ITNTW: Australia’s sweetheart turned sour
Aussie “It Girl” of the 80’s and 90’s, Elle Macpherson has been all over headlines this week with an overwhelming majority of these having a tone of controversy and criticism.
Macpherson rose to fame in the modelling world and grew a strong fan base for always being uniquely herself. Her quirky personality made her adored globally. She quickly became an icon in the fashion world and landed the longstanding title as ‘Australia’s first supermodel’.
Recently, returning home as part of her press tour promoting her autobiographical novel Elle, Macpherson had hoped to position her book as an inspiration to others to live a life of ‘purpose and authenticity’. Elle consists of a series of stories from the supermodel’s life and career, one of those being her revelation that she was diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago.
Following this revelation, Macpherson stated that despite the advice of 32 doctors, she refused to undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy as treatment. Instead, she spent 8 months in Phoenix Arizona “holistically” treating her cancer.
Such a controversial revelation, it’s no surprise Macpherson’s cancer treatment process has found itself at the centre of almost every interview on every press tour. Although no one is questioning her right to choose her own path for her medical treatment, debate has sparked as whether or not it’s ok for her to promote it?
Macpherson’s message has remained consistent throughout all her interviews, in that she isn’t discouraging people from undergoing chemotherapy, but rather encouraging them to listen to their body and do what’s right for them. Macpherson has every right to choose her own medical treatment path, however, holding such a large platform and influence, should she have taken more responsibility when addressing such a serious topic?
Often referring to her cancer treatment as a ‘spiritual journey’ interviews, Macpherson has sparked outrage from cancer survivors around the world. Many stating the model is romanticising the treatment journey and downplaying the extremity of it. For most women diagnosed with breast cancer, chemotherapy can be a matter of life and death, yet Macpherson seemed to pose her choice of treatment as spiritual awakening.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in Australia, however it also has a high survival rate, currently sitting at around 92%. Much of which can be attributed to medical advancements in early dedication and treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. So it’s no wonder Machpherson’s choice to ignore proven medical treatments and repeatedly publicise her decision hasn’t been taken lightly.
Her decision to publicise such a controversial point of view has left many fans feeling sour towards the once beloved Aussie icon. It leaves us wondering, will Elle Macpherson ever reclaim her status as a beloved Aussie icon, or has this controversy permanently overshadowed her legacy?
Written by Victoria Guest – PR & Influencer Coordinator @ InsideOut PR
