'She's built like a woman': Tommy Hilfiger praises 'smart, funny and humble' Gigi Hadid as he shows off his luxury New York apartment 

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 Tommy Hilfiger has praised model Gigi Hadid as the embodiment of the 'American dream girl next door', after facing a backlash over comments he made about her not being as thin as other models.

The designer, 65, opened up about his appreciation of the supermodel in an interview with Hello! magazine to celebrate the release of his memoir American Dreamer: My Life In Fashion And Business. 

Pictured at his home at New York's Plaza hotel with wife Dee, 50, it was a chance to show off the stunning apartment with views of Central Park and is brimming with rare pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol.

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Tommy Hilfiger, 65, pictured at his home in new York's Plaza Hotel with his wife Dee, 50

'She doesn't really fit': 21-year-old supermodel Gigi Hadid wore an oversized red, white and blue poncho because casting directors said she wasn't 'quite as thin' as the other models

Opening up about 21-year-old supermodel Gigi, the designer said that when the she first walked for him in his 30th anniversary show, he knew she had something special.

'She is wholesome, built like a woman, yet fresh,' he explained. 'She is smart, funny and humble and we loved that.'

He added that the rising star was extremely hands on with the creation of her fragrance The Girl. 

Describing her Southern California style as 'sporty, sexy with great taste', he added: 'She is definitely a girl with a bright future.'

Gigi recently defended the designer, telling Access Hollywood that designer was 'rooting' for her and wanted her in his show because he loved her curves

Gigi Hadid was forced to cover up in a large poncho during New York Fashion Week at the Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2015 show after a casting director said she 'wasn't as thin' as the other girls. 

However the model defended the designer, telling Access Hollywood: 'Tommy was rooting for me and... regardless of what the stylist of that season said or what he put me in.

'Tommy wanted me in the show, and Tommy was pushing for me and Tommy loved my curves.'

Gigi wore an oversized red, white and blue poncho on the runway as she sauntered down the catwalk.

'More accepting': The next season Gigi rocked the runway in a skimpy bikini for the designer

The designer received backlash earlier this month after comments he made regarding his team's decision to put her in the garb.

'Our casting director said she doesn't really fit,' Hilfiger, 65, began. 

'Because you know, she's not quite as tall as the other girls, she's not quite as thin, so they put a red, white and blue poncho on her.'

Tommy Hifliger heaped praise on Gigi Hadid in this week's issue of Hello! magazine 

He continued: 'Covered a lot of her body, unfortunately, but it received millions of hits.'

The bold coloured frock went on to become a best-selling item by the high end apparel line.

Hilfiger told Yahoo: 'So I said you know, why don't we ask her to design a line with us? So I said, "Gigi, come design this with me, we'll do a Gigi, Tommy Hilfiger line."'

Speaking to Access Hollywood the genetically-gifted stunner said: 'When Tommy said it last week it was in context of a larger story that wasn't shown in that video.'

'The next season I wore a bikini on the same runway with the same stylist of the show that had previously put me in a poncho,' Gigi went on to further prove her point that Hilfiger was on her side.

She added: 'So I think you learn and that's something I think you know was something that brand's had to become more accepting of because it was proven.'