Supermodel Bella Hadid has publicly addressed widespread concern following her appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025, held on October 15 in Brooklyn, New York. Fans had raised alarms about her performance after footage circulated showing the 29-year-old appearing fatigued during her final walk. In her response, Hadid explained that she had just started her period that morning and was still recovering from a hospital stay for a flare-up of chronic neurological Lyme disease. (People.com)
Her candid reply — “Girl I got my period that morning and my stamina is not up yet after the whole hospital sitch … but I tried my best and I LOVEEEE you” — came as many fans worried she had taken on a demanding performance too soon. (Cosmopolitan)
In doing so, Hadid not only quelled speculation about her health but also sparked a broader conversation about the pressure high-profile models face returning from illness and the physical demands placed on them during glamorised live events.
Health Context Behind the Moment
Yolanda Hadid, Bella’s mother, had shared emotional updates in September showing Bella in hospital treatment for her long-running Lyme disease — a condition she was diagnosed with as a teenager. (PEDESTRIAN.TV)
When she stepped back onto the runway for the 2025 show, it was her first major appearance since that hospitalisation. The combination of recovery, high-stakes staging and public scrutiny evidently made for a complex return. Video clips showed Bella closing the show in elaborate angel wings and a shimmering silver-fringe ensemble — but also reportedly looking down at the stage, gripping her wings for support, and moving with less of her usual assured stride. (pagesix.com)
The wings she wore reportedly weighed approximately 50 pounds (22 kg), which Bella herself acknowledged in a now-deleted Instagram Story: “Ok we’re not going to pretend these wings weren’t 50 pounds but HOW BEAUTIFUL.” (The Blast)
From a professional-audience perspective, this sequence serves as a vivid case study: even for top-tier talent with global visibility, returning from illness under heavy physical and public pressure requires meticulous planning, realistic timelines and robust communication.
Actionable points for models, brands and agencies:
- Assess medical clearance and stamina before live events.
- Ensure props and staging (e.g., heavy wings) are adjusted for returning talent.
- Communicate openly with audience about any recovery context — transparency builds goodwill.
- Monitor backstage logs (footage, timing, equipment) to adjust future risk.
For brands like Victoria’s Secret and event producers: Align health recovery timelines with runway demands Consider alternative formats (lighter props, shorter segments) for talent in comeback mode Coordinate with the talent’s team on pacing and staging to maintain quality without compromising wellbeing
Ultimately, this moment underscores that glamour events must also account for human resilience and recovery logistics behind the scenes.
What Happened During the Show and Why It Drew Concern
Key moments and timeline
- On October 15, 2025, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place in Brooklyn, New York. (Wikipedia)
- Bella Hadid walked two looks: an initial red lingerie set and later a silver-fringe ensemble with large angel wings. (Cosmopolitan)
- Fan-recorded videos emerged on TikTok showing Bella appearing off-balance, looking downward, grabbing the wing straps for support. One viewer commented: “I thought she was gonna fall.” (pagesix.com)
- Speculation began: Was the model fatigued from recovery? Was the costume too heavy? Was the schedule unrealistic?
- On October 22, Bella Hadid posted an explanation to her fans: recovery from hospitalisation + menstrual cycle came together; she said she was okay but acknowledged her stamina was not full. (People.com)
Why it matters for industry players
- Physical load: The 50-pound wings increase risk of imbalance, muscle fatigue, injury. Bella’s own admission spot-lights the need to calibrate staging demands. (The Blast)
- Recovery from illness: Chronic conditions like Lyme disease may not be visible; modelling teams must integrate realistic recovery windows. (PEDESTRIAN.TV)
- Public perception & brand risk: Moment went viral as “struggle walk”, raising concerns about talent wellbeing, and reflecting on the event brand’s reputation.
- Communication transparency: Bella’s explanation mitigated backlash and softness of speculation by offering her perspective.
In short: this was not just a runway walk but a convergence of artistic staging, physical endurance, health management and public optics.
Performance Review: Breakdown Table
| Element | Observation | Implication for Future Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Hair, makeup & styling | Minimal visible issue – model still presented high-glamour | Styling worked but physical signs overshadowed the aesthetics. |
| Costume weight & design | Wings weighed ~50 lbs; model appeared to struggle under load (The Blast) | Brands should re-evaluate prop weight and fit for returning talent. |
| Runway choreography & pace | Walk seemed cautious, multiple support gestures visible | Choreography may need adaptation when talent is still rebuilding. |
| Recovery & health readiness | Model recently hospitalised for Lyme disease, acknowledged stamina low (People.com) | Talent health readiness must factor into scheduling and selection. |
| Audience/fan reactions | Viral clips triggered concern, speculation about wellbeing | Proactive messaging can help manage narrative and brand impact. |
What This Means for Future Talent and Brand Strategy
For talent agencies, event producers and fashion brands, the key learnings here extend beyond one show.
First, scheduling must include buffer windows for talent returning from illness. A model may technically be cleared, but stamina, props load and public performance pressure compound to a different category of risk.
Second, event design must adapt when the narrative involves a comeback. Heavy props, extended segments, high-stakes profiles can be scaled back or replaced with creative alternatives. For example: lighter wings, fewer outfit changes, shorter walk segments or alternate staging for returning talent.
Third, communications strategy is essential. When an event involves a star whose health or recovery is known publicly, it pays to issue a pre-show note or social media post explaining context. That transparency helps manage fan expectations and protects brand reputation.
Fourth, data and analytics should be applied to measure the trade-off between spectacle and wellbeing. Video freeze-frames, post-event interviews, backstage logs, social reaction metrics: all can feed improvements.
Finally, the event ecosystem should address health as a performance variable—not only aesthetic. Wellness checks, physiotherapy support, load-testing of costumes, rehearsal pacing—all these become as relevant as lighting and sound.
For brands wanting to drive meaningful talent engagement with high-visibility events, these changes help protect both human capital and brand equity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why was Bella Hadid recovering from illness?
She has long-standing chronic neurological Lyme disease, diagnosed in her teens. Recently she was hospitalised for a flare-up. (Yahoo Lifestyle)
Q2: How heavy were her wings during the show?
She indicated the angel wings weighed approximately 50 pounds (22 kg). (The Blast)
Q3: Did she apologise or just explain?
She posted: “Girl I got my period that morning and my stamina is not up yet after the whole hospital sitch, but I tried my best and I LOVEEEE you. I’m OK, I swear. I’m sorry if I let u down. Love you I mean it.” (Cosmopolitan)
Q4: Which event was this?
The runway was the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 held on October 15 in Brooklyn, New York. (Wikipedia)
Q5: What’s the lesson for brands and event teams?
Ensure talent recuperation is supported by staging demands, adjust props and walk segments for returning stars, communicate transparently with audiences.
This moment marks a turning point in runway-event planning and talent care. Bella Hadid’s candid response helps shift the conversation from purely visual spectacle to human resilience.
