You’re sitting there, watching the second-to-last episode of a show that’s basically built on grit, dirt, and Kevin Costner’s gravelly voice. Suddenly, the door opens. It isn’t a weathered ranch hand or a local Montana official. It’s Bella Hadid.
Yes, that Bella Hadid.
It felt like a fever dream for most fans. Why was one of the most famous supermodels on the planet suddenly staring down Beth Dutton in a Texas ranch house? Honestly, the internet didn't know whether to cheer or throw their remotes at the wall. The Bella Hadid Yellowstone appearance in Season 5, Episode 13, titled "Give the World Away," wasn't just a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it background shot. It was a full-on guest spot that has people talking well into 2026.
Who Exactly Did Bella Hadid Play?
Bella didn't show up as herself. She played a character named Sadie.
Now, Sadie isn’t a Dutton. She isn’t even a resident of the Yellowstone ranch. She’s the girlfriend of Travis Wheatley. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Travis is played by the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.
Their first scene together is pure chaos. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) barges into Travis’s place in Texas, and Sadie is the one who answers the door. She looks Beth up and down and asks, “You the masseuse?”
Beth, being Beth, snaps back: “Do I look like a f***ing masseuse?”
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Sadie’s response? “A very expensive one.”
It was a bold move. You don't usually see guest stars hold their own against Kelly Reilly’s sharp tongue, but Hadid played it with this cool, aloof confidence that actually worked. Later in the episode, we see her at a horse auction, and even on horseback, proving she wasn't just there to look pretty in a cowboy hat.
The Adan Banuelos Connection
A lot of people think this was just some random Hollywood casting. It wasn't.
Bella Hadid’s life has shifted massively over the last couple of years. She basically traded the runways of Paris for the dirt arenas of Fort Worth, Texas. This whole "cowgirl era" isn't a brand deal; it’s her actual life. She’s dating Adan Banuelos, a literal legend in the world of cutting horses. He’s in the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame.
The coolest part? Adan was actually in the episode with her.
While Bella was playing Travis’s girlfriend, Adan appeared as a rider in the background and during the horse sequences. He’s the reason she’s even in that world. Since 2024, Bella has been competing as an amateur rider, winning champion buckles and getting her first-ever "rodeo checks."
Taylor Sheridan is obsessed with authenticity. He loves using real-life horsemen and legends in his shows. Since Bella is now part of that tight-knit Texas cutting horse community, her being on the show actually makes more sense than a random actress who can’t tell a stirrup from a saddle.
Why Fans Are Still Divided
Not everyone was happy.
Some viewers felt it was "self-indulgent" for Taylor Sheridan to cast a 20-something supermodel as his own on-screen girlfriend. The age gap was a sticking point for the "Yellowstone" purists who felt it took away from the high stakes of the final episodes. They argued that with the show ending, every minute should have been spent on the Dutton family’s fate, not a subplot about Travis’s dating life.
On the other hand, younger fans and the fashion crowd were obsessed. Seeing Bella Hadid Yellowstone scenes go viral on TikTok brought a whole new demographic to the show. Plus, the clothes! Bella’s Western style—fringe leather, turquoise jewelry, and vintage Fendi bags—basically redefined "Western Chic" for 2025 and 2026.
Is She Coming Back?
Since that episode aired in late 2024, the big question has been whether Sadie returns.
While the main "Yellowstone" series is wrapping up its current iteration, the "Sheridan-verse" is always expanding. Bella has been vocal about how much she loves acting now. She recently filmed a role for Ryan Murphy’s new series The Beauty, which is set to drop in early 2026.
She told The Hollywood Reporter that acting is her "dream" now.
"I've brought my art side and my creativity to modeling, but at the end of the day, I love being able to move, and I love film and acting in general."
There’s a lot of chatter about her possibly appearing in a spin-off or more Taylor Sheridan projects. Given her real-life commitment to the horse world, it wouldn't be shocking to see her pop up in the 6666 ranch series whenever that finally gets out of development hell.
What to Know If You Want the "Sadie" Look
If you’re less interested in the drama and more interested in the wardrobe, here is how Bella (and her stylist) pulled off the look that broke the internet:
- Authentic Gear: No "costume" hats. She wears real Western brands like Kemo Sabe.
- The Fringe Factor: Suede dusters and leather jackets with heavy fringe are the go-to.
- Vintage High-Fashion: Mixing a leopard print Fendi Baguette with cowboy boots is the secret sauce.
- Natural Glam: Less is more. Her look on the show was very "no-makeup makeup," letting her actual equestrian lifestyle shine through.
If you want to see the performance for yourself, you'll need to head to the Paramount Network or catch the Season 5 Part 2 episodes on Peacock (depending on your region). It’s a weird, wild moment in TV history, but it's one that cemented Bella Hadid as more than just a face on a billboard. She’s a cowgirl now, and she’s got the screen credits to prove it.
To stay updated on Bella's transition from the ranch back to the screen, keep an eye on the release of The Beauty in January 2026, where she'll be taking on a much darker, dystopian role far removed from the Montana dirt.