Thank you for this piece. Oddly Mulder was in my mind recently after the Muse exhibit at the Met here in NYC. As one of the most beautiful models ever, I was always confused why she never went as far as some of her other counterparts, like the Trinity. She was gorgeous and definitely one of my favorites, the other being Patitz, during the 90's model bomb. This is a terrible story and seems to be a continuing problem in an industry that capitalizes on sexualizing young women.
And I know that this is a problem throughout the industry, but does it seem to be more present in Europe?
WTF is going on here?! It seems like Jezebel simultaneously fetishizes modeling, dance, Marilyn Monroe's exact weight and measurements and writes long, impassioned articles about how OMG TERRIBLE FOR WOMEN THEY ARE.
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I seriously do not understand what's happening. All of our anonymous model's articles seem to talk about how terrible her profession is, yet she's a frequent contributor. There are policies against bodysnarking and other 'triggering' comments, yet we see articles about "The worst diets I ever tried" (thanks for the thinspo, tips & tricks Moe!).
For some reason the contradiction really struck me with this article, because it is predicated on the notion that the Jezebel readers are intrigued and curious about modelling... I don't even know. You'll probably dismvowel this comment anyway.
@Kira Smith: Welcome to the wonderful world of gray areas and complex issues!
I can be intrigued by, or even attracted to, the world of fashion and modeling and still recognize that there are problems in the industry that need to be addressed.
These posts create lively discussions, which is great. Tatiana's writing is excellent, and she provides insight into her profession. Why shouldn't she be a frequent contributor? Hearing from many voices gives a better picture of the world around us.
People disagree and debate on Jezebel all the time. It's part of what makes me come back.
Tatiana - your post hit me square in the jaw. As a dumpy, 4'11' "normal" gal, I spent countless hours of my teenaged years alternating between complete facination of and absolute disdain for the women in Vogue, Bazaar, Mirabella and Elle.
I didn't think they had feelings (let alone brains); thay "had it all". What use did they have for self-doubt, angst, loneliness, or dread?
We're all guilty as charged. We buy the images, buy INTO the images. The girls are product or, worse, simply a backdrop. I'm so sorry.
It makes me sad to think that businesswomen like Wilhelmina Cooper & Eileen Ford may have kept their mouths shut in order to advance their own self-interests (or their husband's).
I don't understand, for the people who claim that the abuse went on for years and years: why STAY?? Why continue to work in an empty, valid, horrible business that has treated you like a piece of trash repeatedly?? Why enter it in the first place, perhaps? I am not a fan of modelling as a concept in general, but that is my personal opinion. I just don't get why someone like Mulder, who had a lot of money, who had already spoken out about it, would continue to be sucked in to a world like this.
@ninles: Money, affirmation of her beauty and worth, lack of options? She didn't even have a high school diploma and she had a drug habit to support. This was the only thing she knew.
h - dd mss smthng? Ys, ys, ndrstnd hw mprtnt t s - nd s vry, vry ncssry - t lwys prtry wmn s vctms - nd tht Mldr's thrts f vlnc gnst nthr wmn cnnt b tkn srsly snc Mldr s wmn nd thrfr ncpbl f thnkng - mch lss ctlly cmmttng vlnt ct gnst nthr wmn - nly mn cn d tht - nd tht wmn r nncnt vrgnl Mdnns wtht dsr, r wnt, r nd, r mbtn, r grd - jst nncnt ngls wh r frvr strgglng wth th dmn tht s mn - nd tht t 16 yng wmn s t stpd t b n ny wy rspnsbl fr hr ctns - nd ths, ny physcl ctvty mst lwys cst hr s vctm nd th mn s th vlln - nd Gd knws w ll knw tht vry sngl wmn wh hs vr xstd n th plnt snc th dwn f tm hs bn sxlly bsd by mn - tht gs wtht syng - bt, mmmm, stll, myb n ths mzngly dshnst trp - w mght cnsdr th fllwng:
1. Mldr cld hv wlkd wy frm crr tht ws s sxlly bsv t ny tm.
2. Myb Mldr wntd th mny, th ttntn, nd th lf nd ws wllng t d whtvr t tk t gt nd kp thm - s vdncd by hr rcnt plstc srgry.
3. f Mldr ws tld tht hvng sx wld gt hr th jb - nd thn hd sx - nd thn gt th jb - s ths stll bs - r s ths smply prstttn?
4. D wmn vr hv cnsnsl sx - vr? r s t ll jst bs n tht pssv/ggrssv lzy wy thy lwys mng t cst thmslvs s vctm t smthng whn n-fct thy r smply t dshnst nd dctfl t hv nythng tht vn rmtly pprxmts n hnst ntrctn wth mn - nd thrfr try t clm bs?
5. s t pssbl tht nstd f th mn - th vllns f ths pc - nd f lf n gnrl - ctlly skng fr sx - th wmn - th s-clld vctms - bng dsprt t mk t t ny cst - nstd ffrd sx?
Mldr hs ncrsngly dmnstrtd tht sh s mtnlly nd mntlly dstrbd -- whch, nstd f cstng dbt n hr ccstns - s nstd bng sd s prf f hr ccstns.
@want: This victim-blaming screed ignoring the underlying point of the original post- which is that it is a systemic problem no matter what Karen Mulder's mental state is- is going to look a mess once its disemvoweled.
@want: I am proud to say I was able to decipher that entire disemvowelled post in the first try. Do I get any high-fives! I am good at this now. I might consider a career in code breaking or something--is the CIA hiring?
@Jezebabe: That was funny, but. The code breakers were in OSS, office of strategic services, in world war two. That was, um, 70 years ago. Trust your sisters who erase the vowels. Our lives are too short.
It's hard to know what the truth is here. Obviously her stories have some credibility, but they also definitely show signs of mental instability and paranoia.
@lowkeylo: They don't "definitely" Are you a psychologist who has treated Karen Mulder, or do you have any other basis for this judgment? People often say that a woman must be lying if she says she has been attacked multiple times.
If she has been hospitalized for depression and anxiety, that doesn't automatically suggest that she makes shit up, it more credibly suggests that the abuse had a real effect on her.
@Hana Maru: I'm not a psychologist, but I work with a lot of paranoids, and this would set my alarm bells off:
"...that Elite had used her and other models as sex slaves in a ring that extended through the top echelons of French society, implicating politicians, members of the police, and other top officials, that her own father had raped her, that she had been sexually abused by a family friend from the age of 2, that she had been hypnotized and raped, kidnapped and raped, and raped some more..."
Again, I'd bet some bad things happened to her, but...
@lowkeylo: but what? Is it incredible that she was raped multiple times, or incredible that politicians and police would be so corrupt? Do you think that coming from an abusive home must make her a liar?
Many former top models have told similar tales of rampant rape and abuse from bookers, agency heads, photographers, and clients. There is corroborating evidence for many of Mulder's allegations.
Wasn't Linda Evangelista married to Gerald Marie, when she was, like, 20 and he was God-knows-how-old? And Stephanie Seymour dated John Casablancas when she was 15...
I don't know what to say except these agency guys seem like scumbags and the whole industry seems fucked up.
09/04/09
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07/03/09
(though, clearly, parts of the industry have destroyed far too many people)
The covers were nice though, right?
07/02/09
And I know that this is a problem throughout the industry, but does it seem to be more present in Europe?
07/02/09
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I seriously do not understand what's happening. All of our anonymous model's articles seem to talk about how terrible her profession is, yet she's a frequent contributor. There are policies against bodysnarking and other 'triggering' comments, yet we see articles about "The worst diets I ever tried" (thanks for the thinspo, tips & tricks Moe!).
For some reason the contradiction really struck me with this article, because it is predicated on the notion that the Jezebel readers are intrigued and curious about modelling... I don't even know. You'll probably dismvowel this comment anyway.
07/02/09
I can be intrigued by, or even attracted to, the world of fashion and modeling and still recognize that there are problems in the industry that need to be addressed.
These posts create lively discussions, which is great. Tatiana's writing is excellent, and she provides insight into her profession. Why shouldn't she be a frequent contributor? Hearing from many voices gives a better picture of the world around us.
People disagree and debate on Jezebel all the time. It's part of what makes me come back.
07/01/09
I didn't think they had feelings (let alone brains); thay "had it all". What use did they have for self-doubt, angst, loneliness, or dread?
We're all guilty as charged. We buy the images, buy INTO the images. The girls are product or, worse, simply a backdrop. I'm so sorry.
It makes me sad to think that businesswomen like Wilhelmina Cooper & Eileen Ford may have kept their mouths shut in order to advance their own self-interests (or their husband's).
07/01/09
07/01/09
07/01/09
1. Mldr cld hv wlkd wy frm crr tht ws s sxlly bsv t ny tm.
2. Myb Mldr wntd th mny, th ttntn, nd th lf nd ws wllng t d whtvr t tk t gt nd kp thm - s vdncd by hr rcnt plstc srgry.
3. f Mldr ws tld tht hvng sx wld gt hr th jb - nd thn hd sx - nd thn gt th jb - s ths stll bs - r s ths smply prstttn?
4. D wmn vr hv cnsnsl sx - vr? r s t ll jst bs n tht pssv/ggrssv lzy wy thy lwys mng t cst thmslvs s vctm t smthng whn n-fct thy r smply t dshnst nd dctfl t hv nythng tht vn rmtly pprxmts n hnst ntrctn wth mn - nd thrfr try t clm bs?
5. s t pssbl tht nstd f th mn - th vllns f ths pc - nd f lf n gnrl - ctlly skng fr sx - th wmn - th s-clld vctms - bng dsprt t mk t t ny cst - nstd ffrd sx?
Mldr hs ncrsngly dmnstrtd tht sh s mtnlly nd mntlly dstrbd -- whch, nstd f cstng dbt n hr ccstns - s nstd bng sd s prf f hr ccstns.
07/01/09
07/01/09
07/01/09
07/01/09
07/01/09
If she has been hospitalized for depression and anxiety, that doesn't automatically suggest that she makes shit up, it more credibly suggests that the abuse had a real effect on her.
07/01/09
I'm not a psychologist, but I work with a lot of paranoids, and this would set my alarm bells off:
"...that Elite had used her and other models as sex slaves in a ring that extended through the top echelons of French society, implicating politicians, members of the police, and other top officials, that her own father had raped her, that she had been sexually abused by a family friend from the age of 2, that she had been hypnotized and raped, kidnapped and raped, and raped some more..."
Again, I'd bet some bad things happened to her, but...
07/01/09
Many former top models have told similar tales of rampant rape and abuse from bookers, agency heads, photographers, and clients. There is corroborating evidence for many of Mulder's allegations.
07/01/09
You are a GREAT writer.
07/01/09
I don't know what to say except these agency guys seem like scumbags and the whole industry seems fucked up.
07/01/09
But also, "he is a man! He has needs!*"
* Or so he was allegedly overheard bleating when asked to keep it in his pants around models not old enough to go to uni.
07/01/09
07/01/09
As opposed to the reality of it being acceptable in the fashion industry to be an out gay man, as opposed to many other fields.