Supermodel Linda Evangelista: A Chameleon's Fight Against Beauty mishaps
"Linda Evangelista's The Chameleon"
Hailed as the adaptable face of a phenomenon, Linda Evangelista, Canada's Italian-blooded stunner, has been in the fashion spotlight for decades. From her early days as a supermodel giant to her tumultuous battle with a flawed cosmetic procedure, this article revisits her journey.
Linda Evangelista, the first supermodel to grace our runways and magazines alongside the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford, boasts an impressive resume spanning three decades. Born in 1965 in St. Catharines, Ontario, her journey began amidst humble Italian immigrant parents who worked at General Motors. Fashion piqued her interest even at a tender age, prompting her to enroll at a modeling school in her hometown at 12.
In 1987, Evangelista graced the cover of French Vogue, laying the foundation for her international career, which led her to New York and Paris. However, her real breakthrough came the following year, following the advice of photographer Peter Lindbergh. He encouraged her to chop her hair short, leading to an androgynous style that became a game-changer. Initially, she faced job losses due to the transformation, but it wasn't long before she was a staple on the most significant covers, setting a new trend and signing lucrative deals with major fashion houses like Versace and Revlon.
A Chameleon on Top
The cover of British Vogue in January 1990, featuring Evangelista alongside Campbell, Turlington, Crawford, and Patitz, symbolized a new era. This image marked a significant milestone in fashion history. A year later, Evangelista and her fellow supermodels stole the show in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" music video, cementing their status as global icons.
In subsequent years, she graced the runways of prestigious fashion labels such as Chanel and Hermès, earning the nickname "Chameleon." Known for her professionalism and statement-making antics, one of her most famous quotes asserted, "We don't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day." However, she has since distanced herself from this declaration.
A Botched Procedure's Consequences
The iconic supermodel era fizzled out in the late 1990s, but Evangelista remained a powerful presence. In 2016, she vanished from the public eye, reemerging years later to reveal a devastating experience. Linda Evangelista was a victim of Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH), a rare side effect of a botched CoolSculpting procedure for fat reduction. In the following years, she underwent multiple surgeries and struggled emotionally, battling self-acceptance and seeking therapy to rebuild her confidence.
A New Beginning
After a lengthy legal battle, Evangelista's lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc., the parent company of CoolSculpting, was settled out of court in July 2022. Today, Linda Evangelista stands resilient, more comfortable with her body and the concept of aging. She is focusing on the future, ready to embrace life in a new light.
Sources:
[1] ntv.de, Benno Schwinghammer, dpa
[2] People
[3] Cosmopolitan
[4] New York Post
Additional Insights:
- CoolSculpting Procedure: Evangelista underwent seven sessions of the CoolSculpting procedure, which is a non-invasive fat reduction treatment. Despite FDA clearance, it led to her developing Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia, a rare side effect where the affected fatty tissue thickens and expands.
- Lawsuit Settlement: Evangelista's lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc. was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, with Evangelista expressing her hope that her case would help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
- The European Parliament might show interest in Evangelista's case, as it raises concerns about the safety of cosmetic procedures like cryolipolysis, as she was a victim of Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia due to a botched CoolSculpting procedure.
- In the realm of entertainment and pop-culture, celebrities like supermodel Linda Evangelista can influence beauty trends, such as when she adopted an androgynous style in 1988 and set a new trend in the fashion industry.
- While Supermodel Linda Evangelista's journey in the fashion industry spans three decades, her battle with a flawed cosmetic procedure, resulting in Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia, has raised questions about the long-term effects of non-invasive fat reduction treatments like cryolipolysis.
- As supermodels like Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford were the faces of pop-culture in the 1990s, Cryolipolysis, a fat reduction treatment, entered the entertainment scene when Evangelista underwent several sessions of the procedure, which tragically resulted in Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia.
