Death of Anorexic Models Eliana and Luisel Ramos
Symptoms of Eating Disorders Have Taken the Life of Two Sisters
Feb 16, 2007
The devastated family of Uruguanian models Eliana and Luisel Ramos had to bury their second daughter this week as news of her death shattered them.
Eliana Ramos died this week due to complications from anorexia and symptoms of eating disorders. The official medical report is “malnutrition.”
At only 18 years old, the media are covering her death heavily in an attempt to spark more controversy surrounding the banning of underweight models on the catwalk.
Immediate accusations are being made that both girls were anorexic models, although a more thorough report will be released next month.
Fellow model Lucia Brocal has made a statement that she doesn’t believe the sisters’ death related to an eating disorder: “I’m indignant,” she said. “she died for the same reasons her sister did.”
Another model, Erika Fallen, shares her opinion: “Whenever something happens they try to relate it to eating problems. But she died just like her sister did.”
The problem is, her sister, Luisel Ramos, died of a heart attack from lack of nutrition. That is an eating problem, symptoms of eating disorders, and a very serious one that is affecting millions of women and young girls who look up to these models as ideals.
The passionate denial by almost all people in the industry makes the issue even more important to look at. Why are so many of the professionals so defensive if the industry is fostering a healthy environment?
Susana Bernik, a designer from Uruguay, defends her country: “There may be a few [anorexic models] who are a little too thin but that is not common. There are tall girls here but you don’t see the extremely thin ones like those you see in the European shows.”
