Bella Hadid Opens Up About Feeling Overlooked in Hollywood While Battling Lyme Disease

Bella Hadid has expressed her relief at returning to work after a challenging period.

The renowned model revealed the emotional strain she endured during her Lyme disease treatment last year, which forced her to decline nearly every job opportunity for close to twelve months.

In a heartfelt conversation with her sister Gigi Hadid for Vogue Italy published on February 23, Bella described feeling "disposable" during that time. She explained how she learned to embrace prioritizing her own wellbeing. "My worth isn’t defined by the gigs I accept. There was a long time when saying no felt impossible—like who was I to refuse anything?" she shared.

The 29-year-old added, "Eventually, I had to let go and trust that people understand my heart and character well enough now. That allowed me to focus on projects that resonate with the people I care about and respect."

Besides overcoming the insecurity linked to her Lyme disease diagnosis—which dates back to 2013 when she was 16—Bella also praised Gigi for setting an example in establishing personal boundaries.

"Standing up for yourself and your loved ones is crucial," Bella continued, "because seeing my friends inspired gives me energy and excitement on workdays."

This renewed perspective hasn’t just brought Bella inner peace but also opened fresh professional doors, such as her acting role in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series The Beauty.

"Ryan pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, forcing me to surrender control," she explained, referencing the challenge of letting go of perfectionism and appearance concerns.

She also revealed how she transformed her physical and emotional pain into her performance.

"Channeling my experiences into the character was deeply fulfilling—it allowed me to express myself through art and work in a new way," Bella said.