Bella Hadid covers Vogue Arabia: 'I am so honored and proud'

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Bella Hadid says she was "so honored" to appear on the cover of Vogue Arabia.

The 20-year-old model paid tribute to her Palestinian heritage in an Instagram post Tuesday after landing the cover of the magazine's first-ever September issue.

"Wow.. Thank you...September Issue of @voguearabia Shot by Mr. Incredible, Karl Lagerfeld," Hadid captioned a photo of her cover, which features her in a black leather jacket and a pillbox hat with a veil.

"I am so honored and proud to be on this cover of Vogue Arabia, not only to be shot by the one and only Karl ... but specifically to represent and cherish my half-Palestinian blood from my father and his strong, loving, wonderful Arab side of my family," she wrote.

"This cover is in honor of my teta Khair Hadid, my family, and my Arab/Muslim friends out there," the star added. "Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of the newest international Vogue and thank you Vogue Arabia for continuing to celebrate and accept all different cultures and customs the way we all should."

Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut told the New York Times Hadid was "the perfect fit" for the issue. The model's sister, Gigi Hadid, was accused of cultural appropriation this year after covering Vogue Arabia's inaugural March issue in a hijab.

"Bella Hadid is one of the most celebrated models of the time, plus she has a link with the region, being half-Palestinian but also a Muslim," Arnaut said of Hadid.

"The Arab world is not a ghetto. It is a highly informed, international and cultured region where global stars like the Hadids have a cult following," he added. "We champion what goes on inside our borders, but our mission as a magazine is to cover what goes on outside them as well. That is real diversity."