Neelam Gill, Born on April 27, 1995, Neelam Gill is a 28-year-old British model and activist, hailing from Coventry, West Midlands, England, she finds joy in reading books and shopping during her leisure time.
Table of Contents
Career
Neelam Gill’s impressive journey in the fashion industry commenced in 2013 when she made her runway debut for Burberry during the London Fashion Week. Her talent and dedication have garnered accolades and recognition, making her a prominent figure in the industry.
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Awards & Achievements
Neelam Gill’s contributions to activism have not gone unnoticed. In 2019, British Vogue featured her as one of the seven young activists in their October issue. Furthermore, she earned a spot on ‘The Sikh 100 under 30 list’ at the Sikh Peoples Choice Award in 2020, a testament to her impact on society.
Physical Stats
She stands tall at 178 cm (5′ 10″) with a slender figure measuring 32-26-36. Her captivating black eyes and hair add to her striking appearance.
Relationships & Family
As of now, Neelam Gill is unmarried, but there have been rumours about her relationships with Zayn Malik and Leonardo DiCaprio. Her parents include her step-father, Harpreet Gill, and her mother, Rajan Gill, who works as a makeup artist. She also has two sisters, Jasmine Gill and Millian (step-sister).
Favorites
Neelam’s taste in music leans towards Rap and R&B, with Drake, Kanye West, and Jay-Z being her favourite singers. Her choice of TV shows includes “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and “The Great British Bake Off.” Additionally, she admires the Hollywood film “The Godfather” and is particularly fond of fashion designers Burberry, Alexander Wang, and Balenciaga. Her preferred fragrance is YSL Elle, and she loves the MAC Snob lipstick. Brazil, New York, and Maldives are some of her preferred travel destinations, and she enjoys reading books authored by Khaled Hosseini. As a model herself, she admires the work of Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Neelam Gill
- At the age of 14, she was selected by the top agency in Europe ‘Model 1,’ while she was studying in school.
- In January 2014, Neelam Gill took to Instagram to reveal her parents’ divorce and the personal decision she made to change her surname from Johal to Gill. In the post, she wrote,
Before people start asking why I have changed my second name from Johal to Gill, I thought it was better for me to explain. My parents divorced when I was young, and I have no contact with my biological father. The man in the picture is my ‘stepdad’ but in my heart he is my real Dad because he has been the one who has raised me and loved me like no other. He is truly one in a million and I’ve been meaning to change my last name for a long time because I’m proud to be his daughter.”
- In 2014, the popular American rapper and fashion designer Kanye West chose her to star in his Adidas show at New York Fashion Week.
- Neelam Gill’s preference for maintaining her eyebrows in a traditional Indian manner caught the attention of Blink Brow Bar, leading them to select her as their ambassador in 2015.
- In November 2015, Abercrombie & Fitch selected Neelam Gill to be the face of their popular brands.
- She walked the runway for the Ashish SS17 fashion show at London Fashion Week held on 19 September 2016.
Neelam Gill at Ashish SS17 fashion show
- During the London Fashion Week show held at Ambika p3 in London, the model walked the runway for “Oxfam Fashion Fighting Poverty Autumn/Winter 2019.”
- In 2017, Neelam Gill became the first British brand ambassador of L’Oréal Paris, having Indian origin.
- In the same year, she joined the Canadian singer Justin Bieber on his Purpose World Tour to India.
- She is the first model who was featured on the digital cover of the French-British magazine Marie Claire in February 2020, showcasing the fashion and beauty of Dior’s SS20 collection.
Neelam Gill featured on the cover of the French-British magazine Marie Claire
- Gill has been featured on the cover of various popular magazines including Stylist Magazine, Vogue India Magazine, and Harrods Magazine.
Neelam Gill on the cover of ‘Harrods’ magazine
- The model has also been featured in advertisement campaigns for various brands including Dior, Puma, and Western Union.
- In addition to her modelling career, Neelam also serves as a spokesperson. On 29th June 2021, she delivered a speech on the theme of “Resilience & Recovery” at TEDx Talks, where she shared insights and ideas on the subject.
Neelam Gill delivering a speech on TEDx
- Due to her Indian heritage, Neelam Gill received a special invitation from British Airways to attend the launch of its Dreamliner service from London to New Delhi. For the event, she was specifically asked to dress in Indian attire alongside her fellow British model, Suki Waterhouse.
- In an interview, she revealed that she suffered from depression and anxiety in the initial days of her modelling career.
- In an interview, she revealed that she was bullied by other students while studying in school. She further added that she was called “paki” by other students for her dusky complexion. While talking about this in an interview, she said,
I remember being a kid and walking to school and someone shouting ‘Paki’ out the window. That was just so normal.”
- In her vlogs, ‘rants,’ Neelam Gill openly discusses issues like bullying, racism, and depression. In one of her episodes, she collaborated with the body confidence activist Harnaam Kaur, popularly known as The Bearded Lady, to share their personal experiences with bullying that they encountered at school and on social media.
Neelam Gill with Harnaam Kaur (The Bearded Lady)
- In June 2023, rumours circulated that she was dating Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio after they were spotted hanging out together in London.
