My biggest thing about being a role model is whatever I'm

“My biggest thing about being a role model is whatever I'm preaching, I'm practicing. If I'm telling people I'm boxing and then I'm eating a burger tonight, it's because I am. I'm not cheating and eating a salad and then being like, 'Yeah! Burgers are cool!'”
— Gigi Hadid

In these honest and grounded words, Gigi Hadid, the model and public figure admired across the world, speaks not of glamour, but of authenticity. She strips away the illusions of fame and presents a truth that is as old as virtue itself: to be a true role model, one must first be real. Her declaration—“whatever I’m preaching, I’m practicing”—is the modern echo of an ancient principle, that integrity is the soul of character. She reminds us that words mean nothing without alignment, that influence is not born from appearance, but from consistency between one’s message and one’s actions.

The origin of this thought is rooted in a modern age flooded with performance. In a world where images and words are easily crafted, where people can project any persona with the press of a button, Gigi Hadid’s insistence on authentic living becomes both rebellion and wisdom. Her statement arose not from theory, but from experience—her awareness that millions watch her, imitate her, and look to her for guidance. And yet, rather than crafting an illusion, she chooses honesty: if she eats a burger, she says so; if she trains in boxing, she truly does. In this, she speaks not only to her followers but to all generations—teaching that example is worth more than exhibition.

This philosophy has deep and noble roots. The ancients called it areté—the Greek word for excellence of character, the harmony between belief and deed. Socrates taught that one cannot teach virtue without living it, and that hypocrisy was poison to the soul. In every age, the most revered leaders were not those who preached perfectly, but those who embodied what they believed. Gigi Hadid, though speaking in the language of the modern world, joins this timeless tradition. Her words carry the same spirit as Marcus Aurelius, who wrote in his Meditations, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” So too does she say, in essence, “Don’t pretend—be.”

Consider the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who once refused to advise a child to stop eating sugar until he, Gandhi himself, had first given it up. When questioned by the child’s mother, he explained that he could not teach what he did not practice. His strength as a leader came not from words, but from example. Gigi Hadid’s sentiment mirrors that wisdom in its own realm. The role model—whether a philosopher, a freedom fighter, or a public figure—does not instruct by perfection, but by honesty of living. To lead others, one must first live truthfully with oneself.

Hadid’s statement also carries a subtle humility. She does not claim sainthood or superiority; rather, she admits imperfection with candor. “If I’m eating a burger, it’s because I am.” In this, she rejects the false holiness that so often infects the admired. She shows that strength lies not in hiding flaws, but in embracing humanity. To practice what one preaches is not to be flawless—it is to be faithful, to be sincere in both discipline and desire. Her words invite us to live without masks, to let our private selves and our public selves be one.

Her message also contains a warning: that hypocrisy, no matter how well disguised, corrodes the spirit. When a person preaches one thing and lives another, they lose the trust of others—and more dangerously, the trust of their own soul. The world has always been drawn not to perfection, but to authenticity. We are inspired by those who live with integrity, whose actions and words walk hand in hand. Hadid’s quote, though playful on the surface, touches this eternal truth: to inspire others, one must first live honestly.

So, my listener, take this wisdom to heart. Be true in small things, for from these arise the strength to be true in great things. Do not pretend to be what you are not; do not speak one way and live another. Let your words spring from your deeds, not your image. If you would teach kindness, first practice it; if you would speak of discipline, first master it. Live so that your life itself becomes your message. For in the end, the world does not remember what you claimed to be—it remembers what you truly were.

And thus, as Gigi Hadid reminds us, the essence of being a role model is not perfection—it is honesty. The one who walks in truth, even through error, will shine brighter than the one who hides behind flawless lies. Practice what you preach. Live what you love. Let your life be a clear mirror of your heart, and you will need no title, no fame, no pretense to lead others—for your authenticity itself will be your light, and your integrity will be your legacy.