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Bella Hadid Celebrated Her 26th Birthday with a Kunafa Cake By This Palestinian Woman-Owned Bakery

Photo: Instagram.com/tuddynana

Bella Hadid celebrated her 26th birthday with special treats that honored the part-Palestinian model’s roots. Her first birthday cake was gifted by Nadia Tayeh—the Palestinian makeup artist behind the model’s most memorable looks—and was made entirely of kunafa, the traditional sweet dish which is much-loved in the region.

Photo: Instagram.com/kanafa.cups

Naturally, the talent behind the cake was Palestinian too and was created by 24-year-old baker Shadin Hamdan, who owns Kanafa Cups based in Staten Island. Her bespoke treat for Hadid was a heart-shaped cake in the bakery’s signature bright orange-hued phyllo dough, lined with crushed pistachios and rose petals, and a topper that read “Happy Birthday Bella”.

Shadin Hamdan. Photo: Instagram.com/newyorklocals

After Tayeh took to Instagram to share a photo of a smiling Hadid next to the cake, Hamdan shared her gratitude and expressed her excitement over having her “small home business” being recognized by the model. “This has been a dream of mine and I’m soooo excited!” said the entrepreneur. “This journey with Kanafa Cups really started as a dessert I was good at making for friends and family and turned into a business that made it all the way to Bella Hadid! I never thought I would be writing this. Work hard and it will all pay off in the end.”

Photo: Instagram.com/tuddynana

For the model’s second cake, sister Gigi Hadid put her baking skills to the test by making one that had all of Bella’s favorite things drawn in icing. The white cake was lined with purple and pink frosting and featured items like the Palestinian flag, hearts, a pizza and burger, and even a butterfly for her co-owned brand Kin Euphorics’ logo. Gigi Hadid brought the cake out at the model’s surprise birthday bash in New York, which was also attended by their mother Yolanda Hadid. The party saw Bella dressed in a sheer lace dress topped by a vintage black and oversized motorcycle jacket, and paired with a mini bag featuring the words “Ciao Bella” by Amina Muaddi.

Read Next: Bella Hadid on Being Vocal About Palestine with Noor Tagouri: “I Have No Fear When it Comes to This”

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