Brazil Mourns As Anorexia Claims Another Model's Life

Drudge ^ | 11/16/06 | Andrei Khalip

[Froufrou]

The mother of a Brazilian fashion model who died from complications of anorexia has made an emotional appeal for parents to take better care of aspiring young models.

The death of Ana Carolina Reston, 21, follows growing criticism of the use of underweight models in the fashion world, an issue given new significance after the death in August of Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos of heart failure during a fashion show in Montevideo.

Reston died on Tuesday in a Sao Paulo hospital from a generalized infection caused by anorexia, an eating disorder in which sufferers obsessively deprive themselves of food in pursuit of an ultra-slim look.

Reston weighed only 88 pounds (40 kg) and was about 5 feet 8 inches tall. Doctors consider the weight normal for a 12-year-old girl about 5 feet tall.

"Take care of your children ... no money is worth the life of your child, not even the most famous (fashion) brand is worth this," her mother, Miriam, told O Globo newspaper.

She said her daughter had been trying to help her family with the money she made as a model. Miriam spoke on national television and to local media to highlight the tragedy.

She said she had pleaded with her daughter to eat more and to see a doctor. "She would reply, 'Mummy, don't mess me around,'" Miriam told O Estado de S.Paulo.

O Dia tabloid carried a picture of the dark-haired, big-eyed girl in lingerie on its front-page with the headline "Dictatorship of skinny look kills a model."

[Hemingway's Ghost]

There are actual pro-Anorexia sites that use pictures like these for "Thinspiration".

That is beyond sick. Real men dig curves.

[Palladin]

Oh...that was because I liked all those FOXbabes. But you never get to see their butts, because they are always seated (on those high stools).

[monday]

"And there were still probably industry types telling her to lose a couple pounds."

from the article; "Her agency, L'Equipe of Brazil, said on Thursday it had sent Reston to a specialist in eating disorders after she lost her job in Japan for being too thin but she missed her appointments."

[avacado]

It is real. It's just not a picture of the person in the story.

[Osage Orange]

The bottom picture doesn't look abnormal to me....

Maybe you have factual data to support your comment on those two women in the pictures?

[Froufrou]

You boys are making me feel better about not looking like Heidi Klum!

[momfirst]

Hey - I'm an A+, I chase after three kids, up and down stairs, no less. *sigh*....Darn genetics! I love it when we can blame our parents. Oh, and I'm sure the computer job doesn't help... LOL!

[monday]

"A woman who was once 'hot' at a size 12 is now obese and disgusting along with the women who are 10, 8 & 6 respectively."

Nonsense. Guys like all shapes and sizes of women. Some would never consider dating a fashion model type and many like women with big everything. The only pressure women have to be thin comes from fashion catalogs and magazines. For instance Playboy Playmates are anything but skinny.

[ArrogantBustard]

I've always liked curvy ladies. Even my high-school girlfriends tended to have bumps where a gal should be bumpy.

[monday]

"I know ya are hun, but I wish you guys would post more 'I'd hit it' pictures of women who ARE size 12 etc."

I'd hit it;o)

[ArrogantBustard]

Yeah.

Like that.

[DollyCali]

oh.. if they aren't up later, I will . just got in (for a few minutes) and leaving for cancer support group that I facilitate..

[Caipirabob]

[reagan_fanatic]

[monday]

"It is real. It's just not a picture of the person in the story. "

It appears the photo was originally taken from an anorexia fetish site which no longer exists. To suggest that actual fashion models look like that is absurd. They would be laughed off the runway, just before an ambulance was called to take them to the hospital. I realize you were trying to make a point, but being dishonest isn't a very good way to do it.

[California74]

For those wondering about the true cause of Cass Elliott's death - she died of a heart attack. She did not choke on a sandwich..

[TankerKC]

Who finds these runway cadavers attrative?

I've wondered the same...not to mention the clothes they model. Who buys them?

[boxerblues]

Actually the photo is real, that one and several others that will make you sick to see were recently sent out in an email.

[COUNTrecount]

http://blogs.smh.com.au/entertainment/archives/fashion_season/006613.html

Gaultier's biggest winner: runway star Velvet d'Amour

[monday]

Where were these photos taken? Are you you suggesting that this is a normal fashion show and that ordinary models look like this? What did the email say about them?