Today we live in an Instagrammable world. Everyone’s filtered looks fill our feeds and our realities. Whether an app or a cosmetic surgeon is filtering out presumed flaws, the alteration of perception, especially for tween girls, has been significant enough for Meta to require disclosure. Well, only for any filtering apps used thus leaving the same question: How does she look so pretty, thin, fit, etc etc?

Back in the 90’s there was Step Aerobics, the Thigh Master and Cindy Crawford workout videos. Okay, some people had liposuction. And, there was that whole Pamela Anderson thing. But, enhancement procedures were not as accessible as they are now. Today, Ozempic is handed out like Halloween candy and a lip-filler kiosk is set up at every junior-high lunch counter. Back in the day people mostly kept their tummy tucks in a whisper like the defendant in Legally Blonde.

We are in a time of revisiting the 90’s along with the advent of supermodels.

Naomi, Cindy, Christy, Linda.

They were everything and everywhere. From super-group-walking in Versace shows to lip-synching in George Michael videos. Okay, only that one video.

Everyone wanted to know how they lived, who they dated and, specifically, how they looked the way they looked. They were undeniably stunning in their individual ways. They were not clones like the Victoria’s Secret push-up models.

So, how exactly did they get that way?

Some had surgeries and others botox in more recent years. Linda Evangelista actually had a much publicized terrible experience with CoolSculpting, which wound up in a lawsuit. Cindy Crawford has stated that she received or receives Botox. Christy Turlington quit smoking not to save her looks, but because a family member died from cancer. She now uses the high-tech beauty line Noble Panacea by a Nobel Laureate chemist. Naomi is just Naomi. But, before present day technologies, they did not indulge on what exactly was going on under the catwalk.

Scientific Tidbit: Linda Evangelista suffered from paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) after her CoolSculpting procedure. PAH is rare and depends on device and patient characteristics. Generally, the cooling procedure crystallizes fat cells inducing death, or apoptosis.

Two stories provide a clue regarding supermodels and health in the 90’s.

French Fries.

In an interview forever ago, Cindy Crawford told a story about how Naomi Campbell wanted to mess with the nosy paparazzi. Her plan was to scarf down a bunch of fries and junk food in front of them. Of course everyone would think that they ate whatever they wanted and stayed thin. Astonishing. Apparently Naomi could do this, but Cindy could not. The honesty was appreciated about not being able to eat like her friend and “fit into her size six jeans”.

Ayurvedic Tidbit: metabolism varies by doshic constitution. Pitta processes food the fastest and Kapha the slowest. There is a high probability that Naomi is more Pitta than Cindy.

Radu.

Cindy’s exercise videos were effective and cool.  She gave credit to her trainer where a lot of celebrities could have taken credit. Their workout was not for “girls” like many present day work out streaming guides. It was practical and accessible.

Ayurvedic Tidbit: Workout intensity depends on the leading dosha. Pitta can take it slower while Kapha should enjoy a vigorous exercise routine early in the morning.

Bottom Line

The message was clear that putting in the work gives the results. It wasn’t a quick fix.

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