Rebecca Romijn Seeks To Settle Feud With Kendall Jenner And Gigi Hadid

Model and actress Rebecca Romijn learned the hard way that one’s words can be easily taken out of context and used to start conflict, when she commented on the current trends in fashion modeling and the use of social media stars to promote brands. Rebecca’s words on a general trend across the entire modeling industry were applied directly at Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, making it seem as though Romijn was singling out the two models as examples. Now, hoping to employ a little damage control, Ms. Romijn says she never intended to criticize either Jenner or Hadid.

Rebecca Romijn Criticizes The Fashion Modeling Industry For Following Trends Instead Of Creating Them

A recent interview afforded Rebecca an opportunity to share her views on the current trends in fashion modeling, and as might be expected of a former model, Romijn had no shortage of words on her former profession. Ms. Romijn was critical of the industry as a whole for glorifying social media celebrities and elevating too many of them to fashion model status, which Romijn implies brings down the reputation of modeling as a legitimate vocation.

“No one has proven yet that numbers of followers translates to revenue,” said Ms. Romijn, when asked about the new generation of runway models, including social media sensations Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. “So it is frustrating. I know a lot of people — legitimate fashion people — can’t stand it. Hate it that these, you know, social media stars are now the supermodels in fashion. They are not true supermodels.”

Romijn says that she’s further disappointed to see so many reputable magazines and brands falling in line with this trend, adding that it has caused her to lose respect for those she considered staples of the fashion industry.

“And the thing is, I have always looked to Vogue magazine to lead the way, not be a follower,” says Rebecca. “I rely on Vogue to set the standard, not follow what everybody else is doing. So I have been disappointed that fashion magazines have been supporting this trend of social media stars to set our style standards. But it will change; fashion always does.”

Rebecca Romijn Turns To Twitter To Make Peace With Gigi Hadid And Kendall Jenner

Following her public statements, Ms. Romijn found herself facing an enormous backlash from the fans of both Hadid and Jenner, seeking to defend the social media stars’ statuses as fashion models against Rebecca’s assertions. Facing a storm of criticism simply for sharing her thoughts on the modeling industry, Romijn took to Twitter, but her tweet seems vague enough to have left many wondering whether her intention was to deny that she said anything negative about Hadid and Jenner or if she was actually offering up an apology.

“Don’t believe the #clickbait. Never talked smack about you. Both amazing & beautiful,” Ms. Romijn tweeted, adding a picture of Kendall and Gigi posing together.

There was another model that earned Romijn’s attention in that original interview, and like many others, Rebecca couldn’t pass up the opportunity to remark on Ashley Graham and her recent modeling gigs. Unlike the social media stars to have earned her scorn, Rebecca couldn’t compliment Graham enough, saying that Ashley is one of the most beautiful women she has ever seen. Romijn also said she was grateful to Sports Illustrated for expanding the criteria of what is considered sexy, allowing an opportunity for American society to learn to accept a wider range of what is beautiful.

“Women don’t get sexier than Ashley Graham — she is just as hot as can be,” says Rebecca Romijn.

Rebecca Romijn is slated to star in the upcoming action/adventure film The Swinging Lanterns Stories, due out in theaters on June 1, 2017.

[Image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images]