Nepotism Watch: Do Reality Spawn Gigi Hadid And Kendall Jenner Deserve Their Fashion Fame?
Gigi Hadid in Sports Illustrated
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid in Sports Illustrated
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid in Sports Illustrated
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid walking the Jeremy Scott show during New York Fashion Week 2014
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid walks the Desigual Runway Fashion Week Fall 2014
[Photo Credit: Splash News]
Gigi Hadid
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Gigi Hadid
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid]
Kendall Jenner
[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner]
Kendall Jenner
[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner]
Kendall Jenner
[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner]
Kendall Jenner
[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner]
Kendall Jenner walks the Chanel Runway - Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2014-2015
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
Kendall Jenner walks the runway for Givenchy Fall 2014 at Paris Fashion Week
[Photo Credit: Splash News]
Kendall Jenner walks the runway for Giles Fall 2014 at London Fashion Week
[Photo Credit: Splash News]
Kendall Jenner
[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner]
Kendall Jenner's modeling career is on the rise, and after walking the runway at New York, Paris and London fashion weeks, she wants to make it clear her famous family isn't pulling any strings behind the scenes. "She went and auditioned, and she just goes by the name of Kendall, hoping that people won't think that she gets any [handouts]," sister Kim Kardashian recently told the Huffington Post. Wait a minute! Could the Kardashian/Jenner name be considered a bad thing?
Hollywood has a history of nepotism. From the Barrymores to the Smiths, we've all questioned whether or not young stars have risen to success on their own merit or due to the name of their much more successful parents. If you've been following updates from fashion month around the globe, you've likely come across the names Kendall and Gigi Hadid, both of which should sound familiar -- particularly if you're a reality television fan. They may not come from famous rockers -- but rather parents who've risen to fame on reality television -- but like Lily Collins and Minka Kelly, they're hot. Gigi has been featured on the Reality Housewives of Beverly Hills, as the daughter to Dutch model Yolanda Foster. Her father Mohamed Hadid has more money than a moderately sized European country and her stepfather just so happens to have produced songs for Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Barbra Streisand. Kendall has appeared on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, as a member of the most famous Klan of the 21st century and daughter to an Olympian and professional momager. She's watched siblings Kim, Kourtney and Khloe find their own success, and once she turned 18, Kendall wasted no time booking racier shoots and entangling herself in the kind of tabloid headlines typically reserved for her older sisters. Gigi, on the other hand, has a much lower personal profile. Her push towards bigger modeling work was captured by Bravo cameras, as well as her cross-country move to New York City. Now she's dating Australian pop star Cody Simpson and posting selfies with Ireland Baldwin.
Each young woman has had a busy start to 2014, with multiple high-profile modeling gigs to her name. Skeptics will be quick to assume the sudden surge in bookings and publicity stems from their reality television fanbase, but these two 18-year-olds are as gorgeous and talented as they come. But who deserves the fashion fame more? Check out the stats.
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[Photo Credit: @gigihadid][/caption]The Model: Gigi Hadid
The Parents: Yolanda Foster and Mohamed Hadid; David Foster (stepdad)
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[Photo Credit: @gigihadid][/caption]The Reality Show: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Career Highlights: 2014's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue rookie, walked the runway for Desigual Fall 2014 and Jeremy Scott Fall 2014 (New York Fashion Week)
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The Famous Beau: Cody Simpson
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[Photo Credit: @gigihadid][/caption]
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[Photo Credit: @kendalljenner][/caption]The Model: Kendall Jenner
The Parents: Bruce and Kris Jenner
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[Photo Credit: Getty Images][/caption]The Reality Show: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Career Highlights: Walked the runway for Marc Jacobs Fall 2014 (New York Fashion Week), Chanel and Givenchy Fall 2014 (Paris Fashion Week 2014) and Giles Fall 2014 (London Fashion Week)
The Famous Beau: Until recently, Kendall was said to be romancing One Direction's Harry Styles. Things seem to have cooled of late, but add her to the list of women who've conquered one of 2014's most eligible bachelors (who still can't legally drink in the U.S.)
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[Photo Credit: Splash News][/caption]Our Verdict: Gigi is more commercial while Kendall is ripe for the runway. The latter won't stop hearing it from critics, thanks to her famous family's tendency to find themselves in the news. But by working with a steady roster of accomplished photogs and industry veterans she seems committed to making "Kendall" a star. Forget about boys and go after that career, girl.
So what do you think? Who is the next Kate Moss and who needs to go back to living in their parents' palatial pad? Is there room for two children of reality stars on the runway? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
[Photo Credit: @gigihadid, @kendalljenner]