Famous Models Who Don't Look Anything Like They Used To

In an industry obsessed with beauty and appearance, change is inevitable. The world of modeling is no exception, as many famous models have undergone transformations that leave them nearly unrecognizable from their early days. These changes can stem from various factors, including age, personal choices, and even unexpected medical conditions. As we explore the journeys of these iconic figures, we'll uncover the stories behind their dramatic shifts in looks and the impact these transformations have had on their careers and personal lives.

For instance, Singaporean model Glenda Narulla made headlines when she decided to shave her head, a bold move that drastically altered her appearance. Furthermore, the allure of cosmetic surgery has drawn many models into the operating room in search of perfection, despite the potential risks involved. As we delve deeper into the experiences of renowned models, we will also discover the underlying reasons for their transformations, showcasing the complexities of beauty standards and the pressures faced by those in the spotlight.

From Linda Evangelista's struggles with CoolSculpting to Maggie Greene's choice to gain weight, each model's journey tells a unique story. Join us as we explore these fascinating transformations, offering insights into the lives of these remarkable women and the choices that have shaped their identities over the years.

Linda Evangelista Blamed CoolSculpting

By her own admission, Linda Evangelista looks much different than she did at the height of her career in the '80s and '90s when she was one of the most famous models on earth. She's also admitted to feeling different on the inside compared to years prior. As a result, Evangelista has chosen to stay out of the spotlight in recent years, revealing that she's been plagued with sadness and embarrassment. So, what caused the one-time in-demand supermodel to keep such a low profile? A procedure called CoolSculpting, which is "a noninvasive, nonsurgical medical procedure that is purported to remove extra fat cells from beneath the skin," as Healthline describes it.

After getting the procedure, Evangelista was diagnosed with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, or PAH, a rare side effect associated with CoolSculpting. ScienceDaily says the areas that PAH patients seek to treat actually become "larger rather than smaller in the weeks after the procedure, leaving a painless, visibly enlarged, firm, well-demarcated mass under the skin." Evangelista spoke with People about CoolSculpting, explaining that she had it done seven times between August 2015 and February 2016. Eventually, she saw that her thighs, chin, and the area under her arms become much larger.

"I loved being up on the catwalk. Now I dread running into someone I know," Evangelista told People, five months after first revealing her condition on Instagram. "I can't live like this anymore, in hiding and shame. ... I'm willing to finally speak."

Janice Dickinson Got Plastic Surgery

If you look at the many Vogue covers that Janice Dickinson has graced in her career, it's night and day compared to what she looked like many years later. The basic difference has to do with Dickinson getting a good deal of cosmetic surgery over the years, which she's opened up about several times. Like in 2014, when she told In Touch, "I live for plastic surgery." In fact, Dickinson had so many cosmetic procedures done, it was part of the reason that she filed for bankruptcy at one point.

"[I dealt with] press whore doctors that offered to give me Botox and fix my teeth for free and then slapped me with bills," she explained to In Touch. But ironically, in a 2014 interview with Radar, the woman who has called herself the world's "first supermodel" said that she can take or leave getting cosmetic surgery. "People everywhere seem to think I'm addicted to plastic surgery, but the true people that know me are my fiancé and thousands of young girls that I've helped through my book," Dickinson stated ahead of her appearance on an episode of the plastic surgery reality series "Botched."

Maggie Greene Decided to Gain Weight

With a lot of models, it's safe to say they consider shedding a few pounds a victory. Maggie Greene, however, celebrated after gaining some weight. She put on 30 pounds, in fact, after struggling with weight issues. In January of 2018, the self-described "Tennessee girl" wrote an article for Harper's Bazaar about gaining the weight and posted a side-by-side photo of herself on Instagram around the same time.

"I stumbled upon the picture on the left and felt like I should share because it's so near and dear to my heart," wrote Greene in that Instagram post. "The picture on the left was taken two years ago this month, and the picture on the right was taken a few weeks ago. ... Two years ago, I was seriously unhappy. I would look in the mirror and think I looked fat. ... I'd sit at home and cry because I felt like I couldn't eat anything. It was the lowest point for me, but I wanted to be a model so bad. I wanted to be glamorized for being so thin even though I was miserable."

Kate Moss Can No Longer Be Called 'Waif'

One could argue that Kate Moss influenced a certain look within high fashion modeling in the '90s. Plus, by just hearing her name, one may get an image of someone having a super-thin frame. A lot of reporters during Moss' heyday commonly used the term "waif" to describe her appearance, but eventually, that word would no longer apply. That’s because she was seen looking fuller-figured in a photo that was published by The Sun in 2018. Moss was vacationing in Saint Tropez at the time with her daughter Lila and boyfriend Nikolai von Bismarck.

And four years before that photo surfaced, Moss spoke about her younger, skinnier self in an interview with Elle, saying, "I think I was just really young and thin. That's what happens. I mean my daughter's tiny. I was working and in fashion, back in the day, they didn't feed you." In a 2003 interview with SHOWstudio, Moss claimed that she never dieted until after her daughter was born.

Rosie Mercado Lost a Lot

Rosie Mercado lost almost 240 pounds, which the model, life coach, and TV personality talked to TMZ about in 2016. During the brief chat, Mercado gushed over how happy she was about losing the weight but revealed that others didn't share in her excitement. She said many of her detractors were "fat activists" who, in her opinion, misunderstood what she was trying to accomplish with her new lifestyle.

"There was a group of people that resented that I was losing weight because they thought that diet equals being size zero," Mercado explained. "I got hate mail. Not so much from the other [plus] size models but just fans ... They told me to go jump off a bridge and kill myself for losing weight." Mercado also said that some of the backlash was because she shared her weight loss journey on social media.

Kris Smith Developed a New Body

"The giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing." That’s an old saying that got attention after Donda West, Kanye West’s late mother, uttered those words in the Netflix documentary "Jeen-Yuhs," per Vanity Fair. One could interpret them to mean, regardless of how most are probably in awe of a giant's size and unique ability, the giant doesn’t view himself as anything special.

More than likely, Kris Smith could relate to