Versace Heiress Suffers from Anorexia

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Parent Category: News and Stories

Posted in: Fashion n Modelling on Thursday, 05 April 2007 00:00

Published on Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Written by London | Models n Trends

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The 20-year-old daughter of world-famous fashion designer Donattella Versace is being treated for anorexia, the family announced Wednesday, in a step likely to re-start the so-called size zero debate and renew calls for a ban on stick-thin fashion models.

The fashion designer issued a statement admitting that her painfully thin daughter Allegra has been struggling with the eating disorder for many years.

"Our daughter, Allegra, has been battling anorexia, a very serious disease, for many years," a statement released by Allegra's father Paul Beck and Donattella read Wednesday.

"She is receiving the best medical care possible to help overcome this illness and is responding well."

"As parents, we are doing our best to protect our daughter. However, due to numerous media reports, we want to let everyone know that we appreciate their concern for Allegra, and we ask that her privacy be respected at this time."

Campaigners against eating disorders argue that constant images in the media of ultra-thin, or size-zero, fashion models encourage young women and teenage girls to become anorexic. Fashion industry bosses say it is not their responsibility.

A spokeswoman for the Versace fashion house told the Daily Mail that Allegra, who inherited half of the multi-million dollar fashion empire two years ago, is living at home in the United States where she is a student, and not in hospital.