Models have rushed to support Gigi Hadid after she was forced to defend herself from body shamers.

The catwalk star had posted a lengthy explanation about why she has lost weight over recent years, saying that when she started modelling she had not yet been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease.

The disease is also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and often leads to an underactive thyroid gland.

Victoria’s Secret model Lily Aldridge responded writing: “I love you!!! Love your body!!! Love your beautiful soul!!

“And just FYI for everyone the last meal I had with G was a FULLLLY LOADED @kfc FEAST.”

Hailey Baldwin tweeted: “@GiGiHadid annoying and unfortunate that you have to explain your personal matters to the world. You slay, love you Gi.”

Meanwhile Orange Is The New Black star Ruby Rose wrote: “Sorry you too have to explain something so ridiculous to people. Love to you.

“Love to the people who try to tear down others also because they are just people who haven’t had the spiritual growth that needs to occur to love and accept one another.”

In a long series of tweets, Hadid said she had been suffering from inflammation and water retention in the past and is now managing symptoms following a medical trial.

She wrote: “For those of you so determined to come up w why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started @ 17 I was not yet diagnosed w/Hashimoto’s disease; those of u who called me ‘too big for the industry’ were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that.

“Over the last few years I’ve been properly medicated to help symptoms including those, as well as extreme fatigue, metabolism issues, body’s ability to retain heat, etc… I was also part of a holistic medical trial that helped my thyroid levels balance out.

“Although stress & excessive travel can also affect the body, I have always eaten the same, my body just handles it differently now that my health is better.

“I may be ‘too skinny’ for u, honestly this skinny isn’t what I want to be, but I feel healthier internally and am still learning and growing with my body everyday, as everyone is.

“I will not further explain the way my body looks, just as anyone, with a body type that doesnt suit ur ‘beauty’ expectation, shouldnt have to.

“Not to judge others, but drugs are not my thing, stop putting me in that box just because u dont understand the way my body has matured.

“Please, as social media users & human beings in general, learn to have more empathy for others and know that you never really know the whole story.

“Use your energy to lift those that you admire rather than be cruel to those u don’t.”