US supermodel says ‘I am proud to be a Muslim’
- By Web Desk -
- Apr 05, 2017
American supermodel Bella Hadid has opened up about her faith and her father’s immigration.
In an interview with a fashion magazine Porter, she said her father was a refugee and she was proud to be a Muslim.
“My dad was a refugee when he first came to America, so it’s actually very close to home for my sister and brother and me,” Bella said. “He was always religious, and he always prayed with us. I am proud to be a Muslim.”
Bella is a daughter of Yolanda and Mohamed Hadid, a real estate mogul. Yolanda is Dutch and Mohamed was born in Israel and has lived in Syria and Lebanon before emigrating to the US at the age of 14.
Read More: Angelina Jolie speaks against Trump travel ban
People were enraged after US President Donald Trump first announced the immigration ban against seven Muslim countries. Thousands, including Hollywood celebrities and fashion models, flooded on the streets to protest against the controversial presidential order.
Bella and her sister Gigi were also seen protesting against Trump’s Muslim travel ban in New York City in February. Then Bella told a fashion magazine Ella that she marched because she had a “diverse background” and believed that “all people deserve kindness and respect.”
“We shouldn’t treat people as if they don’t deserve kindness just because of their ethnicities,” she told Elle. “It’s just not right. And that message—to be compassionate whenever possible—that’s so important to me.”
“I left the march really energised. I felt very optimistic afterwards,” she said.