Yolanda Hadid is a Dutch-American former model and television personality who became widely known through her work in the fashion industry and her appearance on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Before becoming a familiar face on reality television, she spent around 15 years working as an international model, travelling between major fashion cities and building a career that began with an unexpected opportunity in the Netherlands. She is also known as the mother of Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Anwar Hadid, three children who developed careers in fashion and entertainment. Away from the public spotlight, Yolanda has spoken openly about her experience with Lyme disease, her love of horses and her preference for a quieter life on a farm. Her story includes professional success, family responsibilities, personal challenges and a gradual move away from the Hollywood lifestyle.
Who Is Yolanda Hadid?
Yolanda Hadid was born Yolanda van den Herik on January 11, 1964, in Papendrecht, South Holland, Netherlands. She is a former fashion model, television personality, author and interior design enthusiast who later became a naturalised American citizen. She was previously known professionally as Yolanda Foster during her marriage to music producer David Foster, but she returned to using the Hadid surname after their separation. Her public identity is closely connected with her international modeling career, her television appearances and her family. Although many people first discovered her through her daughters’ success, Yolanda had already established her own career long before Gigi and Bella became internationally recognised models.
Her childhood took place in a small Dutch town where farming and outdoor activities were part of everyday life. She enjoyed spending time around horses and developed an interest in riding at an early age. Her father died in a car accident when she was seven, leaving her mother, Ans, to raise Yolanda and her brother Leo. The loss changed the family’s circumstances and meant that Yolanda had to become independent earlier than many children. She has spoken about how those early experiences influenced her attitude toward work, money and family responsibilities.
Yolanda Hadid Young: Childhood and Early Responsibilities
When people search for Yolanda Hadid young, they are often interested in how she looked before becoming a television personality and the circumstances that shaped her early life. Her younger years were not spent around fashion shows, luxury homes or celebrity events. She grew up in a modest household in the Netherlands, where her mother worked hard to support the family. Yolanda has described her upbringing as humble and has credited it with giving her the motivation to become financially independent. Those experiences later influenced the way she approached modeling and raising her own children.
At the age of 13, Yolanda began working as a dishwasher at a local Chinese restaurant. She took the job because she wanted to help her mother and contribute to the household. The responsibility was unusual for someone so young, but she has said that it taught her the value of earning money and looking after herself. She also remained interested in horses and hoped to become a professional horseback rider. However, her family could not afford the expensive horses and facilities needed to pursue that ambition at the time.
Her interest in horses remained important even after she entered the fashion industry. Modeling eventually gave her the opportunity to earn enough money to support the lifestyle she had wanted as a child. In a later interview, she explained that her original motivation was not fame or celebrity status. She wanted to work, earn a living and create the financial freedom to return to the world of horses. That personal ambition helps explain why farm life became such an important part of her later years.
How Yolanda Hadid Started Her Modeling Career
Yolanda Hadid’s modeling career began through an unexpected opportunity when she was 16 years old. Dutch fashion designer Frans Molenaar needed someone to replace a model who could not attend a fashion show. Yolanda was asked to step in, and her appearance caught the attention of people working in the fashion industry. Modeling scout Pieter van der Vliet, who was connected with Eileen Ford’s agency, helped introduce her to the international modeling business. This opportunity changed the direction of her life and took her far beyond the small town where she had grown up.
She signed with Ford Models, the agency associated with influential modeling agent Eileen Ford. Soon afterward, Yolanda began receiving work in major fashion markets. She travelled to cities such as Paris, Milan, Hamburg, Sydney, Tokyo and New York, building experience in an industry that required discipline, adaptability and confidence. Her early success came quickly, allowing her to work internationally rather than remain limited to the Dutch fashion scene. She had entered the profession without a long-standing dream of becoming a model, but she learned how to make the most of the opportunity.
During her career, Yolanda worked in fashion for approximately 15 years. International modeling involved frequent travel, changing assignments and long periods away from home. The experience exposed her to different cultures and gave her a professional background that later became useful in television and fashion mentoring. She eventually decided that she had spent enough time travelling and wanted to focus on building a family. Rather than treating modeling as the only possible direction for her future, she chose to step away from the demanding international schedule.
Yolanda Hadid’s Marriage to Mohamed Hadid
Yolanda married real estate developer Mohamed Hadid in 1994. Around that period, she moved to Los Angeles and began a new chapter of her life away from the constant travel associated with international modeling. Mohamed was already involved in property development, particularly luxury residential and hospitality projects. Their marriage brought Yolanda into a different social environment, but she continued to place considerable importance on family life. The couple had three children together: Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid.
Their marriage lasted until 2000, when they divorced. After the separation, Yolanda took on the responsibility of raising the children while continuing to manage her own work and personal life. She has described motherhood as her greatest achievement and has repeatedly spoken about the importance of being present during her children’s early years. Her background in modeling also gave her a practical understanding of the fashion business as Gigi and Bella began showing interest in the industry. The experience of being a working model herself helped her understand both the opportunities and pressures that could come with a public career.
Yolanda’s relationship with Mohamed Hadid remains an important part of her biography because their children became internationally recognised figures. However, her own career should not be reduced to her former marriage or her connection to the Hadid family. She had already worked as an international model before meeting Mohamed and later developed a separate television career. Her life after the divorce also included raising three children, working in interior design and eventually returning to television.
Yolanda Hadid’s Children: Gigi, Bella and Anwar
Yolanda Hadid has three children with Mohamed Hadid: Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Anwar Hadid. All three developed careers connected to fashion, entertainment or creative work, although each followed a different path. Gigi and Bella became internationally known models, while Anwar worked in modeling and explored music and fashion projects. Yolanda has often described raising her children as the most meaningful part of her life. Her experience in the fashion industry gave her insight into the business, but she also wanted them to have a childhood beyond professional work.
The family became especially well known as Gigi and Bella developed major modeling careers. Yolanda has explained that she did not want her daughters to begin professional modeling too early. She preferred that they finish more of their childhood before entering an industry that could bring intense attention and pressure. In an interview discussed by Bravo, she recalled taking her daughters to a modeling agency when they turned 17. Both eventually signed with IMG Models and built careers that reached international fashion campaigns and runway shows.
Her relationship with her children has also been shaped by their personal interests and challenges. Bella was interested in horseback riding and had considered pursuing equestrian competition before health difficulties affected that ambition. Anwar explored modeling and music, while Gigi became one of the most recognisable models of her generation. Yolanda has said that she sees her role as a mother as different from being a professional manager. She wants to support her children’s decisions while allowing them to develop their own identities.
Gigi later became a mother herself when she welcomed her daughter, Khai, with singer Zayn Malik in September 2020. This made Yolanda a grandmother, a role she has spoken about with great affection. In interviews, she has described spending time with Khai as a special part of her family life. Her public comments suggest that family remains a central priority even as her children have developed independent careers. The family has also continued to attract attention because of its close connection to the fashion and entertainment industries.
Yolanda Hadid and David Foster: Her Second Marriage
After her divorce from Mohamed Hadid, Yolanda later began a relationship with Canadian music producer David Foster. Foster is known for his work as a songwriter, composer and record producer, with a career that includes collaborations with internationally recognised singers. The couple became engaged in December 2010 and married on November 11, 2011, in Beverly Hills, California. Their wedding date, often written as 11-11-11, attracted attention because of its memorable sequence of numbers. Through the marriage, Yolanda also became part of a blended family that included Foster’s five daughters.
During this period, Yolanda was also developing her television profile. She appeared alongside Foster at public events and became increasingly familiar to audiences through reality television. However, their marriage eventually faced difficulties, and the couple announced their separation in December 2015. Their divorce was finalised in 2017. Yolanda later returned to using the Hadid surname, which she shared with her three children.
She explained that the name Hadid represented her connection to her children and remained meaningful to her after the marriage ended. She also discussed asking Gigi, Bella and Anwar whether she should return to her birth surname, van den Herik. According to her account, her children preferred that she continue using Hadid. This decision reflected the importance she placed on family identity rather than simply retaining a name connected to a former marriage.
Yolanda Hadid on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Yolanda Hadid became widely recognised by American television audiences after joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She appeared as a main cast member beginning in the show’s third season in 2012 and remained part of the programme through its sixth season. The series followed the personal and professional lives of women living in and around Beverly Hills, with family relationships, social events and disagreements forming much of its content. Yolanda’s calm manner and direct communication style gave her a different presence from some of the other cast members. Her appearance on the show introduced her to viewers who may not have known about her earlier modeling career.
Her time on reality television also coincided with a difficult period in her health. Yolanda has explained that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, not long after she began filming. She later said that symptoms affected her ability to concentrate and participate in everyday activities. The experience made the demands of filming more difficult, particularly when she was expected to remain active in social situations and follow complicated conversations. She has also spoken about feeling misunderstood when people questioned the seriousness of her health problems.
Yolanda eventually left The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after the sixth season. In later interviews, she reflected on the emotional impact of appearing on the programme while dealing with health difficulties. She said the experience was hurtful at times and that she would not want to return to the same environment. Her decision to step away allowed her to place more attention on her health, family and personal interests. The show remains one of the main reasons her name became familiar to a wider television audience.
Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid
After her main run on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Yolanda continued working in television through a project that connected directly with her professional background. Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid premiered in January 2018 on Lifetime. The programme followed young aspiring models and their mothers as they learned about the fashion industry and competed for opportunities. Yolanda served as the host and executive producer, drawing on her years of experience in modeling. The series gave her a chance to work with young talent in a setting that was different from the social focus of reality television.
The programme was not simply about choosing the person who looked best in front of a camera. It also considered confidence, professionalism, communication and the ability to handle the demands of modeling. Yolanda has said that she preferred positive guidance over harsh judgment when working with contestants. She wanted young models and their families to understand that fashion could be demanding and that success required more than appearance. Her experience as a mother of models also helped her understand the concerns parents might have about their children entering the business.
Yolanda later worked as a judge and mentor on Holland’s Next Top Model. She also made guest appearances on fashion and entertainment programmes, including Project Runway. These roles allowed her to remain connected to the industry without returning to the full-time travel schedule of her earlier career. Her work as a television mentor became another part of her professional identity. It also showed how she had moved from being a model herself to advising the next generation.
Yolanda Hadid Lyme Disease: Diagnosis and Personal Experience
Yolanda Hadid’s experience with Lyme disease became one of the most discussed parts of her public life. She has said that she was diagnosed in 2012 after experiencing symptoms that affected her energy, concentration and everyday functioning. Lyme disease is an infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks, and its symptoms can differ from one person to another. Yolanda has described her own experience as difficult because many of the problems she faced were not visible to other people. She often used the phrase “invisible disability” to explain why she felt misunderstood.
In interviews, she has discussed symptoms such as severe fatigue, memory difficulties, anxiety, insomnia, migraines and joint pain. She has also spoken about periods when reading, writing and watching television became difficult for her. These are descriptions of her personal experience and should not be treated as a medical diagnosis for anyone else. Her public account has focused on how the symptoms affected her work, relationships and ability to manage daily responsibilities. She has said that the experience changed the pace of her life and forced her to reconsider what she expected from herself.
Yolanda has also spoken about her children Bella and Anwar in connection with Lyme disease. In interviews, she has described their health experiences as part of the family’s wider struggle. Bella has discussed her own health challenges publicly, while Anwar has also been mentioned in the family’s conversations about the illness. The family has used its public profile to draw attention to the difficulties people can face when living with health problems that are not immediately visible. Their comments represent their own experiences and should be understood separately from general medical guidance.
Her health journey also affected her relationship with television work. Yolanda has said that she continued filming The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills while trying to understand and manage her symptoms. In a later interview, she described how difficult it was to follow conversations and deal with conflict while feeling unwell. She also recalled being hurt by comments that questioned her illness. Her decision to leave the show was connected to a desire to protect her health and reduce the pressure she experienced.
Believe Me: Yolanda Hadid’s Book About Lyme Disease
Yolanda published her memoir, Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease, in 2017. The book describes her personal experience with illness, the effect it had on her family and the challenges she faced while searching for answers. Rather than focusing only on her modeling and television career, the memoir gives readers a closer look at a difficult period in her life. She wrote about the emotional strain of dealing with symptoms that other people could not easily see. The book also reflects her desire to make people more understanding toward those who struggle with chronic health problems.
The memoir became an extension of the conversations she had started on television. Yolanda wanted readers to understand that someone can appear healthy while still dealing with serious difficulties. She has also discussed the frustration of feeling that her experiences were not always believed. Her public comments have encouraged people to listen more carefully when someone describes an illness or disability. The book remains an important part of her story because it documents an experience that shaped her later decisions.
In a 2021 interview with British Vogue, Yolanda discussed how she had changed her daily routine and learned to live at a slower pace. She mentioned sleep, food, yoga and meditation as parts of the lifestyle she was following at the time. She also said that she had periods of improvement but had experienced difficult ups and downs. Her comments should be understood as a personal account from that interview rather than a statement about her medical condition today. She has continued to speak about the importance of patience, family support and being treated with understanding.
Yolanda Hadid’s Life on a Farm and Love of Horses
Farm life has remained a strong connection to Yolanda Hadid’s childhood. Growing up in Papendrecht, she spent time around horses and developed a lasting interest in riding. Although she once hoped to become a professional horseback rider, financial limitations made that difficult when she was young. Modeling eventually gave her the opportunity to earn money and return to the lifestyle she had wanted. In a later interview, she explained that her career had come full circle because she eventually found herself living on a horse farm.
Her Pennsylvania property became a place where she could spend time away from the entertainment industry. Reports about the estate described a large property with a historic stone house, cottages, a barn, lavender fields, an equestrian arena and a meditation labyrinth. The setting reflected her interest in horses, nature and a quieter daily routine. The property was also used as a family gathering place, allowing her children to spend time away from busy professional schedules. It represented a different lifestyle from the one associated with Beverly Hills and reality television.
Yolanda later became associated with a ranch lifestyle in Texas, where she could continue focusing on family and outdoor activities. She has described wanting a home environment that felt more connected to her personal values. Her decision to spend more time away from Hollywood was not simply a change of address. It was part of a wider shift toward privacy, family time and a less demanding public schedule. Her interest in horses has remained one of the clearest links between her childhood and adult life.
Yolanda Hadid’s Relationships After Her Divorces
After her divorce from David Foster, Yolanda kept much of her personal life away from the public eye. She later began a relationship with businessman Joseph Jingoli, whom she had known for several years. Their relationship became public around 2019, and they eventually announced their engagement in 2024. The couple had been connected through their interest in property and a quieter lifestyle. Their engagement ended in 2025, bringing that relationship to a close.
In June 2026, People confirmed that Yolanda had become engaged to real estate developer Randall, known as Randy, Kendrick. Kendrick is associated with Xebec, a logistics real estate platform, and other business ventures. The couple have kept their relationship relatively private, with limited public discussion of their personal life. The engagement marks a new chapter after her earlier marriages and relationship with Jingoli. As of the latest reports used for this biography, they were engaged rather than married.
Yolanda’s relationship history includes two marriages and later engagements, but she has not made every part of her private life public. Her first marriage to Mohamed Hadid produced her three children, while her second marriage to David Foster brought her into a blended family. Her later relationships have received media attention, although she appears to prefer keeping the details limited. It is best to distinguish confirmed relationship milestones from rumours or speculation when discussing her personal life.
Yolanda Hadid Net Worth and Sources of Income
Yolanda Hadid’s net worth is often estimated at around $45 million by celebrity finance websites. This figure is an estimate rather than an amount confirmed through public financial records. Her wealth is associated with several stages of her career, including international modeling, television work and other professional projects. She also worked in interior design and has been involved in property-related decisions during her adult life. Because private assets, investments and financial agreements are not fully public, any exact net worth figure should be treated with caution.
Her modeling career provided an early source of income and introduced her to international fashion markets. Later, her television appearances brought a different kind of professional opportunity, particularly through The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her role as host and executive producer of Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid added another project to her career. The publication of her memoir also contributed to her work outside modeling and reality television. Together, these activities form the main publicly discussed parts of her professional income.
Some websites publish estimates of her wealth or earnings from individual television appearances, but these figures are not independently verified. They should not be presented as confirmed salaries or guaranteed financial details. Her former marriage to Mohamed Hadid has also led to speculation about property and financial settlements, but reports should be attributed carefully. A biography can explain the possible sources of her wealth without claiming access to private financial information. For that reason, the estimated $45 million figure is best described as a media estimate.
Yolanda Hadid’s Influence on Fashion and the Next Generation
Yolanda’s influence on fashion comes from more than her own modeling career. She worked internationally during a period when models often travelled extensively between fashion capitals and built careers through agency representation and runway assignments. That experience gave her a practical understanding of the industry’s expectations. Later, she used that knowledge to advise her children and mentor aspiring models on television. Her work created a connection between the generation of models she belonged to and the younger generation entering the business.
She has also spoken about how social media changed the modeling industry. In her view, online platforms created a level of public exposure and recognition that had not existed when she began working. Models now have to manage not only runway work and campaigns but also their public image and communication with followers. Yolanda has encouraged young talent to develop confidence and learn how to present themselves in front of the camera. Her approach has focused on preparation, professionalism and personal character rather than appearance alone.
Her perspective as both a former model and a mother gives her a distinct position in conversations about fashion. She understands the professional demands of the industry but has also seen how public attention can affect family life. Her advice to young models has often centred on realistic expectations and support from parents. Through television mentoring and interviews, she has continued to share lessons from her own career. This work has helped keep her connected to fashion even after stepping away from full-time modeling.
What Yolanda Hadid Is Known for Today
Yolanda Hadid is known for several parts of her life, and none of them fully explains her public identity on its own. She began as a young Dutch model who accepted an unexpected opportunity and built an international career. She later became a television personality through The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and other fashion programmes. Her family life brought further attention because Gigi, Bella and Anwar developed careers of their own. Her openness about Lyme disease also made her a familiar voice in conversations about living with difficult and often misunderstood health problems.
In recent years, Yolanda has spoken more about family, farm life and her personal interests than about returning to reality television. Her interviews show that she values time with her children and granddaughter, as well as the quieter routine that comes with living close to horses and nature. She has continued to discuss her health experience when she feels it can help others understand what she went through. Her engagement to Randy Kendrick in 2026 also brought renewed attention to her personal life. Even so, she has kept many details private and appears comfortable maintaining a lower public profile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yolanda Hadid
1. How old is Yolanda Hadid?
Yolanda Hadid was born on January 11, 1964, in Papendrecht, Netherlands. She turned 62 in January 2026. She began her modeling career at the age of 16 after being discovered at a fashion show. Her career later expanded into television, writing and mentoring young models.
2. What was Yolanda Hadid’s name before marriage?
Yolanda Hadid was born Yolanda van den Herik. She used the surname Foster during her marriage to music producer David Foster. After their separation, she returned to using Hadid, the surname shared by her three children. Her birth name is still used in biographical records.
3. Who was Yolanda Hadid’s first husband?
Yolanda Hadid’s first husband was real estate developer Mohamed Hadid. They married in 1994 and divorced in 2000. They have three children together: Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid. Mohamed’s property development career and the children’s modeling careers have kept the family in the public eye.
4. Does Yolanda Hadid have Lyme disease?
Yolanda has publicly discussed being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012. She has described experiencing fatigue, memory difficulties, pain and other symptoms that affected her daily life. She wrote about her experience in the 2017 memoir Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease. Her interviews describe her personal health journey and should not be treated as medical advice.
5. What is Yolanda Hadid’s estimated net worth?
Some celebrity finance websites estimate Yolanda Hadid’s net worth at approximately $45 million. This is not a verified figure or an official financial disclosure. Her career has included international modeling, reality television, hosting, producing, writing and interior design work. Her actual financial position is not publicly confirmed.
Conclusion
Yolanda Hadid’s life has moved through several different worlds, from a modest childhood in the Netherlands to international fashion, family life in Los Angeles and television success. Her modeling career began by chance, but her work ethic helped her build a profession that lasted around 15 years. She later became known to television audiences through The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and used her experience to mentor younger models. Her marriages, children and the success of Gigi, Bella and Anwar brought additional public attention, while her Lyme disease experience became a major part of her personal story. Today, Yolanda is also recognised for her love of horses, farm life and commitment to her family, making her biography about much more than celebrity and fashion.