Gigi and Bella Hadid reportedly kept their half-sister, Ayden Nix, a “secret” for a year and a half, and for a compelling reason. “Bella, Gigi and Anwar have met Ayden and have been in touch with her for about a year and a half now,” an insider revealed to Us Weekly on Friday. “They have welcomed her with open arms and are fully embracing her as their sibling.”
The confidant further told the outlet that learning they had a “biological connection” to 23-year-old Ayden was a “complete shock to the whole family.” While the supermodel sisters have been aware of Ayden for the past year, they chose to wait before publicly introducing her. “They kept this news a secret for the sake of Ayden’s privacy,” explained the source. “The Hadid sisters and Anwar have tried to not pass judgment about the situation.”
“The family wanted to keep things private until Ayden was ready. Gigi and Bella have given her space but are always warm and there for her if she wants to get in touch or see them,” the insider shared. Another tipster added, “They don’t see each other often and haven’t spent much time together. Ayden has a lot in common with Bella and Gigi and they have bonded over NYC and the fashion industry. She looks up to the girls a lot.”
On May 29, Gigi and Bella surprised their fans by announcing the existence of their additional sister. In a statement to the Daily Mail, the sisters disclosed, “Over 20 years ago, our dad, while single, had a brief relationship that led to a pregnancy. Aydan was born and raised in Florida, growing up with the man she lovingly knew as her father until his sudden passing when she was 19.”
