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Gigi Hadid opens up about being physically assaulted by an unknown man in Milan last week

Last week we were all left stunned when video footage emerged of supermodel Gigi Hadid being physically assaulted by an unknown man.

The star was in Milan alongside her sister, Bella, when the man walked up behind her and picked her up before Gigi elbowed him in the face with some brilliant self-defence.

Speaking out about the ordeal, 21-year-old Gigi explained: “Honestly, I felt I was in danger, and I had every right to react the way I did. If anything, I want girls to see the video and know that they have the right to fight back, too, if put in a similar situation.

“Practising self-defence is important so that when you’re in the moment, reacting from muscle memory comes more naturally to you than freezing up.

“Confidence in your own ability to defend yourself comes with educating yourself about it, and is a massive advantage when in an unsafe situation.”

The star went on to add to Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter: “I remember taking the time, as it all felt slow-mo, to look at him, a stranger, and my first reaction was, ‘Get me out of this situation.’

“I played volleyball, and my coaches talked about muscle memory. I started boxing two years ago and I always remembered that. Since then, I hadn’t been in a situation that forced me to fight back, but it just came out when he grabbed me – it wasn’t a choice. I do have that fighter in me.

“It sounds cliché to say it, but in the moment, it wasn’t heroic to me. It was just what I had to do. It’s very touching to me that people see it that way.

“I know people are put in much worse situations every day and don’t have the cameras around that provoke social-media support. I just want to use what happened to me to show that it’s everyone’s right, and it can be empowering, to be able to defend yourself.”

Gigi was widely praised on social media after the video of her elbowing her attacker in the face went viral, with Gigi taking to her own social media account at the time to say: “Thanked my boxing coach today.

“GIRLS, prepare yourselves so that, if you ever feel in danger, MUSCLE MEMORY can fight back for you. Thank you all so much for ur support. [SIC]”