Their number one fan! Bella Hadid lets her hair down as she cheers on the home side at New York ice hockey match with close friend Jesse Jo Stark 

She’s better known for her love of fashion, but Bella Hadid revealed a hitherto unknown passion for sport during an appearance in New York City on Wednesday afternoon.

The sultry model, 20, took a seat close to the action as the Detroit Red Wings took on local team New York Rangers in a hotly contested ice hockey match at Madison Square Garden.

Sporting a jaunty pink baseball cap and white Rangers top over an off-the-shoulder vest, Bella made no bones about where her allegiance lay as she cheered on the home side.

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Celebrity support: Bella Hadid revealed a hitherto unknown passion for sport while cheering on the New York Rangers in a hotly contested ice hockey match against Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday 

Celebrity support: Bella Hadid revealed a hitherto unknown passion for sport while cheering on the New York Rangers in a hotly contested ice hockey match against Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday 

The younger sister of supermodel Gigi Hadid completed her look with a retro choker and statement cross pendant while watching from her place in the stands.

Famed for her expressionless catwalk appearances, Bella was rather more animated as the Ranger slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their visiting rivals.   

The model has good company in the form of close friend Jesse Jo Stark, and the 23-year old fashion designer appeared to be in equally high spirits as they posed for a series of playful selfies. 

Look up: The model has good company in the form of close friend Jesse Jo Stark, and the 23-year old fashion designer appeared to be in equally high spirits as they posed for a series of playful selfies

Look up: The model has good company in the form of close friend Jesse Jo Stark, and the 23-year old fashion designer appeared to be in equally high spirits as they posed for a series of playful selfies

On the edge of her set: Famed for her expressionless catwalk appearances, Bella was rather more animated as the Ranger slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their visiting rivals
On the edge of her set: Famed for her expressionless catwalk appearances, Bella was rather more animated as the Ranger slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their visiting rivals

On the edge of her set: Famed for her expressionless catwalk appearances, Bella was rather more animated as the Ranger slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their visiting rivals

Over here! The model had her arms outstretched while taking in the closely fought game

Over here! The model had her arms outstretched while taking in the closely fought game

Despite the disappointing result, the model appeared to be on good form as she posed for snaps with a young male fan. 

The model later shared a joke with a female friend, who burst into fits of hysterical laughter as the pair scrolled through her phone.

Revealing her fun side, Bella found herself engaged in a tickling contest with her pal as their attention diverted from proceedings down below. 

No problem: Bella indulged a male fan with  a snap during her appearance at the sporting event 

No problem: Bella indulged a male fan with  a snap during her appearance at the sporting event 

Hungry work: Cheering appeared to have worked its magic on Bella's appetite 

Hungry work: Cheering appeared to have worked its magic on Bella's appetite 

On side: The model made no bones about where her allegiance lay by sporting a Rangers jersey as she cheered on the home side
On side: The model made no bones about where her allegiance lay by sporting a Rangers jersey as she cheered on the home side

On side: The model made no bones about where her allegiance lay by sporting a Rangers jersey as she cheered on the home side

Thrilling: The game prompted plenty of gasps from the crowd on Wednesday afternoon

Thrilling: The game prompted plenty of gasps from the crowd on Wednesday afternoon

Switching things up: As events down below heated up the model stripped down to an off the shoulder vest
Switching things up: As events down below heated up the model stripped down to an off the shoulder vest

Switching things up: As events down below heated up the model stripped down to an off the shoulder vest

Disappointment: Following the home side's loss Bella looked dejected 

Disappointment: Following the home side's loss Bella looked dejected 

Work on the brain: Despite being nowhere near a catwalk the model  couldn't resist striking a pose

Work on the brain: Despite being nowhere near a catwalk the model  couldn't resist striking a pose

The model recently admitted that being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 forced her to reevaluate her life and original career path.

'My teenage years were taken from me,' she said during an appearance at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala, according to People.

'Showjumping was my dream of my life and what I did every single day until I just stopped and realized I didn’t have the brain power to ride horses anymore, so that was the end of that.'  

Hilarious: At one point she burst into hysterics after checking something on her mobile phone

Hilarious: At one point she burst into hysterics after checking something on her mobile phone

Banter: The model appeared to indulge in a playful tickling contest with a female friend 

Banter: The model appeared to indulge in a playful tickling contest with a female friend 

Good times: Bella was in high spirits despite the home side's loss on Wednesday afternoon 

Good times: Bella was in high spirits despite the home side's loss on Wednesday afternoon 

Bella, whose mother Yolanda and younger brother Anwar have also been diagnosed with Lyme disease, was an honoree at the event hosted by the nonprofit that funds research and education about the tick-borne disease.

'I was forced to start homeschooling my second year of high school, which of course I didn’t want to do because I’d rather go hang out with my friends, go to parties,' she said during her speech.

'I know what it feels like to not want to get out of bed from bone pains and exhaustion and days on end of not wanting to socialize or be around people because the anxiety and brain fog just isn’t worth it.' 

High five! The two pals stroked palms while occupying seats at Madison Square Garden 

High five! The two pals stroked palms while occupying seats at Madison Square Garden 

Plenty to smile about: Bella and close friend Jesse were clearly in high spirits - despite the result 

Plenty to smile about: Bella and close friend Jesse were clearly in high spirits - despite the result 

 

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