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The Ecology of Life: The Hidden Truth About Modeling
That evening the mother decided to take her daughter shopping so she could relax. She had no idea, however, that at that moment her daughter Victoire’s life would turn into a real nightmare.
The Beginning of the Journey
Victoire Mason Doxer, an eighteen-year-old girl from France, studied hard to complete her bachelor’s degree. The evening her mother took her to the shopping mall, a prestigious modeling agency noticed her. Although Victoire dreamed of a career in politics, this unexpected opportunity attracted her enough that she decided to step into the world of modeling.
Drastic Changes
Soon after her first steps in the new career, Victoire’s life turned into hell. She found herself in an environment where unhealthy thinness reigned. “No one told me directly, but they made it clear: in September we have fashion week, clothing size 32-34 – you have to fit into that.”
Extreme Diets
During two months Victoire had to lose ten kilograms. Her diet was drastic: three apples a day, soda for a feeling of fullness, and once a week a slice of chicken or fish. This strategy worked – at a height of 178 cm she reached a weight of 47 kg and soon shone on the catwalks in Paris, Milan and New York.
The Dark Truth
Despite success on the catwalk, Victoire suffered from serious health problems. “It seemed like I had no pulse, I was losing my hair and my period stopped.” She regularly fainted after fashion shows and all of her photos were retouched in Photoshop. “They always gave me faces, cheekbones,” Victoire recalls.
Hidden Cruelty
Models who are still pursuing their careers deny the truth for fear of damaging their careers. To avoid suspicion from the press, they eat hamburgers in front of journalists, but then run to the bathroom to vomit.
Struggle with Anorexia
Victoire realized that she had lost herself as a person. She became very lonely, fell into a deep depression and after eight months of modeling attempted suicide. “Nobody understood it. Everyone said ‘yes, your life is everyone’s dream!’ But I was never so unhappy.”
End of Career
In the end Victoire decided to break the contract and end her modeling career. She wrote a book titled “Always Not Thin Enough. Model’s Diary”, in which she truthfully described the cruel diet, the terrible measurements and the designers for whom a woman is merely an object of sexual hunger.
Inspiration for Change
Victoire’s story inspired the government to adopt a law banning overly strict model measurements. “Run away if someone says you need to lose weight!” is the advice an experienced model would like to give to all young girls who dream of the catwalk.
New Beginning
Now Victoire is getting back in shape, wears a size 38 and is beginning a theater career. She is one of the few models who dared to tell people the whole truth hidden behind the scenes of the modeling industry.
