They Weighed Just 83 lbs and Nearly Died But They Overcome!: What Do They Look Like Now?

The glamorous world of modeling often hides a darker reality—one of toxic beauty standards, extreme dieting, and dangerous consequences. For decades, the industry has promoted dangerously thin ideals, pressuring aspiring models to maintain unrealistic weights at the expense of their physical and mental health.

In Russia, twin sisters Masha and Dasha Ledeneva nearly died as teenagers after joining a modeling school enforcing a strict weight limit of 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Surviving on as little as 300 calories a day, their weight fell to 38 kilograms (84 pounds), leading to fainting, severe health issues, and hospitalization. With medical care and their mother’s support, the sisters began recovery and now use social media to raise awareness about mental health and eating disorders.

Tragically, not all stories end in survival. In Uruguay, models Luisel Ramos and her sister Elina both died from anorexia within six months of each other. Despite growing awareness of body positivity, the pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards continues, making advocacy and reform essential.