Gigi Hadid one step ahead of sister Bella at International Model of the Year award

Young American beauty Gigi Hadid took the title of International Model of the Year at the fashion awards, beating her equally famous sister Bella.

The 21-year-old Gigi, whose full name is Jelena Noura Hadid, did not hide her joy and excitement over the significant award presented to her by fashion designer Donatella Versace.

Gigi beat not only her younger sister Bella, who is also an established model, but also her best friend Kendall Jenner, half-sister of the famous Kim Kardashian. The three girls were shortlisted alongside Britons Adwoa Aboah and Lineisy Montero, who also have several years of exceptionally successful careers and dazzling publicity behind them.

At the event itself, held at London's Royal Albert Hall, Gigi wore an Atelier Versace dress with details made from Swarovski crystals.

Support was selflessly provided by her mother Yolanda Hadid, a former model, who also exuded glamour in a blue dress. Sister Bella did not attend as she was in Paris at the time for a Victoria's Secret fashion event.

Although rivals in the race for the award, the sisters claim they do not consider each other competition. Bella says Gigi is her best friend and that it means a lot to her to share experiences.

- My sister is my comfort zone and she is there whenever I need her. She gives me an honest opinion about everything. I am happy to have her and there is no one in the world with whom I would rather share my experiences. Just looking at her calms me down, the young beauty claims.

Gigi was born and raised in Los Angeles. Her father is the famous real estate manager of Palestinian-American origin, Mohamed Hadid, and her mother Yolanda Hadid, born Dutch, is a former model. Besides her younger sister Bella, Gigi also has a brother Anwar, who is also a model.