Gigi Hadid is getting candid about the two most important men in her life right now—Bradley Cooper and Zayn Malik. For the first time, the supermodel is sharing details about her romance with the Oscar-nominated actor, their dynamic as a couple, and why it works for her. She’s also opening up about co-parenting with her ex, Zayn, and how they’ve navigated raising their daughter together.
Hadid, 29, sat down with Vogue to reflect on her relationship with Cooper, 50, which first sparked headlines in late 2023. While the world may have been wondering how these two came together, the answer is surprisingly low-key: they met at a child’s birthday party hosted by a mutual friend, in a backyard of all places.
Now, months into their relationship, Hadid describes their connection as “romantic and happy,” but she’s not one to overshare. “It’s just not part of our relationship to share for whatever reason,” she said, keeping the details under wraps.
When asked about the accuracy of reports and anonymous source quotes about them, she admitted, “That’s kind of right and kind of wrong.” But she’s learned to let go of the speculation. “You just have to let it go; you can’t always correct everything.”
So, why does this relationship work so well for her? “I think just getting to the point where knowing what you want and deserve in a relationship is essential,” she explained. “And then to find someone that is in a place in their life where they know what they want and deserve… and you both do work separately to come together and be the best partner that you can be. I just feel really lucky. Yeah, lucky’s the word.”
Of course, dating as a high-profile celebrity comes with its challenges. “You want to give yourself a normal experience of dating… and even for my friends who aren’t public figures, that’s hard,” she shared. “Where do you go? And, what? You just start talking to people? And then there’s another added layer of privacy and security. You want to believe that people are going to have your back and not call TMZ or go on Deuxmoi or whatever, but you just don’t know.”
Despite the obstacles, Hadid is focused on what Cooper brings into her life, beyond the romance. “I respect him so much as a creative, and I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief. For those people you admire to encourage you, it can create so much belief in yourself. Like, what’s the worst thing if I auditioned for this? You jump and take the leap.”
While Hadid is moving forward romantically, she and her ex, Zayn Malik, continue to be partners in parenting their four-year-old daughter, Khai. The two have worked out a structured but flexible co-parenting arrangement that allows them to put their daughter first.
“Zayn and I do our custody schedules months in advance. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t change here and there, but we help each other out and have each other’s backs,” Hadid shared.
She emphasized that their co-parenting style is based on love and mutual respect. “There is the hard part of the world knowing this much, and thinking they know everything. And at the end of the day, we’re not interested in giving everyone our whole story. What we are interested in is raising our daughter together, with so much respect for each other, and not just as co-parents, but what we’ve been through together.”
Of course, their history has been in the public eye, particularly after a 2021 incident involving Hadid’s mother, Yolanda Hadid. At the time, Yolanda claimed that Malik had “struck” her while he was alone with then one-year-old Khai. Malik denied the allegations, but the situation marked a turning point in their relationship, leading to their split.
While Malik later addressed the controversy in an interview, explaining why he chose not to publicly defend himself at the time, Hadid has chosen to focus on the present and their shared responsibility as parents.
Whether it’s her flourishing relationship with Cooper or her commitment to co-parenting with Malik, Hadid is clear about one thing: she’s embracing this phase of her life with gratitude and maturity. For her, the key to happiness seems to be balancing love, respect, and personal growth—both as a mother and as a woman finding joy in her own story.
