Supermodel Elle Macpherson secretly battled alcoholism after turning into a mum
Supermodel Elle Macpherson has revealed she secretly battled alcoholism after becoming a mum.
The 60-year-old supermodel opened up in her new book ‘Elle: Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself’.
She told how she found herself in a “horrible downward spiral” after welcoming sons Flynn and Cy with her ex-partner Arpad Busson. Elle confessed she would drink to cope with stress and anxiety – but it left her suffering from blackouts.
She said her drinking started when Flynn was a baby as he was often ill, and wrote: “In the evenings, after I put him to bed, I’d find myself relaxing with a vodka.
(Image: Gregory Pace/FilmMagic.com)
“I found myself having blackouts … I would be talking to somebody and then I would forget what I was saying. They would look at my quizzically as if waiting for me to continue.”
The catwalk star revealed her drinking caused her to miss her cue during her appearance in the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
She went on to reveal she was determined to keep her problems secret because she wanted to project the image of a happy home life.
(Image: Getty Images)
Elle added: “Often I would drink after I put my children to bed. I would sit down by myself and have shots of vodka and then I’d write to-do lists and letters to my family. I would do the housework, listen to music until around 11 p.m., then go to bed and pass out.
“I would get up in the morning, run six miles and have a coffee for breakfast. I would sick my fingers down my throat and make sure I vomited three times before I went to sleep. It was always three times …
(Image: Getty Images)
“People would tell me I was so organised. I was really proud of that. I guess I had to be organised because I was drinking and I never wanted anyone to know. So I made sure the house was clean and tidy; I made sure I looked great and I made sure the children were perfect.”
Elle eventually went to rehab and was able to break free of her booze addiction, however, her marriage to Arpad didn’t last and they split in 2005.
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