Bella Hadid is opening up about one of the hardest chapters of her career—and why she walked away from modeling for nearly a full year.
In a candid conversation with sister Gigi Hadid for Vogue Italia, the 29-year-old supermodel revealed that ongoing Lyme disease treatment forced her to turn down every job offer for almost 12 months. The decision, she admitted, came with an emotional toll. “It was emotionally draining because you feel disposable,” Bella shared, describing the fear that the fashion industry might simply move on without her.
Diagnosed with Lyme disease at 16, Bella has undergone intermittent treatment for years while juggling one of the most demanding careers in fashion. The illness can cause joint pain, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, and other debilitating symptoms. Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and brother, Anwar Hadid, also live with the condition. Bella completed an intensive round of treatment last September before gradually stepping back into high-profile fashion events.
Stepping away from work forced her to reevaluate her relationship with success. For years, she said, she felt she had no right to decline opportunities. “For the longest time, I felt like I had no right to turn down any job,” she admitted. Therapy helped her untangle her self-worth from her productivity. Now, she says she’s focused on collaborating only with people she loves and trusts. “I’ve realized that I’m enough,” she said.
During her break, Bella found comfort in a quieter life in Texas, spending time with her horses and her dog. She described the experience as grounding, saying that returning to work after living a more “real” life has made her career feel more fulfilling rather than overwhelming.
Bella has long been transparent about her health journey. In a previous Instagram post, she described the confusing reality of being gravely ill while outwardly surrounded by privilege and opportunity. “Being so ill while surrounded by blessings… was perhaps the most confusing experience of my life,” she once wrote. After completing treatment in 2023, she told fans she was finally feeling healthy again.
Even so, setbacks have continued. In September 2025, she shared photos from a hospital bed with a brief caption apologizing for going quiet online. Yolanda later posted supportive messages, praising her daughter’s resilience and calling her a “fierce warrior.”
Now, as Bella returns to the spotlight on her own terms, she’s making it clear that protecting her health and peace comes first—even in an industry that rarely slows down.
