Gigi Hadid Opens Up About ‘Romantic & Happy’ Relationship With Bradley Cooper

Despite first appearing together almost two years ago, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper have kept their relationship tightly under wraps. Fans of the 29-year-old supermodel and 50-year-old filmmaker have delighted at glimpses of the couple dancing together at a Taylor Swift concert and cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles. For the first time, Hadid spills to Vogue some of the reasons she admires and adores her beau, and why she feels so lucky.

He’s Helped Her Believe in Herself

There’s a lot to be said about timing, and for Hadid, she met Cooper at the right time in her life. Previous relationships helped her realize what she wanted in a partner, and, fortunately, she found it. She describes their relationship as “very romantic and happy.”

“I think just getting to the point where knowing what you want and deserve in a relationship is essential,” she told Vogue. “And then to find someone that is in a place in their life where they know what they want and deserve…and you both do work separately to come together and be the best partner that you can be. I just feel really lucky. Yeah, lucky’s the word.”

Maybe most importantly, Cooper makes her feel like she can stretch her wings and try new things, such as dipping a toe into acting. “I respect him so much as a creative and I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief,” she said. “For those people you admire to encourage you, it can create so much belief in yourself. Like, what’s the worst thing if I auditioned for this? You jump and take the leap.”

They Met at a Child’s Birthday Party

There’s been much speculation about how Hadid and Cooper met, with some reports suggesting that they met through Leonardo DiCaprio, whom Hadid was rumored to have dated and with whom Cooper is friends. But Vogue confirms that they met in one of the most natural ways possible: at the birthday party for the child of a mutual friend.

Still, Hadid admits trying to have a ‘normal’ dating experience seemed impossible. “Where do you go? And, what? You just start talking to people?” she said. “And then there’s another added layer of privacy and security. You want to believe that people are going to have your back and not call TMZ or go on Deuxmoi or whatever, but you just don’t know.”

While some fuss has been made about the couple’s 20-year age difference, just the fact that they met at a kid’s birthday party speaks volumes of their similar place in life — being devoted parents. Cooper is raising 8-year-old Lea, his daughter with Irina Shayk, and Hadid is raising 4-year-old Khai, her daughter with Zayn Malik.