Bella Hadid: battling Lyme disease behind the scenes of her modeling career
20 september 2025 в 00:13
Frequent cover star of Vogue and runway darling Bella Hadid has become a household name in the fashion world, admired by top designers and millions of online fans. But behind the glamour of the 28-year-old girl lies years of pain due to her ongoing battle with Lyme disease. Bella first revealed her diagnosis in 2016 — the same year her mother, Yolanda Hadid, shared on «The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills» that two of her children also struggled with this disease.
In 2023, Bella stepped back from modeling to undergo intensive treatment, and later shared a positive update, but health issues persist. Recently, she posted a series of selfies from the hospital on Instagram, reigniting concern among her fans and reminding everyone how difficult her journey has been.
Keep reading to learn all about her illness, how Bella is feeling today, and much more.
Although the style icon did not disclose her health condition until 2016, she was first diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2013, according to Yolanda’s official blog on Bravo. In the post, the proud mother of three children shared how her health became a constant topic on «The Real Housewives» franchise, but she also wrote about Bella’s condition and her son, Anwar Hadid.
«Bella and Anwar were diagnosed at the end of 2013 and have been on extensive holistic treatment ever since», - wrote the TV personality at the time. «Very often, several family members suffer from Lyme disease. The children and I lived on a horse farm in Santa Barbara for 10 years and spent most of our time outdoors in nature». Later in the post, Yolanda revealed that her daughter, then 16, had to give up her lifelong dream of becoming a professional equestrian due to her severe symptoms and inability to ride.
«Bella was forced to give up her lifelong dream of a professional equestrian career and a chance at the Olympics because of her severe symptoms and inability to ride», - continued Bella’s mother. «It was the biggest disappointment in her life and a very sensitive subject for her. She is resilient and focused on a new direction — she made a name for herself in the modeling industry while battling chronic Lyme symptoms every day».
Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness, meaning a person becomes infected when bitten or stung by «blood-sucking arthropods», - according to the official website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These arthropods can include mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, and approximately 30,000 people are affected by them in the United States each year, according to the health organization’s website. One common treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics or holistic therapies.
Those suffering from Lyme disease often report chronic pain, fatigue, as well as fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that about «70−80 percent» of those infected may develop a rash known as Erythema migrans (EM). Furthermore, many cases of this condition can be cured within a few weeks of taking oral antibiotics, but many experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) after treatment. PTLDS can include symptoms of pain, fatigue, and brain fog.
Bella was diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was around 16 years old, meaning she has been suffering from it for about ten years of her life. After her mother’s blog post about her and her children’s health condition, Bella was featured at the second annual Global Lyme Alliance Gala «Uniting for a Lyme-Free World» in New York in October 2016 (see here). At the event, she delivered a powerful speech about what it was like to be diagnosed with Lyme disease and have her teenage years «taken away» from her.
«I know where you’re coming from, you’re not alone», - Bella told the audience and those suffering from this disease. «My teenage years were taken away from me. I had to start homeschooling in my sophomore year of high school, which was a big blow for me, and I couldn’t ride horses»
In 2023, Bella stepped back from modeling to undergo intensive treatment, and later shared a positive update, but health issues persist. Recently, she posted a series of selfies from the hospital on Instagram, reigniting concern among her fans and reminding everyone how difficult her journey has been.
Keep reading to learn all about her illness, how Bella is feeling today, and much more.
Although the style icon did not disclose her health condition until 2016, she was first diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2013, according to Yolanda’s official blog on Bravo. In the post, the proud mother of three children shared how her health became a constant topic on «The Real Housewives» franchise, but she also wrote about Bella’s condition and her son, Anwar Hadid.
«Bella and Anwar were diagnosed at the end of 2013 and have been on extensive holistic treatment ever since», - wrote the TV personality at the time. «Very often, several family members suffer from Lyme disease. The children and I lived on a horse farm in Santa Barbara for 10 years and spent most of our time outdoors in nature». Later in the post, Yolanda revealed that her daughter, then 16, had to give up her lifelong dream of becoming a professional equestrian due to her severe symptoms and inability to ride.
«Bella was forced to give up her lifelong dream of a professional equestrian career and a chance at the Olympics because of her severe symptoms and inability to ride», - continued Bella’s mother. «It was the biggest disappointment in her life and a very sensitive subject for her. She is resilient and focused on a new direction — she made a name for herself in the modeling industry while battling chronic Lyme symptoms every day».
Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness, meaning a person becomes infected when bitten or stung by «blood-sucking arthropods», - according to the official website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These arthropods can include mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, and approximately 30,000 people are affected by them in the United States each year, according to the health organization’s website. One common treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics or holistic therapies.
Those suffering from Lyme disease often report chronic pain, fatigue, as well as fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that about «70−80 percent» of those infected may develop a rash known as Erythema migrans (EM). Furthermore, many cases of this condition can be cured within a few weeks of taking oral antibiotics, but many experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) after treatment. PTLDS can include symptoms of pain, fatigue, and brain fog.
Bella was diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was around 16 years old, meaning she has been suffering from it for about ten years of her life. After her mother’s blog post about her and her children’s health condition, Bella was featured at the second annual Global Lyme Alliance Gala «Uniting for a Lyme-Free World» in New York in October 2016 (see here). At the event, she delivered a powerful speech about what it was like to be diagnosed with Lyme disease and have her teenage years «taken away» from her.
«I know where you’re coming from, you’re not alone», - Bella told the audience and those suffering from this disease. «My teenage years were taken away from me. I had to start homeschooling in my sophomore year of high school, which was a big blow for me, and I couldn’t ride horses»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
