NEW YORK — Even under the dazzling lights of the Met Gala 2026, Gigi Hadid had her mind somewhere far more personal.
The supermodel, who walked the red carpet solo before being joined later by Bradley Cooper, shared a rare glimpse into her emotional world—revealing that her “happy place” revolves around her partner and her daughter, Khai.
A heartfelt moment on the red carpet
During a live red carpet chat with Ashley Graham and Cara Delevingne, Hadid opened up about how she stays grounded in such high-pressure moments.
“I try to bring my mind to a happy place,” she said. “What we do in our job is go to a happy place, think of happy thoughts—and the smile comes through the eyes.”
For Hadid, that mental escape begins with her daughter, whom she shares with Zayn Malik.
‘First Khai, then my man’
The model revealed that thinking of Khai helps her channel genuine emotion, before shifting her focus to Cooper.
“When I think about Khai, maybe I’m giving joy,” she explained. “And then I’ll serve something else to Bradley for the camera.”
The candid comment sparked a playful reaction from Delevingne, who joked about Cooper being “a lucky man.”
A Met Gala mainstay
Hadid’s 2026 appearance marked her 11th consecutive year attending the Met Gala since her debut in 2015—solidifying her as one of the event’s most consistent and celebrated figures.
Despite the glamour and global attention, her words offered a reminder that even fashion’s biggest icons find comfort in the simplest connections.
