2013 and made her New York Fashion Week debut in 2014. Her rise was fast. Within a short period, she appeared in major fashion magazines, walked for luxury designers, and became a regular presence in campaigns aimed at both fashion insiders and mainstream consumers.
In 2015, Maybelline named her one of its spokesmodels. The beauty contract gave her visibility far beyond runway audiences and placed her among established international models, including Adriana Lima. That same year, Hadid made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut.
Her work expanded across brands such as Versace, Chanel, Balmain, Fendi, Tommy Hilfiger, Miu Miu, Max Mara, Moschino, and Marc Jacobs. She also built a strong editorial record, appearing on numerous international Vogue covers. In 2016, she received the International Model of the Year honor at the British Fashion Awards, presented by Donatella Versace.
Hadid’s success developed during a period when social media had become part of the modeling business. She could speak directly to a large audience while still maintaining a traditional career based on castings, runway appearances, editorial assignments, and brand contracts. Her online reach increased her commercial value, but her staying power came from repeated bookings across more than a decade.
Adriana Lima’s Rise to Global Fame
Lima’s breakthrough became closely tied to Victoria’s Secret. She first worked with the company in the late 1990s and became a contracted Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2000. She remained in that role until 2018, creating one of the longest and most recognizable partnerships in the brand’s history.
Her annual appearances in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show turned her into an international celebrity. She opened shows, wore major fantasy-bra creations, and became one of the company’s most familiar faces. For many viewers, Lima represented the height of the brand’s television era, when the runway show attracted global press, celebrity performers, and large broadcast audiences.
Her career extended well beyond Victoria’s Secret. Lima worked with fashion houses and designers including Prada, Givenchy, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Jason Wu, and Marc Jacobs. She also developed major commercial relationships with Maybelline, Donna Karan, Chopard, and other international companies.
Forbes estimated that Lima earned $10.5 million in 2016, making her one of the world’s highest-paid models that year. That figure represented estimated annual earnings, not her total wealth. It showed how valuable her mixture of long-term contracts, endorsements, fashion work, and public recognition had become.
Where Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima’s Careers Meet
The careers of Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima overlap most clearly through Maybelline, Versace, Max Mara, and Victoria’s Secret. Maybelline linked them as global beauty representatives, though they joined the company at different stages. Lima was already an established commercial star when Hadid entered the brand’s roster in 2015.
Versace placed them together in major runway casts during the mid-2010s. Hadid opened the house’s Fall 2016 show, while Lima appeared among a group of experienced international models. They also walked in the Spring 2017 presentation, where established names and younger social-media-era figures shared the same runway.
The Max Mara Spring 2020 campaign brought them together with Joan Smalls and Irina Shayk. By that point, Hadid was no longer viewed only as a rising model. The campaign presented the women as a group of established global figures with distinct audiences and long commercial records.
Their best-known shared platform remains Victoria’s Secret. Hadid entered the show in 2015 while Lima was already one of its longest-serving Angels. They appeared in the same productions during the final years of the original televised format, creating a visible contrast between a veteran of the brand and a new generation of runway stars.
Victoria’s Secret Angel Status Explained
A common misunderstanding is that both women held the official title of Victoria’s Secret Angel. Lima did. She was a contracted Angel from 2000 until her 2018 departure.
Hadid walked several Victoria’s Secret shows and sometimes wore wings, but she was not publicly identified as a contracted Angel under the company’s older system. The distinction matters because the Angel title referred to an ongoing promotional contract, not simply a place in the annual show.
Lima’s 2018 farewell became one of the most emotional moments in the brand’s history. The company honored her long tenure during the runway production, and she walked alone during a tribute segment. Hadid publicly praised Lima at the time, calling attention to her influence and standing within the organization.
Their public interactions have suggested professional respect. Still, neither woman has described the other as a close private friend in a detailed public statement. It is accurate to call them colleagues and peers whose careers have repeatedly crossed, rather than assume a private relationship that has not been confirmed.
Personal Lives and Children
Gigi Hadid has had several high-profile relationships, though she generally keeps much of her private life outside formal career coverage. Her longest widely reported relationship was with British singer Zayn Malik. The couple welcomed a daughter, Khai, in September 2020.
Hadid and Malik later separated. They have continued to be publicly identified as Khai’s parents, but the details of their co-parenting arrangements remain private. Hadid has been careful about limiting her daughter’s exposure and generally avoids posting clear images of the child’s face.
Adriana Lima married Serbian basketball player Marko Jarić in 2009. They had two daughters, Valentina and Sienna, before announcing their separation in 2014. Their divorce was completed in 2016.
Lima later began a relationship with film producer Andre Lemmers. The couple welcomed a son, Cyan, in August 2022. They have appeared together publicly, though Lima has continued to maintain boundaries around family life and the day-to-day experiences of her children.
Business Ventures and Income Sources
Hadid’s income has come from runway bookings, editorial work, beauty and fashion campaigns, collaborations, television appearances, and licensing arrangements. She has worked on collections with Tommy Hilfiger and other brands, allowing her to move beyond modeling into product development.
In 2022, she launched Guest in Residence, a cashmere clothing company where she serves as founder and creative director. The brand gave her a business identity that did not depend solely on being hired as the face of another company. Her role includes shaping product direction, visual identity, and the public story of the label.
Lima’s income has historically come from modeling contracts, endorsements, runway work, beauty advertising, appearances, and ambassador positions. Her long relationship with Victoria’s Secret formed a major part of her earnings, but work with Maybelline, Donna Karan, Chopard, and other brands added considerable commercial value.
Neither woman has publicly released a verified personal balance sheet. Online net-worth figures should therefore be treated as estimates rather than confirmed facts. Private investments, taxes, property, company ownership, management fees, and contract details are not fully available to the public.
Public Image and Influence
Lima’s public image rests on longevity, discipline, and her connection to a major period in Victoria’s Secret history. She remained visible through changes in fashion, motherhood, and the decline of the original televised runway format. Her later return to major fashion shows showed that her appeal was not limited to nostalgia.
Hadid’s image reflects a newer type of fashion celebrity. She built credibility through designer work while also maintaining direct access to fans, taking creative roles, and launching her own company. Her career has also been shaped by public discussions about privilege, celebrity families, and the influence of social media on casting.
Both women have faced intense scrutiny over appearance, body changes, relationships, and motherhood. Their experiences show how female models are often expected to remain commercially recognizable while their private lives and bodies are treated as public subjects. Each has responded by keeping some family matters private and focusing public attention on professional work.
Recent Work and Current Status
Lima returned to a major fashion-week runway in September 2024, walking for Schiaparelli after a six-year absence from that circuit. She also returned to Victoria’s Secret events and campaigns, showing that her 2018 farewell had ended her original Angel tenure rather than her relationship with fashion.
Hadid continued to divide her time between modeling and Guest in Residence. Her recent work has included runway appearances, fashion and fragrance campaigns, editorials, and business projects. She remains active rather than functioning only as a former model or celebrity founder.
Both appeared in the revived Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2024 and returned again for the 2025 production. Hadid opened the 2024 show, while Lima’s appearance connected the new production to the brand’s earlier era. As of 2026, both continue to receive current fashion and campaign work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima related?
No. Gigi Hadid was born in Los Angeles and comes from the Hadid family, while Adriana Lima was born in Salvador, Brazil. There is no family connection between them.
Are Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima friends?
They appear to share a respectful professional relationship, and Hadid has publicly praised Lima. A close private friendship has not been publicly confirmed.
Did Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima model together?
Yes. They have appeared in the same Versace runway casts, Victoria’s Secret shows, and the Max Mara Spring 2020 campaign. They also took part in the revived Victoria’s Secret productions in 2024 and 2025.
Were both official Victoria’s Secret Angels?
No. Adriana Lima was a contracted Angel from 2000 to 2018. Gigi Hadid walked in several shows but was not publicly listed as an official Angel under the older contract structure.
Who is older, Gigi Hadid or Adriana Lima?
Adriana Lima is older. She was born on June 12, 1981, while Gigi Hadid was born on April 23, 1995.
Do Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima have children?
Yes. Hadid has one daughter, Khai, with Zayn Malik. Lima has two daughters with former husband Marko Jarić and a son with Andre Lemmers.
What are Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima doing now?
Hadid continues modeling while leading her cashmere company, Guest in Residence. Lima has returned to major runway and campaign work, including renewed appearances connected with Victoria’s Secret.
Conclusion
Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima became famous under different conditions. Lima rose through competitions, agency work, television exposure, and one of fashion’s longest commercial partnerships. Hadid entered a more digitally connected industry where models could combine luxury work, personal media, collaborations, and company ownership.
Their careers are often compared because they have shared runways and brands, but the comparison works best without turning it into a contest. Lima’s record is built on endurance and a strong association with the classic Angel era. Hadid’s record reflects expansion into creative direction and business while maintaining a place in high fashion.
Both have remained visible after motherhood and after major changes in the fashion industry. Their continuing work in 2026 shows that lasting model careers depend on more than beauty or public attention. Adaptability, professionalism, commercial identity, and the ability to grow beyond one moment have kept both women relevant.
The story of Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima is therefore less about rivalry than succession and overlap. They represent two chapters of supermodel culture, connected by the same global stages but shaped by very different media worlds.
