Ana's Story: She was born in Jundiai in Brazil, on the outskirts of Sau Paulo. At the age of 13 she became a model after winning a beauty contest in her hometown. She was represented by agencies such as Ford and Elite. On her first overseas modelling gig in China, she was reportedly informed that she was "too fat" which sources say led to her decline into anorexia. She was surviving on a diet of Apples and tomatoes. On October 25th 2006 she was hospitalized for Kidney malfunction due to her anorexia and bulimia. Ana died on November 15 at the age of 21, she weighed only 40 kilos (88 lbs) at 5'8 inches tall.
Luisel Story: She was a Uruguayan model who was at the top of her game when she fainted back stage at a fashion show during Uruguay fashion week. Soon after her fainting spell she died at the age of 22 of heart failure. Her father told police that she had gone days without eating and the last months before her death had survived on a lettuce and Diet Coke. At the time of her death she was 44 kg (98lbs) and 5'9 inches tall.
And a few months later....
Eliana "Elle" Ramos (b 1988 – February 13, 2007)
Elle's Story: She was discovered at the age of 16 by a model scout and her career took off from there. She was a well known model in Latin America and was signed with prestigious Argentinian agency Dotto models. She was found dead in her grandparents home in Montevideo, 6 months after the death of her sister Luisel Ramos. A heart attack was suspected brought on by malnutrition. She was only 18.
What's happened since then? Italian designers banned size 0 models from their catwalk, and a minimum BMI of 18 has been set for all models in Spain...It's a start...
Mahalo fashion,Jen
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28 comments:
what can I say.. shocking!!!! nice that the italians have banned size 0.. I mea n what kin dof size is that?? it doesn't even excist!! 0..
i know, size zero is rediculous like the smallest size here in australia i believe is a 6 which is really a 'size 0' but at least it's not called that.
Great post Jen. As you said, it's a start. You named only latinamerican models, I imagine there are from other countries too...I don't know what's in the mind of people who say: you're too fat, to a stylish young (really) lady. They are victims of a selfish and sick system. It has to stop, not only in the fashion world but everywhere. That's why I really like Jessica Biel style and not Kira Knightley's (just an example).
^ Oh I named latin models because they all died close to each other and their names were in the headlines and brought on the size zero ban was nothing discriminatory.
Lovely insightful post!!! Yes its a darn good thing they banned size zero... I cant believe one cud die of malnutrition... Its just too much. It's a fatal obsession!
I understand perfectly. I think this is a great post! xxx
^ thank you.
The darker side of the fashion industry is shocking. Those stories are awful, really terrible.
good post though, to the point yet very informative
I just can't believe that the two sisters both died as a result of eating disorders in the same year!
xx
anorexia is not cool or fashion...
great post
a kiss
I think it's important to ban those girls, but I still ( you can hate me if you want to ) think that catwalk is a place for models, not for 'normal' ppl.
juliet xxx
I remenber Ana Carolina Reston, but that two sisters, its so sad, and something have to be done...
Very sad stories. I do agree with Juliet, that the catwalk is a place for models. I like the old-style Glamazons like Christy, Linda and (the then insane) Naomi. They were beautiful and healthy-looking ad I think they inspired people to want t be glamorous, not drab and thin. Honestly I question whether these girls that starved themselves had what it took to be great models so they tried to compensate by being thin models.
What a sad but necessary post.
Juliet - I don't hate you haha
yes the catwalk is a place for models but starving yourself to death is not being a model.
Filó - So sad indeed
WendyB - People think being thin = beauty which is sad we need to reformat the way we think....even I am guilty of feeling that way about myself, it's easier said then done.
Great post Jennifer! These stories are so sad. And they show how much the world confuses young girls in the fashion industry. I love it but hate it at the same time!!
I'm so torn on this issue. Anorexia is bad and its so sad how many girls have died from it, at the same time I will argue that there are naturally tiny girls. I have a friend who has been clinically diagnosed with an overactive-metabolism and takes medication to slow it down. And she eats like a horse.
a really great post. but that it has to be said, shows which drama we've got. why do girls let themself tell, that they're too fat? the dark side of fashion is, that some people try to make it exclusiv. and there for they start making cruel ruels. the problem is: even if you might fullfill the rules u'll never be happy about beeing " in"
hope u understand what i'm trying to say, my english isn't the best.
greetings
Sad, but great, post, Jen. I didn't really know all of these stories, and it's very eye-opening.
Designer design clothes for the thin model, so that is who wears it, then all women see these girls in ads and then they also think they need to be skinny (plus other outside sources).
All of it is so sad, but I don't really see a way to make it all stop. Even with banning a size 0, I don't know if girls will ever truly get away from the thought they need to be skinny to be loved.
I think it's great that your bringing this issue up. I think the more it's brought up, the less likely it is for girls to keep doing this and have it go unnoticed.
Props to you! :)
XOXO,
FT
It's very sad and unfortunate that girls (and boys) think they need to go to these extremes to be in a certain business. Though anorexia and eating disorders are present in the modeling industry, it's also in any other industry or business.
I feel that the press likes to pick on models because they don't have the "average woman's body", which is "unfair" for some people and definitely unfair for the models (if you know what I mean). Some girls are just born thin and if they get to make a modeling career out of it, awesome. But not every single model starves themselves... and I think the real world needs to realize that (along with the scary world of eating disorders).
I hope I make sense.
Ah, it's so sad! And thanks for stopping by my blog :)
Secret Agent, you make sense!
Who's That Fashionista? - It is sad but it's good to be informed!
The Clothes Horse - There are naturally tiny girls but when your forcefully making yourself that way that's when it's crossing th eline.
spiegeleule - I guess fashion can destroy your self confidence cause your constantly getting told your not good enough.
glamour girly - I'm glad you found it informative gg!
Secret Agent- No not every single model starves themselves but it's sad when certain situations are taken to extreme obviously it's a small part in the big picture.
I agree...great post Jen! This is the side of the fashion industry that I dislike. I guess I'm a little more old school. I thought Cindy Crawford was hot back in the day. There was a time when models were thin and attractive but not bone racks. These super thin, sickly girls worry me, especially because of what it does to our body image- a girl that I went to high school with died of anorexia last year. The measure for perfection that we try to live up to is definitely not healthy.
my best friend and i did a project on this last year, it really made me think. this is so horrible...
these models are distorting everyone's body image, it needs to be stopped.
i am a designer myself and have always had discussions with friends and mentors on this subject. i believe the media is the main culprit, but then, it really is everyone's fault and it's such a vicious and sad, sad cycle.
^ your right, it always comes down to the media in the end!!
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