Surprise, Bella Hadid Is 2016's Model Of The Year

Each year, a group of 250 fashion industry insiders gathers to vote for Models.com's Model Of The Year Award. There were plenty of talented and hardworking models who could have received this title, but none are as deserving as 2016's Model Of The Year, Bella Hadid (Kendall Jenner also received this honor from the Readers Choice vote).

Models.com describes the Model Of The Year as "the singular face that defined the year as a whole with ubiquitous industry demand and presence. They distinguished themselves via top tier bookings with the best photographers, stylists and clients earning next-level visibility, making them 2016’s foremost star." Now if that doesn't sound like Hadid, I don't know what does.

Hadid started turning heads in February 2015 when she made her first runway appearance in Tom Ford's F/W 2015 presentation, and everyone speculated that she might follow in her sister Gigi's footsteps. As 2015 went on, Bella's momentum kept growing, and once 2016 hit, she catapulted into stardom.

2016 was truly the year of Bella Hadid. It's practically impossible to list all of her accomplishments because there are so many that are truly impressive and career — if not life —changing.

Bella's 2016 began with a Vogue feature alongside Kylie Jenner and Lottie Moss, which is impressive, but she didn't necessarily earn this because she's a model but rather the sister of someone famous, hence her co-stars.

But then she walked in Chanel's Haute Couture Spring 2016 show in January 2016, and you could see that something was brewing.

Hadid then booked a few editorials and covers for various international versions of Elle. Still impressive for a new face in fashion, but nothing crazy like Vogue Paris.

Then Hadid started picking up some advertising campaigns for the likes of Marc Jacobs and Topshop. In March, she walked for Miu Miu, Chanel and Givenchy. People were starting to pick up on the fact that she was about to be a huge deal.

Throughout the spring and summer, Hadid kept booking editorials and covers for various magazines around the world, including Vogue Turkey, W Korea, and Glamour Germany. Then, it was announced that Hadid is the new face of Dior Beauty. Casual.

The Dior announcement basically opened the floodgates for Hadid's rise to the top. She then booked advertising campaigns for Givenchy and Calvin Klein, and walked in all of the top couture shows, closing Alexandre Vauthier and Fendi (for those of you unfamiliar with the modeling industry, closing a show is a huge honor that only goes to top models).

And then, her coup de grâce of 2016 was landing the cover of the September issue of Vogue Paris. The best possible cover any model could ever land.

Hadid also landed Vogue Italia's September 2016 cover. Two of the biggest issues (if not the biggest issues) in one month. Model of the Year is right. Then she walked in 13 of the top fashion shows for Spring/Summer 2017, including Versace, Fendi and Marc Jacobs, and the rest was history.

And if the above accomplishments don't convince you of Bella's Model of the Year status, she earned her crown (read: wings) when she landed a spot on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Runway this December.

All hail Bella Hadid.