Fashion designer Donatella Versace, 52, revealed yesterday that her daughter Allegra, 20, has been "battling anorexia" for many years. She is now "desperately ill" and being treated by a team of specialists. She is said to be responding well. Anyone that follows fashion knows that these rumours have been circulating for years. In every photo I have seen of her she looks skeletal, and the recent photos surfacing now are shocking.
Anorexia has been the fashion industry's dirty little secret for years and several recent anorexia-related deaths of models have helped to bring the disease into the spotlight. Several countries now have BMI requirements for models participating in fashion week shows and there is the promise of medical care for those not meeting the requirements.
After writing the title, it's like I don't even need to write a post about this. What is there to say? It is sad, ironic, but not really that surprising that Allegra is suffering from anorexia. Not only has she grown up in the fashion industry where the emphasis is placed on extreme thinness, but she has a mother that, from the looks of it, can't stop hacking at her face and body. I wonder how many other "fashion kids" are suffering from eating-related diseases?
The Versace family is requesting privacy as Allegra fights for her life. Let's hope she's successful; she has a long road ahead of her if she is ever going to be "well."
