If you think the runway is all glitz, glam, and kale smoothies, think again. Five years after surviving on just three apples a day, Victoire Maçon-Dauxerre, once a top model, reveals the shocking consequences of her extreme diet—and her determined fight to heal and stand up for others.
From Sidewalk Discovery to International Runways: A Bright Beginning Turned Dark
At 18, Victoire Maçon-Dauxerre was plucked from obscurity by a scout from Elite. In a matter of weeks, she became one of the most sought-after models in the world. Her life transformed overnight: fast-paced castings, endless photoshoots, and prestigious fashion shows. But behind the spotlights and glossy magazine pages, a much darker daily reality set in. The pressure to fit into the tiniest of dresses—sizes 32-34—put Victoire on a dangerous path, one that would nearly cost her her life.
The Diet: Three Apples a Day and a Price Too High
What did it take to squeeze into those wafer-thin sample sizes? For Victoire, it meant a draconian regime: three apples a day, and just one meal of fish or chicken per week. Over two months, she dropped about ten kilos, but even as her frame shrank, her self-image distorted. « The thinner I got, the fatter I saw myself, » she admitted. The physical and emotional toll was immense:
- Mental anorexia
- Emotional distress
- Unrelenting anxiety and stress
Victoire confessed to Vanity Fair that her anxiety manifested in her eating: “I imposed the three apples on myself, always telling myself I’d go back to a normal diet. Yet a voice in my head stopped me, and I always feared I wouldn’t fit the clothes anymore.”
At a height of 1.78 meters, she weighed less than 47 kilos. Victoire describes her reflection as barely more than a « hanger. » The spiral into starvation was so stark that the day her mother saw her naked in the bathroom, she recoiled in fear at her daughter’s skeletal form. Only the sight—and scent—of a roasted chicken could snap her back, even momentarily, as she recalls devouring it entirely in one sitting, a rare relief from relentless hunger.
The True Cost: Mental Health, Self-Image, and a Vicious Cycle
Victoire’s experience in modeling transformed her sense of self forever. “They wanted me, yes, but only skinny. I was beautiful because I was skinny. It was my only value,” she revealed. The deeper irony? Even as she was pressured to lose more weight, the photos that graced the pages of magazines were digitally edited: “They added thighs, cheeks to my pictures most of the time.”
After she quit modeling, the trauma didn’t end. Instead, she fell into bulimia and depression, reaching a breaking point that led her to attempt suicide and spend time in a psychiatric clinic. Her words ring painfully clear: “Anorexia is a vicious circle.”
From Recovery to Advocacy: New Roles On and Off Stage
Thankfully, Victoire found her way back. She sought treatment, returned to school in London, and worked at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. “Watching people on stage made me want to go up there myself. Drama school was therapeutic. I reconnected my body and my mind,” she told Vanity Fair. Now, she brings Vanessa, head chef of The Spoon, to life in the daily TF1 series ‘Demain nous appartient’.
Her healing journey continues beyond acting. Victoire is adapting her powerful memoir ‘Jamais Trop Maigre. Journal d’un Top Model’ into a film, working with producers from the series ‘Vikings’ (where she played Nissa in season 6). She’s co-producing and will take on a supporting role—but not her own. On top of that, Victoire is devoted to advocacy, actively involved with associations such as Imhotep and the Ateliers Mercure think tank, dedicated to new health policies.
Conclusion: Beauty Is Not Built on Starvation
Victoire Maçon-Dauxerre’s story shatters the fashion world’s dangerous illusions. Her resilience and candor remind us: true beauty doesn’t begin with hunger or end with a retouched photo. The next time you flip through a glossy magazine, remember the price some have paid for the so-called “ideal.” Maybe, just maybe, it’s time we all redefined what’s truly beautiful—starting with kindness to ourselves and our bodies.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
