Women We Love: Yolanda Hadid

 
Yolanda Hadid is a self-proclaimed mama bear. She has also been a member of that jolly improv troupe known as "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Never would I have thought I would be writing about one of them, and in truth I'm not. Yolanda Hadid was in the cast for four seasons, from 2012-2016. I've never seen the show.

Mama Bear Yolanda is the mother of supermodels Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid (and son Anwar Hadid). They are the children of her marriage to real estate developer Mohammed Hadid. Yolanda was born in the Netherlands. She was discovered by legendary model star maker Eileen Ford and successfully modeled internationally for 15 years. She married Hadid in 1994 and settled in Los Angeles. They divorced in 2000.

Gigi, Yolanda and Bella

Yolanda married composer/producer David Foster in 2011. He had previously been married to Linda Thompson, former longtime girlfriend of Elvis Presley, who had formerly been married herself to Bruce Jenner. I'd like to be at one of their family reunions... In 2012 Yolanda contracted a severe case of Lyme disease.  She was so debilitated she revealed she had "lost the ability to read, write, or even watch TV." The marriage didn't last. They were divorced in 2016, and she took back the Hadid name.

"Making a Model" cast of hopefuls with Yolanda

 
I never intended to watch "Making a Model", but it came on right after "Project Runway" and was set in my beloved New York City. So I decided to chill with some probably mindless tv. Imagine my surprise when I became fascinated by Yolanda Hadid.

The show gave a group of very young, inexperienced models the opportunity to win challenges with "the possibility of a modeling contract" for the winner. Yolanda early on established herself as a mentor to the girls, teaching them the hard truths about modeling and tools they needed to succeed. She also became a mama bear leader to the girls' mothers, urging them to encourage their daughters with positive feedback as well as letting them know not everyone can be a winner every time.

She used her own experience with her two gorgeous, successful daughters, Gigi and Bella as examples. Despite their glamorous appearances on the runway and in magazines, the girls appear to be natural, unspoiled, and very fond of their mother.

 
Of course she looks great. Her makeup, clothes and hair are appropriate for a woman her age (54). Her wardrobe is hip but understated and is of excellent quality. The fit is perfect. Hair, makeup, accessories are subtle and polished.  She looks toned but—thank the Lord—is not reed slim. Her look may not be my particular style, but I love how she puts herself together.

My interest in Yolanda is the sum of her parts. If she wasn't so patient, encouraging and insightful about her young charges and wise in advising their mothers I wouldn't care how well turned out she is.

The series had a short run on Lifetime. The last 4 or 5 episodes were lumped together one Sunday morning a few weeks ago (not a good sign for a series' chances of renewal).