Model Gigi Hadid has disputed reports suggesting she elbowed a fan in the face, insisting a prankster "manhandled" her.

The 21-year-old was walking to a car with her sister Bella after they had finished walking the runway at the Max Mara presentation at Milan Fashion Week in Italy on Thursday (22Sep16) when she was accosted by a man, reportedly notorious prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who approached from behind and tried to pick her up.

Video of the incident shows Gigi screaming, "What the f**k?! Let me go of me!" and when he puts her down, she walks after him yelling, "Who the f**k are you, you piece of s**t!" as a security guard intervenes.

Pictures which show Gigi being lifted from the ground as she bites her lips in frustration and uses her elbows to get free, were reported online, with sites claiming Gigi had lashed out at a fan and tried to elbow him in the face. However, when Gigi was made aware of the story angle, she disputed it and insisted she was just defending herself from a stranger, not a fan.

One user named Rachel tweeted the model a story headline and made an alternative suggestion, "GOOD FOR HER: Gigi Hadid Reacts In Totally Appropriate Way When Random Man Tries To Lift Her In The Street."

Gigi shared the fan's post and added, "THANK YOU Rachel... To unknown article writer: fan?!!! The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I'm a HUMAN BEING... and had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot thinks he has the right to man-handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho." She added a fist bump and cat emojis.

She was escorted to her car after the incident. Pictures show her at the vehicle with Bella and pointing as she talks to a security guard, as if to gesture where the man went.

Later that day, Gigi and Bella walked in the Fendi catwalk presentation, where Gigi exposed her breasts in a sheer dress.