Gigi Hadid's Most Iconic Supermodel Moment Did Not Happen on the Runway

Two seasons ago, in the midst of Fashion Month, Gigi Hadid wrote a body-positive letter on Instagram. The industry paused to consider her perspective on diversity, because Gigi is a famous supermodel with a very large platform. And while it seems like many of the things she does — including that post to her followers — are on the spur of the moment, Gigi's actions are smart and strong.

When she was attacked by an unknown man in the streets at Milan Fashion Week following the Fendi show, Gigi reacted. She used her skills and her power to defend her body, something that is so obviously crucial to her career. That's why Lena Dunham tapped Gigi to write for Lenny, a biweekly newsletter that pops into countless inboxes in the morning.

Lena introduced Gigi's piece — another short but meaningful message to her fans — with a touching note. Lena called Gigi's act of self-defense her "iconic supermodel moment," comparing it to that photo of Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell partying in the bathtub and Kate Moss's first Calvin Klein ads.

At 21, Gigi is still young, with many milestones, runways, and magazine covers ahead of her. But, we wouldn't mind if this is how people choose to think of her: someone whose job is to put fashion in the spotlight and model clothes, yes, but more importantly, someone who can teach her followers the value of self-worth. Read on to watch Gigi protecting herself from an attacker, then check out her feature in Lenny, along with the accompanying illustration by Laura Serra that you'll want to set as the background on your phone.