Supermodel Bella Hadid once again used the Cannes Film Festival red carpet to honor her Palestinian roots. On Wednesday, she arrived at the festival dressed in an all-black Tom Ford look, accessorized with a striking key necklace.
The necklace appears shaped like the map of Palestine, with the upper section forming the head of a key, a symbol of resistance and resilience for many Palestinians, representing a collective hope of one day returning home.
The piece drew wide attention online, with fans and supporters praising her quiet but powerful statement on one of fashion’s biggest stages.
This is far from the first time Hadid has used fashion to speak about her heritage. In 2024, she attended Cannes wearing an archival 2001 dress by Michael Sears and Hushidar Mortezaie, cut from traditional red-and-white keffiyeh scarves. She also joined a pro-Palestinian march in New York in 2021 with a keffiyeh draped over her shoulders.
A handcrafted map of Palestine pin by Cairo-based jewelry artist Fatma Mostafa has also become a recurring detail in many of her looks over the years, featuring the outline of the map filled with traditional keffiyeh-inspired patterns.
Hadid has long been outspoken on Palestinian rights, a position she says has affected her career. Adidas axed her from an advert in 2024, allegedly in response to criticism from Jewish groups.
In August 2025, she launched an addition to her Orebella fragrance line, wearing a look by Palestinian designer Reemami, with a custom skirt and halter-neck design featuring illustrations of olive oil tins and other symbols associated with Palestine.
For Hadid, Cannes is not just a fashion showcase; it is a platform. Year after year, she finds ways to carry her identity and her people’s story into some of the world’s most photographed moments.
