Bella Hadid’s last few weeks have been a rollercoaster, but she’s back smiling. After a Lyme disease hospitalization in September, she rocked the runway for Victoria’s Secret, celebrating her 29th birthday in between on October 9. She was surrounded by love, ringing it in in Texas with her boyfriend, Adan Banuelos, and his family.
On Wednesday, the Palestinian-American model shared a sweet gallery from her week-long birthday celebration, giving fans an intimate look at her personal life in Texas. The first slide showed Bella sitting with a perfectly styled birthday cake, glowing from ear to ear. But the cutest moment was the next photo - Bella making a heart with Ascension Banuelos, her boyfriend, Adan Banuelos’ dad.
Ascension is the man who got her boyfriend into cutting and is a legend in the horse-riding world. At just 13, he left his 13 siblings and home in Lobatos, Mexico, crossing the U.S. border alone to chase his dreams. Against all odds, Ascension became one of the greatest cutting horse trainers of his time, earning over $2.2 million and making history as the first Mexican American inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame.
In 2007, Adan followed suit and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, becoming one of the youngest members to be honored.
Bella clearly has formed a close bond with Adan and his entire family. Other slides capture candid, intimate moments like Adan carrying a bunch of red balloons, and one sitting with his dad.
"Flying straight from this kind of Love into the VS show two years in a row …. Makes me feel so grateful for my Texas family and loved ones…" she wrote in the caption.
It’s the third birthday they’ve rang in together. She actually went IG official with Adan after the first one back in 2023. "Thankful to God for these moments. you make me feel so so loved even when we’re showing," she continued.
Her birthday celebration came after Bella was hospitalized for a Lyme disease flare-up in September. But just a few days later, on October 15, she walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway - but some viewers said they were concerned online.
One TikTok user wrote that Bella looked like she was “going to cry the whole show” and asked, “Who we gotta pull up on?” Bella responded in the comments, “Girl, I got my period that morning and my stamina is not up yet after the whole hospital sitch. But I tried my best and I LOVEEEE you for this. I’m OK, I swear," she wrote, adding, "I’m sorry if I let u down.":