Elle Macpherson Talks About Feeling ‘Ugly’

Even Elle Macpherson can feel ugly. The Australian model, businesswoman, television personality and actress has long been known for her five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. Even though she received “The Body” nickname early in her career, it doesn’t mean she’s immune to insecurity. This week, Macpherson took to Instagram to discuss her insecurities and poor treatment in the modeling industry. She sat down with influencer and co-founder of Quest Nutrition and Impact Theory, Lisa Bilyeu, to discuss their mutual imperfections and life lessons on her podcast, “Women of Impact.”

Elle Macpherson Talks Learning That Beauty Is Only Skin-Deep

While Bilyeu recounted her longing to look like the cover model, Macpherson admitted on the podcast that she has had her fair share of confidence knocks. Bilyeu shared Macpherson’s hardships in her Instagram caption, writing “Her husband cheated on her with another model, she was publicly ridiculed on set for having brown eyes (only blue was ‘in’), she got a cancer diagnosis and overcame alcoholism after years of drinking to a stupor!” As fans caught their jaws dropping, they opened up about their own experiences, “I was bullied at school as well,” a commenter wrote.

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Bilyeu prompted readers and listeners to dive deeper into their choice to move on or be gone in her caption. She wrote, “How did she not break?” We are told that the answer will not be found in age or appearance but in accepting that “it is not always easy but worthwhile,” said Macpherson. The model highlighted the career that knocked her down and picked her up while providing, “independence, financial freedom, choice and experience.” The criticisms of being a cover model turned the tables on the woman she wanted to be—one who can learn from experiences instead of becoming defiant in her endeavors. “The only self-damaging thing we can do in life is to not learn from our experience,” she said.

The pair challenged viewers to remove the lens of failure on our scope of life, and followers happily accepted this challenge. “Thanks for the real inspiration,” a commenter wrote.