Everyone’s attention lately has been on trying to fix the fashion industry, which when it comes to the whole modeling/weight/eating disorder issue, is in need of some serious PR. Each country has their take on what should be done, the CFDA doesn’t appear to really want to “weigh in” too much on the issue, but now the very talented Donatella Versace can no longer be apart of the masses that are in denial about the issue, as it has been confirmed that her 20 year old daughter suffers from Anorexia.
Seeing pictures of Allegra Versace with a feeding tube in her nose as she walks down the street is certainly one reason to make you stop and think. I can only imagine the pressure and microscope she lives under being surrounded by the industry and all the good and bad that comes with it. However, the title to this post is two-fold as Anorexia is not only hitting home with the Versace family, but also with mine. Tonight we spoke with family who let us know that my niece is Anorexic.
This gorgeous young girl, only 15 who I have always admired for her height (5’7”) and fabulous figure, was forced out of the closet when her parents found a purse-full of diet pills hidden in the basement this weekend. When they went into her room, they discovered pictures of ultrathin models from the best fashion magazines taped to her walls. This hadn’t previously set off alarms, but it all began to make sense now with the diet pills and also the discovery that she had been visiting “pro-anna” sites on MySpace that were teaching her how to hide her disease from her parents. Her mother had noticed her recent obsession with the model reality shows and how her eating had become substantially less. This week she took my niece to the pediatrician who confirmed her BMI as 17; my niece only weighing in at 110lbs.
My niece explains how she wants to lose even more and how she admires those models with stickly thin figures. As I again look through the pages of March’s issue of Glamour magazine, I am taken back by their comparison of a model who only last year was glowing with health and this year looks of mere bones.
I have to wonder if Allegra’s disease will prompt Donatella to become more of a voice about model weight issues in the fashion industry, or if she will simply deal with this matter privately and not ruffle feathers among her peers. Will Allegra’s disease change the models she uses in her runway shows? What do you think?
Comments (1)
I think that Rachel Zoe is so scary looking. Its one thing for the 18-26 year old L.A. girls who are so desperately in need of education, but for someone of Ms. Zoe's age it is pathetic! She should know better! Shame on her for promoting her habits on brainless starlets.
Posted by Jason | April 4, 2007 8:10 PM
Posted on April 4, 2007 20:10