Isabelle Caro French model Country: France

1. Isabelle Caro: Biography of a French Model Struggling with Anorexia
2. A Challenging Childhood
3. The Struggle with Anorexia
4. The Public Revelation
5. Fighting Back

Isabelle Caro: Biography of a French Model Struggling with Anorexia

Isabelle Caro, a French model, suffered from a severe form of anorexia since the age of thirteen. Her mental anorexia stemmed from what is commonly referred to as a 'difficult childhood'. Hailing from Marseille, this French woman gained recognition after participating in a highly unconventional advertising campaign by photographer Oliviero Toscani. The photographs of the emaciated girl caught the attention of the public.

A Challenging Childhood

Isabelle Caro endured a difficult upbringing, largely influenced by her mother's own phobia. Her mother, fearing that Caro would grow up, dedicated much of her time to measuring her height and forbade her from going outside, as she believed fresh air hindered children's growth. Confined within the four walls of her home, Caro's condition only worsened.

The Struggle with Anorexia

At the age of thirteen, Caro requested a scale as a Christmas gift. This new possession allowed her to track the number of pounds she managed to shed, leading her to eat less and less. It was her close relationship with her mother that prompted her desire to remain a child forever. The thought of her body changing during puberty was abhorrent to her. Caro wished to keep her childlike figure in order to make her mother happy.

Every morning, Caro encountered painful spasms and had to crawl to the refrigerator to eat a small amount of food, lacking the strength to even take a shower. Her body became so sensitive that each drop of water caused her pain. However, Caro could not bring herself to eat properly, sustaining herself on a meager diet of two chocolate slices and five cornflakes. The rejection and stares she received from people became a regular occurrence. She was denied service at bars and cafes. Caro feared the judgment of others and their inability to differentiate between simply refusing to eat and the excruciating suffering caused by anorexia.

The Public Revelation

When Caro appeared on the program 'The Insider' by the American television network CBS, it was revealed that due to her eating disorder, her weight had plummeted to a shocking 25 kg at a height of 1.65 m. The last recorded weight for Caro during the program was 33 kg. As part of her journey, the French model also appeared on the British television show 'Supersize vs Superskinny,' which aired on Channel 4 on March 11, 2008. Additionally, Caro shared her experience with anorexia with journalist and actor Iliass Derfouf on Moroccan national television.

Fighting Back

Determined to overcome her illness, Caro chose to counter it with her love for life. She began to rediscover the taste of food and even expressed a desire to have a child, with doctors affirming that it was a possibility. Caro believes that "emaciation leads to death, and it is far from beautiful."