Linda Evangelista Shares Her Thoughts on Cosmetic Surgery, Botox, and the Aging Process

Linda Evangelista, a legendary supermodel from the 1990s, is sharing her journey of embracing her natural beauty after enduring unsuccessful surgical and cosmetic procedures.

In a heartfelt interview for the cover of Harper’s Bazaar‘s Beauty Issue, published on Thursday, April 24, Evangelista, 59, opened up about the emotional challenges following a traumatic CoolSculpting experience in 2021.

The non-surgical procedure, designed to “freeze and eliminate fat cells” from targeted areas, resulted in Evangelista’s fat cells not only increasing but hardening around her abdomen, thighs, and underarms.

“I have to go through therapy to like what I see when I look in the mirror, and I still don’t look in the mirror,” she admitted, emphasizing the significant impact on her self-esteem. “I avoided my reflection because I didn’t love or like myself.”

This honest revelation illustrates the vulnerability that even the most renowned figures can experience when faced with unexpected physical changes. Particularly, women of a certain age and celebrities like Evangelista face heightened pressure to conform to society’s unrealistic beauty standards as they age.

While Evangelista mentioned that she still receives Botox, she is redefining her beauty philosophy, which now involves dissolving all her facial fillers. The motivation behind this change is both straightforward and profound: “I wasn’t looking like me,” she explained.

This choice highlights her intention to reclaim her authentic features and step away from artificial enhancements. Evangelista’s journey, as described in her recent interview, is about more than just accepting her current appearance; it also involves actively pursuing self-love.

“I’m working on myself, and I’m trying to reach the point where I appreciate myself, flaws and all, and strive to love myself,” she expressed, underscoring the ongoing nature of her healing journey.

As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Evangelista’s outlook on aging is shaped by a profound appreciation for life. “I’m not concerned about how I age. I simply want to age. It doesn’t need to be graceful,” she declared.

“I’m fine with my double mastectomy,” she shared with the publications. “I opted for very small implants—just what was taken out, cc-wise. I’ve undergone multiple lung surgeries, and I have scars from keloids, chest tubes, and a C-section. Countless surgeries have occurred, and I’m okay. I’ve triumphed. I’m here. I’ve won.”

Evangelista was open about her reasons for this shifting mindset. “I genuinely, truly, really don’t want to die,” she stated, revealing her deep desire to continue experiencing life. “I believe I still have so much to achieve. I’m finally becoming comfortable with myself and everything, and now I want to enjoy it.”

“I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive, and I’ll do what it takes,” she asserted. “I’m going to fight because I refuse to accept anything less. I’m not finished.”