The Dangers of Extreme Weight Loss: Linda Evangelista’s Revelations in the Fashion Industry

Published on November 15, 2023, 12:49 am

Linda Evangelista, the iconic supermodel of the ’80s and ’90s, recently opened up about the extreme measures she took to lose and maintain weight during her early modeling career. In a podcast episode titled “Ruthie’s Table 4,” Evangelista revealed that the fashion industry’s unrealistic beauty standards required her to maintain an unrealistic weight.

During this time, Evangelista resorted to various cleanses, admitting that she found them enjoyable but now recognizes their harm. One method she mentioned is the famous “Master Cleanse.” This cleanse involves drinking only saltwater and herbal laxative tea for ten consecutive days. Looking back, Evangelista acknowledges that these drastic measures were detrimental to her health.

In addition to cleanses, Evangelista also frequented fasting retreats like We Care Spa in Palm Desert, California. These retreats focused on liquid diets consisting mostly of water with lemon and mints, as well as juices and diluted vegetable soups. However, she now describes these retreats as starvation diets and expressed that she would never subject herself to such deprivation again.

This isn’t the first time Evangelista has spoken out against harmful beauty standards in the fashion industry. In September 2021, she shared an Instagram post detailing her negative experience with a CoolSculpting procedure called “fat freezing.” Although it was marketed as a safe alternative to liposuction, Evangelista claimed that it left her disfigured and caused an increase in fat cells despite two corrective surgeries.

She revealed that this experience led her into a deep depression and self-loathing due to developing a condition known as Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia. As a result, Evangelista filed a lawsuit against CoolSculpting in September 2021. She recently announced on Instagram that she settled the case in July 2022 and expressed gratitude for the support she received throughout the process.

Linda Evangelista’s candid revelations shed light on the unhealthy practices prevalent in the fashion industry. Her courage to speak out serves as a reminder that unrealistic beauty standards can have serious consequences for individuals’ mental and physical well-being.

It’s essential for society to challenge these harmful norms and promote body positivity and acceptance. Models like Evangelista, who share their experiences, play an important role in initiating this conversation. By acknowledging and rectifying these issues, we can strive for a healthier and more inclusive industry that prioritizes the well-being of models and celebrates diverse body types.