Hila Elmalich

Hila Ilanit Elmalich was an Israeli fashion model who died of anorexia in 2007. Represented by the Israeli branch of the Elite Model Management modeling agency, she was once a famous fashion model in the country.

Death

On November 14, 2007, on her 34th birthday, Elmalich died weighing less than after years of suffering from anorexia nervosa. She had been hospitalized several times due to the condition. She finally succumbed to it, collapsing and dying in her home due to heart failure.

Campaign for a minimum BMI for models

Immediately after her death, Israeli fashion photographer Adi Barkan called her a "sacrifice to fashion". He initiated a worldwide campaign to "change the definition of beauty by encouraging models not to be skinny". Barkan's concern over Elmalich's death led to new body weight and body mass index requirements in Israel in 2012. These requirements do not allow modeling agencies to hire any models who have a BMI less than 18.5, below which is considered underweight. This law means a 5'9" woman would have to weigh at least 125 pounds in order to be hired. This is supposed to encourage models to not be so thin and release the pressure for women to continually lose weight.