In a cover story for Vogue magazine, supermodel Bella Hadid opens up about intimate topics like dealing with an eating disorder and coping with mental illness. But what stands out most is the 25-year-old’s unexpected regret over getting plastic surgery as a teenager.
In the interview, Hadid publicly admitted for the first time (after years of overwhelming media speculation and her own continued denials) that she did have a nose job at the age of 14. She explained that she had the procedure because she always felt “uglier” than her sister, fellow supermodel Gigi. Considering how few celebrities – especially models like Hadid – have publicly admitted to having plastic surgery, the honesty itself is significant. But ultimately, it’s what happened after her confession that matters, with Hadid saying that she now wishes she “kept her ancestral nose” and believes it will “grow into” her natural nose over time.
With more than 50 million followers on Instagram and global fame, Hadid has a huge influence, especially among millennials and Gen Z groups. Paparazzi shots of her wearing tiny sunglasses or carrying a ’90s-style shoulder bag have helped fuel the popularity of nostalgic fashion trends. As she confessed to Vogue, her style has been so widely copied that she can look around and “see a hundred people wearing the same thing as me.” Even those who don’t follow her on social media may be influenced by her fashion style.
Hadid’s style is obviously influential, but so is her facial structure. Plastic surgeons say her nose is considered a desirable shape by those considering a facelift. A British doctor told the Daily Mail in 2021 that her nose was the most popular face shape last year. Many of those requests may come from teenagers. In 2020, teenagers underwent 229,000 cosmetic surgeries, including 88,000 surgeries, according to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ plastic surgery statistics report. Nose jobs are by far the most popular choice, with more than 44,686 procedures recorded among teenagers.
Of course, there’s no way to know exactly how much plastic surgery was inspired by Hadid’s face. While side-by-side photos of Hadid as a pre-fame teen and adult have long fueled rumors of plastic surgery, she’s never previously admitted to having surgery. But that’s just one of the big reasons she’s on the cover of Vogue. Plastic surgery is a major, life-changing decision. We see the finished product, but behind the scenes, the procedure can come with physical side effects like scarring and nerve damage, and, often, mental health consequences like post-operative depression or increased body dysmorphia. The latter can be particularly challenging for teens, one in seven of whom suffer from a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization, and whose brains and bodies are still developing.
The negative effects of unrealistic beauty standards are amplified on social media, which can be particularly damaging to Hadid’s main fan base. A bombshell 2021 Wall Street Journal report on internal Facebook research found that 6% of teens with suicidal thoughts cited Instagram as a reason for their suicide. According to an internal Facebook report, “32% of teenage girls say Instagram makes them feel worse when they’re unhappy with their body.” With its endless stream of models and influencers, Instagram gives its most impressionable users ample reason to feel insecure about their looks. Moreover, when celebrities deny that their altered looks are due to anything other than dieting and good lighting, they risk exacerbating confusion and anxiety among their young fans.
Hadid points out that her acclaimed looks also came with a very specific cost—a loss of connection to her heritage. And, as she says, she had no idea what she would look like as an adult. She’s clearly benefited from her teenage decision, too: Hadid is now one of the highest-paid models in the world. But as she told Vogue, the decision she made at age 14, with her parents’ approval, still haunts her today. It’s a reality more celebrities need to be honest about.
Hadid’s candor won’t upend beauty standards or stop every teenager considering plastic surgery from going for it. Frustratingly, her candor comes too late, after both the model and her mother, Real Housewives star Yolanda Hadid, repeatedly assured her that she had never altered her looks through plastic surgery or fillers. For some, the star’s candor today may not be enough to make up for years of denial. But for others, Hadid’s candor may help them see past the portrayal of their image through TikTok and Instagram filters, and feel confident that they are already the best version of themselves, without the need for plastic surgery.
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