Christian Dior Bids a Well-Deserved Adieu to Bella Hadid
Economic Engagement: BRA is an Alternative Approach to Counter the BDS Movement
The fashion and perfume house Christian Dior announced it replaced model Bella Hadid with Israeli model Mia Tager for their latest campaign.
Bella Hadid is as Palestinian as Hummus.
Hummus–the chickpea-based dip that originated in the Abbasid Caliphate–was borne out of shifting borders between the Eastern Mediterranean countries from Greece to Libya. Like hummus, Bella Hadid’s connection to Palestine is a fluctuating and convenient shift of geopolitical boundaries.
Hadid has become famous, self-identifying as Palestinian. But the truth of her heritage is a story of shifting borders, like hummus, and shifty identity politics.
In 1918, after the Ottoman Empire was divided, Transjordan and British Palestine were created, containing Arabs, Jews, and Christians — all were now part of the British Empire, including Hadid’s father, Mohammed, a wealthy real estate developer in Santa Barbara. He was born in Nazareth, an area now part of Israel; however, the term “Palestinian” wasn’t used to describe its inhabitants until well after he had settled in the US.
“The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. My heart aches for the pain and trauma I witness, reminiscent of the generational trauma in my Palestinian heritage.”
— Belle Hadid, after the October 7th Hamas massacres
Born into wealth, Bella grew up comfortably on a ranch in Santa Barbara before graduating from Malibu High and making her way to Beverly Hills. By 2021, she had become one of the most celebrated and highly paid models in the world, with an annual income of $19 million since 2018. But with her success came an uncomfortable lack of real connection or understanding — she is an Instagram Palestinian. That is why, on the one hand, her opinions achieved great heights of fame about a complex issue without ever going to college, yet on the other, she identified with a place she had never lived in nor understood.
The Incredible Miss Dior
While Bella Hadid embroiled herself in antisemitic outbursts after the Hamas massacres, Christian Dior took the bold decision to replace her with Israeli model Mia Tager for their latest campaign.
On one hand, this move appears to be a direct response to the Nazi history associated with Dior. On the other hand, it was also a sign of respect and admiration for Christian’s sister Catherine and her heroic acts during WWII.
If you have seen TV commercials featuring Natalie Portman starring in Miss Dior perfume, you know something about this family’s capacity to overcome tragedy. The authentic Miss Dior was Christian’s younger sister, Ginette Marie Catherine Dior. Hers is a tale of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment during the Holocaust and World War II.
Catherine’s life story takes an intriguing turn with her multiple names — Ginette, Catherine, and Caro. Her various aliases reflect the complexities of her involvement in the French Resistance and covert activities that were daring and dangerous. Her noms de guerre were identifiers and symbols of resilience, adaptability, and determination to fight for what she believed in.
Born in 1917, Catherine did not know what was ahead as World War II started. She chose to get into the fight personally and became a member of the Resistance, carrying out espionage missions that contributed significantly to the Allied effort. Catherine bravely rode her bicycle throughout occupied France, making notes on troop movements and taking photographs. She would then write reports that would be sent back to British Intelligence, risking capture and death at every turn. Although she saved numerous lives during WWII, it came at an immense personal cost.
In 1944, the Nazi Gestapo brought Catherine to its location known for its harsh interrogation practices, 22 Rue de la Pompe in Paris. The address was infamous for torture against captured members of the Resistance. Catherine endured brutal interrogations by a sadistic German officer and French collaborators. She refused to give up any information on fellow Resistance members who were working within France.
This arrest marked a turning point in some ways for Catherine. All along, she had harbored a disdain for the Occupation and believed deeply in France’s freedom. Still, this event defined her resolve and solidified her commitment to change from passive to active participation in the underground network.
She was subsequently sent to Ravensbruck, a female concentration camp started in 1939 under the watchful eye of Heinrich Himmler. It was not designed to kill via gassing like Auschwitz; the plan at Ravensbruck was ‘extermination through work’; they would simply work the prisoners to death.
Catherine was there for less than six months, and during that time, she endured more torture and more interrogation; she had her head shaven and worked long hours with very little food, water, or sleep. Catherine, like all the prisoners, was stripped of everything that made them human.
When they were reunited and he heard her story, Christian was so profoundly moved that he decided to use his sister to help promote awareness of what had occurred in the only way he knew how. She inspired a new perfume: Miss Dior by Christian Dior! Two years later, Christian honored his sister again with the Miss Dior gown.
His example inspired other well-known fashion designers, including Coco Chanel, who played critical roles in helping protect Jewish people during WW2 and led the fight against domestic oppression in France.
In 1952, with much persuasion from Christian, Catherine testified against the men who beat and tortured her at the Rue de la Pompe.
Catherine’s life was marked by resilience, love, and a commitment to fighting against hatred and cruelty. She received numerous awards for her resistance work and passed away in 2008 at 98, leaving a legacy of strength and inspiration for future generations.
For her resistance work, Catherine was awarded several honors from the French, British, and Polish governments:
Croix de Guerre
Croix du Combatant Voluntaire de la Resistance (French)
Polish Cross for Valor (Polish)
Kings Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom (British)
Catherine passed away in 2008 at the age of 98. She lived on her terms and according to her principles until the very end; we should all be so strong.
BRA vs. BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which originated in 2005, seeks to exert economic and political pressure on Israel to address perceived injustices related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has caused nothing but harm and divisiveness as Israel has gained financial strength while Palestinians have languished in poverty while their main export is terror. In response, I propose an alternative solution focusing on constructive economic engagement.
We call this movement BRA: Buy, Recognize, and Aspire
The Power of BRA and Economic Engagement
Rather than engaging in boycotts and divestments, an alternative approach is to focus on positive economic engagement. By supporting products and businesses that share our values and promote positive change in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we can make a more meaningful impact.
- Buy: Support businesses actively engaged in Israel’s commitment to enduring peace and economic development. Israeli businesses often employ Palestinians and Israelis, fostering valuable connections and partnerships.
- Recognize: Encourage on social media and take actions that promote organizations and initiatives that bring Israelis and Palestinians together in harmony and not divided. Especially those that help fight the leading funder of terrorism, Iran.
- Aspire: Implement and endorse programs such as tourism and educational initiatives can create bridges of understanding.
The BDS movement causes unintended harm. Instead of participating in boycotts and divestments, individuals and organizations can make a positive difference by embracing economic engagement and supporting businesses and initiatives that foster collaboration, dialogue, and peace.
The BRA movement encourages support for Israeli enterprises that can contribute to a more constructive approach to the complex issues of the Middle East.
