What to Know About Bella Hadid's Longtime Chronic Illness
What to Know About Bella Hadid's Longtime Chronic Illness
Emily Blackwood, Nicole PomaricoTue, June 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM UTC
0
Bella Hadid in the hospital in September 2025; Bella Hadid on May 18, 2026 in Le Cannet, France.Credit: Bella Hadid/Instagram; Lionel Hahn/Getty -
Bella Hadid was diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was 16 years old
Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and her younger brother, Anwar Hadid, share the same diagnosis
The model has been open about her journey with the disease and its chronic symptoms
Bella Hadid has been living with Lyme disease for over a decade.
While gracing the covers of Vogue and Elle and working with major brands like Dior and Versace, the supermodel has struggled with the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people with Lyme disease experience prolonged "fatigue, body aches or difficulty thinking."
The tick-borne illness causes Hadid severe joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, extreme tiredness and other symptoms that her mother, former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid, told PEOPLE can "bring you to your knees."
Since her diagnosis, Hadid has shared her journey on Instagram, which has included extended hospital stays and getting IV treatments while in hair and makeup. Her mother praised her daughter's courage following her hospitalization in September 2025.
"You are relentless and courageous," she wrote in an Instagram caption. "No child is suppose [sic] to suffer in their body with an incurable chronic disease."
Most recently, Hadid shared the toll that having a chronic illness has taken on her health in a post on her Instagram Stories on June 25, writing, "Sometimes it feels like unless you've lived something like this, or loved someone who has, it's impossible to fully understand."
Here's everything to know about Bella Hadid's Lyme disease diagnosis and what the supermodel has said about her health.
She was diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was 16 years old
Gigi Hadid, Yolanda Hadid and Bella Hadid at the Lifestyle Magazine Fall 2012 Launch Party on Sept. 27, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Credit: Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Though Hadid wasn't diagnosed until she was 16, she revealed in a series of Instagram Stories that her symptoms began two years earlier.
In reposts of diagrams and infographics about Lyme disease (which were originally shared by chef Joudie Kalla), the supermodel drew arrows to point out the nearly 30 symptoms she faces daily. Those included headaches, insomnia, light and noise sensitivity, brain fog, anxiety, confusion, joint pain, disordered eating, nausea and weight loss and gain.
"Every day I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail," Hadid wrote. "Since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18."
Her diagnosis ended her equestrian career
Bella Hadid shares photos of horseback riding in 2023.Credit: Bella Hadid/Instagram
Modeling wasn't always the plan for Bella. As a child, she enjoyed riding horses and competing in equestrian events. However, her diagnosis cut that career short, and she pivoted to modeling instead.
"It was really emotional for me," she told The Telegraphin March 2017. "I thought I was going to ride horses for the rest of my life. But everything happens for a reason, that's my motto now, and I'm so happy to be where I am."
Though her condition kept her from pursuing the sport professionally, in recent years, Hadid has shared a few horseback riding posts as her health improved. In one August 2023 carousel, she thanked the trainers who allowed her to ride their "incredible horses" and noted that she loved the animals.
The condition causes her joint pain, brain fog and extreme tiredness
Bella Hadid shares photos from the hospital.Credit: Bella Hadid/Instagram
Hadid has experienced a multitude of symptoms during flare-ups from Lyme disease. However, her mother told PEOPLE in 2016 that they're often hard for other people to see.
“There are rough days when you sleep 12 hours, you wake up at 11 and you can't get out of bed, with severe joint pain, brain fog, anxiety," Yolanda said. "There are a lot of symptoms that you can't see from the outside but bring you to your knees on the inside."
Advertisement
She added, “You can never get rested, that's the best way to explain it. [Bella's] been in bed for three days and she's still tired tonight.”
Her mother and younger brother share her diagnosis
Gigi Hadid, Anwar Hadid, Yolanda Foster and Bella Hadid attend 2015 Global Lyme Alliance Gala on Oct. 8, 2015 in New York City.Credit: Chance Yeh/WireImage
Hadid isn't the only one in her family who suffers from the debilitating illness. When Yolanda announced in 2015 that her daughter had been diagnosed, she also shared that she and her son, Anwar Hadid, had Lyme disease too.
"Watching my babies struggle in silence in order to support me in my journey, struck the deepest core of hopelessness inside of me,” she said at the 2015 Global Lyme Alliance gala. She was given the "Power of One" award at the event and declared it a "promise" that she would find a cure so her children could live the healthy lives they deserve.
She felt "healthy" after 100 days of “intense treatment” in 2023
Bella Hadid shares photos from her health journey in August 2023.Credit: Bella Hadid/Instagram
In August 2023, Hadid shared on Instagram that she was "finally healthy" following over a decade of struggling with symptoms of Lyme disease. The supermodel attributed her health to "100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, [co-infection] treatment."
"Almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I'm able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, For the first time ever," she captioned a series of photos.
Hadid had taken a break from modeling to undergo the treatment, and her sister, Gigi Hadid, shared on her Instagram Stories that she couldn't "wait 4 the comebaccckkkkkk.”
"Just wanna touch on this post from last week,” her older sister wrote in a later post. “Bella just finished a long and intense treatment for Lyme disease ... I'm so proud of her and excited for her ✨comeback✨ whenever she feels ready 😊x.”
Two years later, she was hospitalized once again
Bella Hadid shares photos from her health journey in September 2025.Credit: Bella Hadid/Instagram
Almost exactly two years after sharing that she was healthy, Hadid appeared to be hospitalized once again, sharing a carousel of images on Instagram from a hospital bed and hooked up to IVs.
"I'm sorry I always go MIA I love you guys," she wrote in the caption.
Among the photos were ones of the supermodel admiring the view outside her hospital window and one with tubes taped to her neck and head.
"❤️Lyme warrior," her mom wrote in the comments.
The chronic illness flare-ups have taken a toll on her mental health
In June 2026, Hadid shared another update on her health, opening up about a recent flare-up related to her Lyme disease and how difficult battling with a chronic illness can be mentally.
"You wake up with anxiety already living in your body," Hadid wrote in a lengthy message on her Instagram Stories. "Physical pain before your feet even touch the floor....And somehow, still have to find the strength to move through another day in a body and mind that are completely exhausted."
As difficult as the experience has been, Hadid said she still believes that "every hardship leaves us with a lesson, a deeper compassion, or a strength we never knew we had."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
