Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid’s half-sister Aydan Nix opens up

Aydan Nix is opening up about what it has been like discovering a new family connection, and how her life has shifted since learning she is the half-sister of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid.

In a deeply personal essay published by The Cut on Dec. 30, the 23-year-old reflected on her journey after learning that Mohamed Hadid is her biological father. 

Aydan, whose mother is Terri Hatfield Dull, shared how she was welcomed by the Hadid family and how the experience reshaped her understanding of identity, belonging and family.

“My sisters (along with the rest of the family) have been nothing but warm and generous,” she wrote. 

“They have made space for me in ways they didn’t have to. They’ve been kind.”

Aydan revealed that after discovering her connection to the Hadids, she became deeply interested in learning more about her heritage. 

She credited Gigi, Bella, and their siblings, including Alana, Marielle and Anwar, for helping her navigate that journey. 

“Alana sent me resources and inspired me to become active in the fight for Palestine’s freedom,” she shared, adding that Gigi introduced her to Palestinian food while Anwar helped spark her interest through his work.

Despite the warmth, Aydan admitted the adjustment wasn’t simple. 

She described the emotional complexity of finding family later in life, explaining that she felt pressure to make up for lost time. 

“I was trying to find my place in a family I never knew I had,” she wrote, recalling moments of bonding that felt both joyful and overwhelming.

She also reflected on her upbringing in Florida and the loss of the father she grew up with, noting that learning the truth reshaped her understanding of family without forgetting the love she had known. 

“It didn’t change who she was to me,” Aydan said of the sister she grew up with, “but it forced me to reorient what family meant.”

Professionally, her life has continued forward at its own pace. 

Aydan shared that she works as a freelance stylist and recently assisted on major fashion projects, including helping backstage at a runway show in Barcelona. 

Still, she emphasized that her day-to-day life remains grounded. 

“I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment… I take the subway or bus to work,” she wrote, adding that despite public curiosity, she’s focused on living authentically.

“I’m doing my best to live my life for me,” Aydan concluded, “and to remember that even with more eyes on me, my life is still my own.”