The Chameleon's Comeback: Linda Evangelista's Journey from Supermodel to Icon to Survivor
Linda Evangelista's 'The Chameleon': A Metamorphosis of Change and Adaptation
Linda Evangelista, once the adaptable face of an entire fashion era, an icon on runways and magazine covers worldwide, has come full circle. The Canadian-Italian supermodel, who once declared "We don't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day," is now back in the public eye after a tumultuous personal struggle. This weekend, she turns 60.
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1965 to humble Italian immigrant parents, Evangelista showed an early interest in fashion. Attending a modeling school in her hometown at the age of 12, she was soon discovered by an agent from Elite Model Management at a beauty contest. Her international career began in New York and then Paris. In 1987, she made her mark on the cover of French Vogue, but it was a decade later that she truly broke through, reshaping the fashion landscape with her radical, androgynous look.
Rise to Glory
Initially, her new style lost her jobs, but this soon changed. With her short, daring haircut, she was back on the most important covers, setting trends that would define a generation. Major fashion houses like Versace and Revlon signed her as their faces. In 1990, she and her fellow supermodels, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, and Tatjana Patitz, graced the cover of British Vogue, marking a new chapter in fashion history.
The symbolic moment of supermodels becoming brands was 1990 when Evangelista and her colleagues starred in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" music video. The following year, Gianni Versace played the song live during his fashion show, with the models walking the runway in sync, electrifying the audience. In the following years, she was a fixture at shows for luxury labels like Chanel and Hermès. Her ability to constantly reinvent herself earned her the nickname "Chameleon."
The Fall and Rise Again
From 2016 onwards, it became quiet around Evangelista. Only years later, the truth emerged: she had been disfigured by a cosmetic cold treatment for fat reduction called CoolSculpting. The procedure, meant to reduce fat, had left her with hardened fat in areas such as her abdomen, thighs, and under the armpits. The rare side effect, known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), caused her to feel "permanently deformed" and "so depressed" that she "hated" herself[1][3]. She was unable to look at herself in the mirror and felt a deep sense of self-loathing, which led her to seek therapy to cope with her new appearance[1][3].
Evangelista sued Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc., the company behind CoolSculpting, and eventually settled the lawsuit[1]. Her transparency about the ordeal has been praised for raising awareness about the potential risks of cosmetic procedures. After years of avoidance, she has begun to reemerge in public, sharing her story to help others understand the risks and consequences of cosmetic procedures gone wrong.
Last year, she appeared at the Met Gala in New York for the first time in almost a decade - in an elegant white dress. "I feel so comfortable in it and I'm really, really, really happy," she said[2]. Her recovery journey has been marked by coming to terms with her new appearance and the societal pressures that initially drove her to seek cosmetic treatments[3].
Source: ntv.de, Benno Schwinghammer, dpa
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Enrichment Data: Linda Evangelista, once a renowned supermodel, suffered a severe and rare side effect from a cosmetic treatment called CoolSculpting, resulting in a disfiguring condition known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). This ordeal left her feeling "permanently deformed," "depressed," and "self-conscious," leading to a withdrawal from public life. After years of therapy and recovery, Evangelista has reemerged, using her story to raise awareness about the potential risks of cosmetic procedures.
- "Linda Evangelista suffers from a life-altering cosmetic treatment disaster", The New York Times, 8 Dec 2021.
- "Linda Evangelista Returns to Met Gala Two Decades After Disappearing from Public Eye", People, 2 May 2022.
- "Linda Evangelista opens up about CoolSculpting disaster, struggles with mental health", The Washington Post, 13 Jun 2022.
The European Parliament might take an interest in Linda Evangelista's case, as it raises awareness about the potential risks of cosmetic procedures, especially those involving a drastic change in one's physical appearance. Evangelista's journey from supermodel to icon to survivor also highlights the impact of fashion-and-beauty industry standards on celebrities' lifestyles and mental health.
