Supermodels Enter Rehab

Models: Agyness Deyn, Denisa Dvorakova, Guinevere van Seenus, Irina Kulikova, Iselin Steiro, Lara Stone, Masha Tyelna, Missy Rayder, Sasha Pivovarova and Tasha Tilberg

Photographer: Steven Meisel

This editorial spread titled, "Supermodels Enter Rehab" was published in Vogue Italia June 2007. Photographed by the genius and ever controversial, Steven Meisel, who yet again manages to create a very questionable series of photographs. Brilliant work, no doubt but questionable, yes.

This series was rumoured to reference the madness that visited Britney Spears around the same time. The crotch shots and shaved heads are definitely a nod to Britney as inspiration for the editorial, considering how the spread was also shot in paparazzi style.

I love how the photographs have also been given a treatment where they appear to be more of sickly sallow colours like green and yellow. Greens and yellows are often associated with sickness, disease and illnesses. This correlates with the location and theme for the photo spread. 

Apart from all the beauty in the photographs, I am sure that I would not be the only one to say that there is something quite disturbing about "beautifying" mental illness and rehab. Not that these topics do not deserve to be viewed in a more positive light but somehow, I do not agree with having the social ill reduced to a few photographs of beautiful people in beautiful clothes running around a "beautiful" location. Needless to say, impressionable people will be easily influenced by such photos in the wrong way.

What do you guys think about this? Screwed up, I'll say.