Supermodel Linda Evangelista has come out of hiding after five years and decided to speak out about her botched fat-freezing procedure after seeing how this also affected her teenage son.
In an exclusive interview with People, Evangelista, 56, revealed for the first time that she chose to publicly tell her story because her experience has burdened her only child, August James or "Augie," 15 years old.
Since a CoolSculpting cosmetic procedure "brutally disfigured" her body, Evangelista has been unable to work in the industry that made her famous since the 1990s. She also lived in seclusion and refused to see people that her son asked her one day if she still remembers how she "used to be fun."
Evangelista said that Augie's question had been a wake-up call, and she hates how the cosmetic procedure changed her outlook and her relationship with her son. The supermodel also confessed that she's concerned this experience also changed Augie's concept of beauty, but she constantly reminds him that real beauty is on the inside.
What Happened to Linda Evangelista?
In late 2021, Evangelista slowly came out of hiding and shared an emotional post on Instagram to confirm all the rumors and talks about why she has been out of the public eye for so long. After that post, Evangelista told her son that he might hear or read things about his mother, but the teenager assured her that he doesn't care about what people will say.
The Canadian runway star filed a $50 million lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics for negligence, failure to warn clients of the side effects of a CoolSculpting procedure, and false advertising. She claimed that CoolSculpting, which was supposed to reduce the fat on her back, abdomen, thighs, and flanks, did the exact opposite.
As a result of her disfigured body, Evangelista said that she lost her livelihood and experienced sadness and cycles of deep depression. Evangelista also developed feelings of self-loathing.
Doctors diagnosed her with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a rare side effect of CoolSculpting. However, representatives of CoolSculpting told People that the procedure received FDA clearance in 2010. The treatment is also popular in many spas with a high customer satisfaction rating.
'The Light of My Life'
After coming out of hiding, many of Evangelista's friends in the fashion industry cheered her on. Designer and closest friend, Isaac Mizrahi, said that she was never the type to speak to the press, but they know her story about her botched fat-freezing procedure will raise awareness on the risks of cosmetic enhancements.
Evangelista also shields Augie from the limelight by rarely posting social media photos of her son, whom she calls "the light of my life." The mother shares her son with former boyfriend billionaire François-Henri Pinault, who is now married to actress Salma Hayek. It is understood that Evangelista is on good terms with Pinault and Hayek despite going through a child support battle in court in 2011.
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