After playing a model who literally combusts on a Balenciaga runway in Ryan Murphy's body horror series The Beauty, Bella Hadid earned a break. And she took it — disappearing to a tropical paradise with a suitcase full of string bikinis, a "mermaid girl" caption, and absolutely zero apologies.
The model and now-actress shared a series of vacation carousels in January 2026 that had the internet in a chokehold: paddleboarding in a red-and-white retro bikini, sipping coffee on a yacht in white strings and Saint Laurent lace shorts, snorkeling, and striking poses by dramatic rock formations in a sleek black set. It's the kind of vacation dump that makes you question your own life choices.
Photo via AOL / InStyle
From the Runway to the Ocean
Bella Hadid's 2026 so far has been cinematic. Her character Ruby Rossdale in The Beauty — an FX/Hulu series that racked up nearly 190 million trailer views before it even premiered — tears away from a catwalk show and goes on a visceral, bloody rampage through Paris before meeting a dramatically watery end. After months of filming that kind of intensity, a yacht vacation was practically a medical prescription.
What sets Bella apart from the average celebrity beach post is her commitment to actually looking like she lives in the ocean. Beachy mermaid waves, stacked bangle bracelets, minimal makeup — and an Instagram caption of just "mermaid girl" — made these photos feel personal rather than produced. She brought friends along, kept the location vague, and let the bikinis do the talking.
Photo via AOL / InStyle
The Looks: A Breakdown
This wasn't a one-bikini vacation. Bella cycled through multiple looks that covered the full spectrum of string bikini energy:
- White string bikini + Saint Laurent lace shorts — the yacht-coffee-and-reading vibe. Effortless high-low dressing at its best.
- Black string bikini — photographed against dramatic rock formations. Clean, minimal, and actually stunning.
- Red-and-white retro set — high-waisted bottoms, matching headscarf, snorkeling gear. She somehow made snorkeling chic.
- Gingham blue/red/white bikini — kneeling on a paddleboard. Coastal grandmother's cool granddaughter energy.
The through-line? Every single look was a string triangle bikini or a minimal two-piece. No elaborate cutouts, no heavy hardware. Just the bikini, worn with total confidence.
Photo via AOL / InStyle
Get Bella's String Bikini Look for Under $60
The model-off-duty aesthetic Bella is rocking here isn't complicated — it's actually the opposite of complicated. A well-fitted string triangle bikini, worn like you own the ocean. No drama. Just confidence.
The Bow Babe Contrast Top in Black ($24.99) paired with the Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms in Black ($24.99) gives you exactly that minimalist black string energy from Bella's rock formation photos. The adjustable triangle top and cheeky cut are made from Luxe-Flex nylon-spandex — so they actually stay put when you're paddleboarding.
Want to nail her white bikini / yacht day aesthetic? The Bow Babe in Sky Blue ($24.99) gives you that light, breezy vibe. The whole look comes in under $60 — leaving plenty of budget for a lace coverup.
Style It Like Bella
The key to pulling off Bella's vacation energy? Lean into the accessories, not the bikini. She keeps the swimwear understated and lets the stacked bracelets, beach waves, and confident posture carry the look. A coverup thrown over a minimalist bikini is always the move — check out our guide on the best beach cover-ups for 2026 for how to style from pool to dinner exactly the way she does.
And if you want to go deeper on the black bikini trend she's been rocking — our complete black bikini style guide breaks down every occasion, every body type, and every vibe.
What's Next for Bella
Fresh off the critical reception of The Beauty (71% on Rotten Tomatoes, and honestly some of the most talked-about television of early 2026), Bella has made it clear she wants more acting. "I would love to keep continuing acting after this. This is a dream of mine," she told reporters at the New York premiere. Meanwhile, her modeling career hasn't slowed down — she's been everywhere from runways to magazine covers, and apparently to unnamed tropical islands.
Whether she's combusting on a Balenciaga runway or paddleboarding with her friends, one thing is consistent: Bella Hadid makes a string bikini look like the most intentional outfit choice in the world. That's the energy we're taking into spring 2026.
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