They Weighed Just 83 lbs and Nearly Died But They Overcome!: What Do They Look Like Now?
The modeling industry has long faced criticism for promoting dangerous beauty standards. In Russia, twin sisters Masha and Dasha Ledeneva nearly lost their lives as teens after extreme dieting. At just 14, they joined a modeling school with a strict 50-kilogram weight limit.
What began as mild dieting spiraled into near-starvation, with the girls surviving on as little as 300 calories a day. Their weights dropped to 38 kilograms, leaving them fainting, weak, and close to death.
Hospitalization became unavoidable, and doctors warned they might not survive. After months of medical and psychological treatment, and with their mother’s support, the sisters eventually recovered. Today, they share their story online to raise awareness about anorexia and the dangers of modeling pressures.
Not everyone is so fortunate. Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos died in 2006 at age 22 after collapsing from anorexia during Fashion Week. Just six months later, her younger sister Elina died the same way.
While body positivity movements have challenged old ideals, the pressure to be dangerously thin still harms many young women. The Ledeneva twins’ survival is a rare success story, showing recovery is possible — but many others lose their lives in pursuit of an “ideal” body.
