At a Glance
- 23-year-old Aydan Nix is Gigi and Bella Hadid’s half-sister after a 2023 DNA test.
- She says her new family has been warm and generous.
- Nix balances a freelance wardrobe styling career and life in New York.
- Why it matters: It shows how a recent paternity revelation reshapes family ties and a young designer’s career.
Aydan Nix, 23, recently shared how discovering she shares a father with supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid has altered her sense of family and her career path. She first learned of her connection in May 2023 after a genetic test and has since embraced her new relatives.
Family Connections
Nix described the warmth of her new family:
Aydan Nix wrote:
> “My sisters (along with the rest of the family) have been nothing but warm and generous. They have made space for me in ways they didn’t have to. They’ve been kind.”
She added that her older sisters Marielle and Alana helped her explore her heritage and inspired her activism:
Aydan Nix wrote:
> “Alana sent me resources and inspired me to become active in the fight for Palestine’s freedom. I watched Anwar’s film Walled Off. Gigi took me for my first Palestinian meal and taught me the names of different dishes.”
- Gigi Hadid
- Bella Hadid
- Anwar Hadid
- Marielle Hadid
- Alana Hadid
Personal Journey
Nix, who grew up in Florida and lost her father as a teenager, said she was “trying to find my place in a family I never knew I had; sifting through Bella’s closet and gossiping or laughing at Marielle’s jokes at dinner, but I felt a pressure from myself to somehow make up for lost time.” She also reflected on how the discovery reshaped her view of family:
Aydan Nix wrote:
> “At the same time, I was processing the fact that the older sister I had known my whole life didn’t share my DNA at all. It didn’t change who she was to me, but it forced me to reorient what family meant.”
She now lives in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in the East Village, mooching off her mom and commuting to work by subway or bus.
Career and Lifestyle
A Parsons School of Design graduate, Nix has leveraged her new connections to advance her styling career. She noted closing the Desigual fashion show in Barcelona and working with Gigi’s friend Gabriella Karefa Johnson:
Aydan Nix wrote:
> “I got to close the Desigual fashion show in Barcelona. Gigi introduced me to her friend, Gabriella Karefa Johnson, whom I had admired not only for her styling but for her strong convictions and values. I started assisting her when times were especially busy.”
She also shared the demands of high-profile events: “When the Met Gala comes, I will be working nonstop carrying 70-pound trunks up and down stairs or through the freight entrance at the Carlyle.”
Aydan Nix added:
> “Today, I am doing my best to live my life for me and to remember that, despite a couple of extra eyes on me, my life is still my own.”
Key Takeaways
- Aydan Nix is the 23-year-old half-sister of Gigi and Bella Hadid.
- She credits her new family for their warmth and support.
- Nix balances a freelance wardrobe styling career while navigating life in New York.
Aydan’s story illustrates how a recent paternity revelation can redefine family bonds and open new professional avenues for a young designer.
