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Nov 09DAUL KIM, AGE 20
When I read the news that model Daul Kim was found dead in her Paris apartment an air of sadness loomed over me. For her family and friends who have lost her, I am sure words cannot even describe their pain.
What makes this story most morose is that another young woman has taken her life and the discourse as to why has barely scratched the surface. Reporters have turned to her now private/locked blog Iliketoforkmyself for answers but so many seem to already be staring them in the face. This year alone we have heard from 3 different top models on how difficult their lives have been in the oh-so-glamourous world of modeling. They, like us, are taught to believe that there’s no changing the industry and if you cannot cut it, you’re skin isn’t thick enough.
In 2009 Ali Michael openly discussed her eating disorder, Crystal Renn wrote a memoir about the pressures for perfection and Sara Ziff produced a documentary film which exposed models being plucked from obscurity, told not to eat, given drugs, and pressured to endure sexual assault. This is certainly not the life I’d wish upon anyone. Accountability? Why hasn’t this word been mentioned?
Many who consume and live for high fashion fail to notice that the models they’re worshiping are merely children, as was Daul when she entered this business. She died at age 20.
Lonely, deprived, overworked, and incredibly young. If we love these models so much why don’t we do them a favor and have a real discussion.
R.I.P
She was so beautiful….this is depressing.
I am dying to read Crystal Renn’s memoir.
So sad that there is all that pressure. Have you seen the October issue of Glamour? The reason I bought it when I was up in SF was that inside was a spread of naked full figured models. It made me so happy to see woman I could relate to. Beautiful women in different shapes. There needs to be more of this. It was truly refreshing and empowering.
xo
You are so right, depressing. I am also on the edge of my seat to read that memoir. I’m definitely going to review it for Fashion Intel.
I did see the October issue of Glamour – I actually have a subscription to it as a result of JANE folding. I miss Jane so much! It was refreshing to see something new. I’m always searching for unique models so let me know if you come across anymore interesting spreads. xo NJ
You are so on point with this post. It’s a shame, for everyone’s sake, that there isn’t a more honest conversation about this issue. It would illuminate the plight of these models, not to mention show the average woman that this lifestyle isn’t as glamorous as it’s made out to be…
Perhaps then we could go about being less covetous, and help support a more healthy lifestyle for these women. Resentment certainly won’t help us to support them or advocate for their well being.
Olivia, you have a great way with words! Being less covetous and more supportive of the people we admire would make a world of difference. I really appreciate that you mentioned that. The more I think about the Daul the more I think about how young she was and the kind of pressures that were bestowed upon her. It seems too overwhelming and I wish we could open up a discourse about the safety of young models.
Thank you for your comment.
I was really sad to hear about this. I’ve always thought Daul was gorgeous and she was one of few Asian models really accepted in the industry. It’s really strange to see these hardworking women living such a taxing lifestyle and then realize that most of them are younger than us.
She has definitely been one of the most successful Asian models in the past 10 years and it is so sad to see her go. I have been reading more and more about her case and came across this tidbit – there have been 8 Korean celebrity suicides in the past couple of years. It saddens me so much when people feel there is no way out but death.
Were you all over iliketoforkmyself.blogspot.com? Her friends and family must have come across her blog right? I mean who can read that and not think that something was seriously wrong? so much personality and its so sad that the industry squeezed the life out of her.
I was. I had been reading her blog for awhile, saw it linked on Refinery 29 one day. I especially love her video about Tolstoy — watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbOyFGGzjcs — I know you’ll love it! But seriously, how did people not see the signs?
r.i.p. daul
From what I’ve witnessed, the world of modeling can turn into an ever consuming depression.
yeah. i saw that! speaking of modeling and consumption, I gotta sell those clothes and buy my plane ticket. Lets talk about that soon. Kien is home this weekend maybe i can have him take the photos.
Just let me know what you want to do and we’ll do it!
Interesting that the blog was locked. That’s closing the barn door after the horse is out, because it was quoted everywhere already. I enjoyed her post on bad service at Barneys. It was feisty.
Re seeing signs…I don’t think anyone could have predicted suicide from her writing. That’s a case of 20/20 vision in hindsight. There are thousands of emo-kid blogs out there, and a lot of those kids will grow up, shake their adolescent moodiness/self-cutting/obsession with death and live totally normal lives. If suicide was ALWAYS linked to bad teenage/young adult death poetry and depression, I’d be dead for two decades now. Instead, I shredded those journals long ago.
Regardless, this is terribly tragic.
I wish more people would use old-timey phrases like the barn one you used! Got any more? haha, love it.
You are so right about hindsight and adolescent moodiness – I too had those days. I’ve found most interesting people have! Unfortunately in this situation Daul’s problems weren’t dealt with like most teens who are under the watchful eye of their parents, peers, and school. She was a rich model displaced from her home dealing with adult issues as a teen. Now at 20 she’s dead and as you mentioned, it is terribly tragic.