Besides being a stunner, who knew Gigi Hadid could burn in the kitchen but in a good way! Gigi, who is the daughter of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills‘ Yolanda Foster, competed on the Fox show, MasterChef Celebrity Showdown on Monday night and won a whopping $25,000. What made the win even more delicious for the supermodel was that the monies she won will be donated to a cause that is very personal to her, Lyme disease. The ailment is one that has not only stricken her mom Yolanda but younger siblings, Anwar and Bella as well.
Gigi, who loves to cook and is a self-proclaimed foodie, competed against Victoria’s Secret model Devon Windsor whose dish, squid ink spaghetti with shrimp also won praises. But it was Gigi’s signature ‘Gigi Burger’ made with a special sauce, cheese, pickled jalapenos, salt, five spice and crispy onions that won the judges over hands down. Even though the supermodel strictly adheres to a healthy lifestyle in order to stay fit, she always makes room for a good hamburger. As a matter of fact, the 20-year-old’s mantra is “eat clean to stay fit and eat a burger to stay sane.” The show’s main judge is the famous no-nonsense chef Gordan Ramsay and when he sampled Gigi’s creation he didn’t mince words stating, “Gigi your burger is f**king delicious!”
Even though Gigi’s mom and siblings suffer with the oftentimes debilitating Lyme disease, she has miraculously avoided becoming afflicted. Yolanda has been a avid crusader in helping to get the word out about the disease that has seemingly ravished her system as evidenced on the reality show. Gigi discussed her family’s battle in trying to cope with Lyme while on the cooking show. “Not enough people know what Lyme disease is and they dangers of being bitten by an insect. For that on its own is amazing but with [the cash prize of] $25,000, we can help with finding a cure. It can help so much. I’m the only one in, of my siblings, my mom and my family that hasn’t been affected by Lyme disease. It’s been really hard for me because I’m the only one that doesn’t really understand it. What’s been hardest for me is just trying to find a way to be their hope and kind of be a strength for them even with the disease that I can’t understand fully because I haven’t been through it.”
After the TV segment, Gigi tweeted out to her followers: “CALL ME MASTER CHEF HADID! All the lymies out there @LymeAlliance this one’s for YOU! Thank you @MASTERCHEFonFOX” Gigi’s winnings will be donated to the Global Lyme Alliance, an organization that funds the latest research and education programs to advance the prevention, prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
