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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Bella Hadid bested older sister Gigi Hadid to win 2016 Model of the Year this week. Industry professionals voted the 19-year-old star Female Model of the Year in the annual Models.com Industry Awards, with Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner taking other top honors.
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"The Models.com Model of the Year (MOTY) Industry Awards are the voice of over 250 voters representing a wide range of the industry's top professionals," the website reads, naming judges such as Love magazine editor-in-chief Katie Grand and talent agent Bethann Hardison.
The Models.com awards consist of 10 categories, including Model of the Year, Social Media Star and Breakout Star. Two winners were announced per category -- the Industry's Vote and Readers' Choice -- with Bella Hadid winning the Industry's Vote for Female Model of the Year and Jenner taking Readers' Choice.
In addition, Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski were named the Industry's Vote and Readers' Choice for Social Media Star, respectively. Adwoa Aboah won the Industry's Vote for Breakout Star, with Grace Elizabeth taking Readers' Choice.
Bella Hadid had an enormous year, landing a brand ambassadorship with Dior Makeup in May and walking in her first-ever Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November. The teenager thanked fans and reflected on her year this week on Instagram.
"What a crazy way to end the year. This is such a huge honor!!!" she wrote after the Models.com winners were announced. "Thank you SO much to everyone in the industry that voted, everyone I've worked with and @modelsdot for all the love and support ... this really means so much to me. And congrats Kenny I love you."
"I feel so grateful," she added in a post Thursday. "Thank you to every single person I have had the privilege of working with this year and everyone that believed in me and supported me along the way. I feel so damn lucky to call this my job and to work with such inspiring, talented people everyday."
