Celebrity bodyguard reveals what it’s really like to work for Gigi and Bella Hadid
A celebrity bodyguard turned Hollywood action star and fashion designer revealed what it’s really like to protect supermodel sisters, Gigi, 28, and Bella Hadid, 26 — and the most absurd requests he’s received over the years from his many A-list customers.
Simon Newton, 45, has lived the life he most dreamed of — working with the Hadid sisters, as well as several other clients, including Kendall Jenner, 27, Halsey, 28, Kate Moss, 49, Rita Ora, 32, and Naomi Campbell, 52,
In an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com, Simon — who is gearing up to launch his own fashion label after being named the “Real Star of London Fashion Week” by British Vogue for his impeccable style — says that Bella and Gigi “really quite similar’ and surprisingly ‘down to earth, good people.’
‘I worked for the apart because they were always booked for different things at different times. I spent most of my time with Bella,” Simon reveals. “I got on very well with her. she’s absolutely amazing.’
Simon Newton, 45 (pictured with Bella Hadid, 26, in 2018) also helped protect her supermodel sister, Gigi Hadid, 28. He says the two are “down to earth, good people”
Keeping up: Simon (with Kendall Jenner, 27, in London in 2015) told DailyMail.com he thought Kendall “might be tough, but she wasn’t”
Simon (on duty in 2015) has also worked for big A-list stars like Halsey, 28, Kate Moss, 49, Rita Ora, 32 and Naomi Campbell, 52
Following her sister Gigi, Bella has become a huge name in the fashion world in recent years.
When asked if that has changed the stunning brunette beauty, Simon tells DailyMail.com: “Not at all. Bella hasn’t changed herself much. None of this ever went to her head.’
Kendall Jenner, 27, surprised Simon when he was booked as her bodyguard. “I thought she might be difficult, but she wasn’t. Obviously Kendall was a bit further up the tree than Bella at the beginning.”
“She was always good to me and she treated me well. All those girls made sure I didn’t stop. I was never mistreated.’
‘Especially with models you look from the outside,’ he adds. “They are believed to be pretentious because of the way they look and the way they always dress. They’re really nice people deep down,” he adds.
While Simon claims he’s never done anything with any of his clients due to his need to keep it professional at all times, the same can’t hold true when asked if a client has ever hit him.
“Yeah,” he laughed when asked if a supermodel has ever passed him. “You often forget who you are with.”
“When you’re around them, you’re just like them. When you’re out and about together you tend to forget who it is, but I’ve always made sure to stay professional.’
Simon (pictured with Bella and Stella Maxwell, 32, in London in 2017) says Bella’s sister Gigi Hadid, 28, hasn’t changed herself very much. None of this ever went to her head’
Simon (starring Bella at Loulou’s in the UK in 2018) says the brunette beauty was ‘always good to me and she treated me well. All those girls made sure I didn’t stop’
Simon says Halsey, 33 (with Taylor Swift, 33, who he also worked for and “is amazing” at the Billboard Awards in 2019) “always wants a really nice luxury van.”
According to Simon, it was not the supermodels who made the most absurd demands, but the singers of the superstars.
“You have some who only travel in certain vehicles. Not a particular color per se, but some like a V-class only with TVs in the back. Some also travel alone in S-Class Mercedes.’
“A common theme among the stars in the music industry is that they always like vans, but only very nice vans. The singers must have the space. I worked for Halsey a lot and she always wants a really nice luxury van. Rita Ora, same.’
“I didn’t work for him, but people like Drake always have their own vans and they’re all pimped out,” Simon tells DailyMal.com. “Most of the time I’ve taken care of women, so women don’t bother so much.”
Among the female A-list singers Simon has worked with, perhaps the greatest is Taylor Swift, who he says is “no different” than anyone else.
“I’ve worked with Taylor a lot because she’s friends with Halsey, Gigi, and Bella. They are all friends. That whole bunch of girls are just all really close. We’ve all been out together several times. Taylor is just great.’
Despite the glitz and glamour, it wasn’t all champagne wishes and caviar dreams for Simon, as he says there are serious hours to the job too.
“I think one of the biggest things people don’t realize is the number of hours we do. The hours are terrible, and if you see bodyguards on a red carpet, that guy has often worked 18 hours or so.”
You get up in the morning before the person you’re with gets up. And you can’t really go to sleep until they’ve gone to sleep. Plus, you need to make sure it’s ready for the next day too. Maybe you should visit a few places,’ he exclaims.
Thankfully, in the world of supermodels and celebrities — who served in the British Army and served four years on operations in Iraq before leaving the army in 2004 — Simon says there isn’t much real danger as a bodyguard.
“With all the girls I’ve worked for, the biggest problem is the paparazzi following them everywhere. With fans, they usually just want an autograph or a photo with them. That’s not so bad.’
“But in the United States, paparazzi can be extremely aggressive compared to London, where I come from. In London, photographers have different rules and are much more reserved.’
Simon has since retired as a bodyguard and now owns his own security company, Askari Secure Ltd. Based in central London, it currently employs over 70 people.
Since using his talent in front of the camera, Simon has starred in a number of movies and TV shows, including Final Score where he doubled for Dave Bautista, Green Zone Thriller and Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows.
His favorite outfit choices are usually a mix of tailored and smart suits, or casual designer jeans and t-shirts – always styled with a Hermes belt. Simon is currently developing his own fashion label, which will be released later this year.