The modeling industry in the past few decades has come under increasing pressure to improve working conditions for models and loosen their strict size demands. Particularly in the fashion capitals of the world – including New York, London, Paris and Milan – the call for more realistic standards and better conditions for models has led to new laws and regulations to come into place. London Fashion Week was one of the first to take a stand against casting models under the age of 16 in fashion shows. New York Fashion week included the greatest diversity of models ever, with fashion brands casting many women of colour, several plus-size models, and a 16-year-old transgender model to take to the runway. And earlier this year, France announced a new law that requires models to provide a medical certificate valid for up to two years, confirming that they are not excessively underweight and they have a healthy general physical wellbeing. But in some cases, the health of models is still not taken seriously enough, which can have devastating consequences for those who are forced to work in tough conditions. This week, a young Russian girl tragically passed away on a modeling job in China. Vlada Dzyuba was only 14 years old, an age that many agencies consider too young. She collapsed during a show while on a three-month contract in China. The Siberian Times reported that the teenager's temperature rose alarmingly high just as she was about to step onto the catwalk during a show in Shanghai. The show was a harsh 12-hours long, causing Dzyuba to collapse and slip into a coma for two days before her death. It was discovered that the collapse was due to exhaustion caused by the working conditions and chronic meningitis, a long-term illness that causes inflammation of the layers of tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord. Due to her illness, the young model was only supposed to be working a maximum of 3 hours per week, something clearly ignored by the agency by the fact that she was working four times that on a single day. The Siberian Times reported that she was on a "slave labour" contract, and reportedly too scared to ask for help when she noticed that her illness was getting worse. The model's mother Oksana was distraught by the news of the collapse, saying she had been trying to organise a visa to fly out to be with her daughter before she passed away. "She was calling me, saying 'Mama, I am so tired. I so much want to sleep'," Oksana told reporters. "It must have been the very beginning of the illness. And then her temperature shot up. "I didn't sleep myself and was calling her constantly, begging her to go to hospital." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BavsvQAgqud/?taken-by=_dzyuba]] The modeling agency based in Perm, Russia who contracted Dzyuba's 3-month trip to China, said they did not check the teenager's contract, nor whether she had proper medical insurance before she left Russia. "No-one expected it to lead to such consequences," said the head of the agency, Elvira Zaitseva. "We are now reaping what we have sown."   Several Russian models are recruited for fashion jobs in China, and Dzyuba's case has raised concerns about working and living conditions for models there. However, the regulations and contracting procedures in Russian fashion companies should be investigated too, especially considering the agency admitted to not to having checked Dzyuba's contract properly. The human rights ombudsman in Perm, Pavel Mikov, is now personally investigating the girl’s death. Dzyuba's untimely death is a tragic story that will at the very least hopefully spark new conversations about modeling conditions for fashion industries in the less prominent fashion hubs of the world.    

When thinking about Vera Wang, many want to know how to get their hands on one of her gorgeous wedding gowns.

But, what some astounded fans are really wanting to know is how the designer - who turned 73 this year - still looks so youthful.

On an Instagram post celebrating Wang’s birthday, many admirers commented on how good she looked for 73.

One Instagram user commented: “73 must be the new 33 because you are ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS", with another fan gushing: "Gosh share your secret please you look like [you're] 30."

Speaking on the subject of age earlier this year, Wang revealed some of the secrets to her youthful looks.

The fashion icon told BBC’s 100 Women one of her tricks was “sleep” and a “vodka cocktail at the end of the day” because it helps her to transition from work mode into her private life.

I don’t know about you, but a vodka cocktail and a nap after a long day to stay young sounds excellent.

Wang continued to explain the impact of her work on her appearance: “I have been in fashion since I was 19 years old. Not in front of the camera, behind it.

“I never thought about youth. Probably because I work with the most beautiful women in the world, on a daily basis. And because of that, I [more] envision them as my muses. And maybe it’s a way of dealing with aging that is productive.”

So, the answer - something you may not want to hear- is work, the businesswoman admitted: “Work is the magic elixir.”

Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

The designer hasn’t always been in the fashion world though. She devoted 16 years of her life to be a serious athlete, trying to qualify for the Olympics as a figure skater, she told the BBC.

Because of this, Wang recognizes the importance of exercising to stay fit and to keep her body looking youthful.

In an article with Harpers Bazaar where she listed her daily routine, Wang said: “I usually lift weights, not much- two pounds and three pounds. It takes me a total of five minutes. I’ve also begun trying to meditate, which is the hardest thing I’ve ever learned.”

Another element to consider when looking after your body is your diet. The fashion icon also appreciates the importance of eating well.

She told Harpers Bazaar: “I never miss a meal; I have to feed my brain.

“I like sashimi with brown rice and vegetables, Chinese steam broccoli with chicken and rice, or the artichoke salad or fish from Sant Ambroeus.”

Wang also sacrificed Diet Coke, saying it was the “hardest thing I ever gave up” choosing to now drink only water.

Despite this, the businesswoman is extremely laid back when it comes to her lifestyle, and she knows it is okay to treat herself occasionally.

Whatever it is that she is doing, Vera Wang certainly looks incredible for her age and we want whatever it is in her water that is keeping her so youthful!

Featured image credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

Lucy Markovic, best known for appearing on Australia’s Next Top Model, has sadly died at 27.Lucy Markovic died at the age of 27. Credit: Don Arnold / GettyThe runway model tragically passed away on Thursday (April 10) after undergoing emergency brain surgery earlier this month to treat an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - a rare and serious condition involving tangled blood vessels in the brain.According to the Mayo Clinic, AVMs disrupt blood flow and prevent oxygen from properly reaching brain tissue. The condition is extremely rare, affecting just one in 100,000 people.Markovic's partner, Carlos, announced the heartbreaking news in a statement shared on Instagram: “Dear friends and family, I regret to inform you that Lucy has passed."She was at peace. Me, her mother, and my mother were present with her," he continued. "We ask you to please give us space in these hard times. May Lucy rest in peace.”Markovic's partner, Carlos, announced the heartbreaking news in a statement. Credit: lucymarkovicc / Instagram StoryThe model had been open with fans about her health struggles, sharing that she was due to undergo surgery on March 26 to address an AVM "in the back of her brain," which she described as being “the size of a golf ball." The procedure was rescheduled for April 2, but complications followed.“Lucky + unlucky – Radiation, seizures, heavy medication and 4 years later,” she wrote in what would become one of her final Instagram posts, per ELLE Magazine.“Excited, thankful, scared, supported, hopeful. Full flood of emotions in this time. Life’s a journey, and I’m ready for the next chapter," she added.Tributes poured in from across the fashion world. Credit: Stefan Gosatti / GettyMarkovic first shot to fame in 2015 as the 16-year-old runner-up on Australia’s Next Top Model.Her performance launched a global modeling career, with campaigns for major fashion houses, including Versace, Victoria Beckham, Emporio Armani, and Givenchy.Following news of her tragic death, tributes poured in from across the fashion world. Elite NYC, the agency that represented her, remembered her as a "bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humor.""Her smile and laughter could light up a room, and draw you closer to her," they continued. "Modeling was one of Lucy’s dreams, and we are deeply honored to have been part of that journey with her. She brought elegance, strength, and beauty to her work. But more than that, she brought herself - her warmth, her laughter, her light."To her family and friends, please know that you are in our prayers and in our hearts. We mourn with you, and we celebrate the incredible person Lucy was. We will never forget her," they concluded.Donatella Versace reposted a photo of the late model on her Instagram story with the caption: “I am so sorry to hear the news about @lucymarkovicc. Rest in peace, beautiful girl."Supermodel Alex Consani wrote: “Rest In Peace Angel” on Instagram, and former The Face model Cheyenne Tozzi penned: “Lucy, rest in peace, little angel."Our thoughts are with Markovic's loved ones at this time.Featured image credit: Don Arnold / Getty

Bikini model Bree Keller, 22, has died after a tragic car accident in Sydney on Saturday. Bree's family have been left devastated by the incident, and are mourning the death of their daughter who was described as a "free spirited" model and hairdresser with a growing follower base on the social media platform, Instagram. [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BU_S42nna7q/]] Bree, who was based in Northern Beaches, was travelling with three other people at the time of the incident - brothers Steve and Jeff Nasr, who were also both killed at the scene, and Joseph Bagal, who survived but suffered serious injuries. It is being reported that the group were travelling in a $200,000 Nissan GT-R R35, which had only been bought six days before, when it flipped over and burst into flames after the drive had lost control in Darling Harbour. "She was a free spirit. Very, very attractive girl, very funny, we just all loved her to bits," her stepfather Peter Francis said. "She was a family girl, and we’re all just so devastated that we have lost her. "We’re just basically waiting for Briana to walk through the door because we can’t believe it. She was full of life. It’s just a waste, an absolute waste," he said. "It was just a tragic mistake." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BTn-3W0A15M/]] While police say that formal identification of the bodies is yet to be completed, they have said that they are pretty confident that it was Ms Keller who was found on the scene and was killed during the accident. "The woman in the car is believed to be a 22-year-old from Northern Beaches," a police spokeswoman said. Bree's family say that they are unsure of how their daughter came to be riding in the high-performance vehicle, and police say that the car was travelling at "considerable speed" down the street before it eventually flipped and crashed. "We have no idea how she became to get in that car," Mr Francis said. "We don’t know any of the people in that car… she didn’t know them either. We’re just at a loss." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BUEKHovgMtX/]] Bagala, the only survivor of the accident, has been taken to St Vincent's hospital where he is being treated for serious burns, broken ribs and cuts. He is apparently in a serious but stable condition. Bree's boyfriend, Isaac Treml, posted a touching tribute to her on Instagram, where he referred to the model as "the girl who loved me for my flaws": "My world has come crashing down knowing I will never get to see you again. You’re the best thing that ever happen to me. You taught me to be a better dad, how to love and be loved." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BU1Ji7VAR6c/]] "You showed me what life is really about and most of all you helped my life become so positive with the love you gave me. You’re my best friend my love for life and most of all the girl I wanted to grow old with." Our thoughts are with Bree's friends and family during this difficult time.

Life sure is hard for those who have won the genetic lottery. You know, with their killer good looks and enviable physique, they face a lot of problems on a daily basis. I mean, who can deal with having their friends, colleagues and family members constantly reminding them of how beautiful they are?

Now, while this is certainly the life that one age-defying grandmother leads, Gina Stewart is also committed to utilising her looks for a good cause. The model, who has four children, has been knocking out hundreds of women half her age for the title of Miss Maxim 2018. And with her glowing complexion and generally youthful appearance, people were nonplussed to discover just how old she really is...

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BhginR3jkVz/?hl=en&taken-by=strawberriesandcream1]]

The Aussie is one of the finalists in the running for this year's Miss Maxim competition. And while she has four children (two sons and two daughters, respectively aged 4, 23, 25 and 27) as well as a 10-month-year-old granddaughter, she doesn't look her age at all. Yes, Gina - who has over 42,000 followers on Instagram - is 47-years-old.

The model, who became a grandmother last year, has now revealed the "secrets" to her ageless complexion. "The only cosmetic procedure I had was my breasts 10 years ago. I don't use Botox or fillers as I believe in ageing gracefully," she told Daily Mail Australia.

"But seriously, there's no secret. I think everyone is beautiful. I'm not doing this for attention as I hate it. I'm just trying to make a difference to inspire women not to rip each other apart."

"Life is too short for judgement. Embrace your age and your curves, it never killed anyone," she added.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg6D1iNjLI_/?hl=en&taken-by=strawberriesandcream1]]

Gina is competing for the title of Miss Maxim 2018 for a great reason. She revealed that if she wins, she will donate the $10,000 prize money to a friend who recently suffered a stroke. "I'm only hoping to win to help my best friend of 30 years as she's had a stroke," she asserted. "If I win Maxim, I would be donating to her to help with her recovery. I'm just hoping to raise awareness for stroke victims."

When quizzed on where she draws her inspiration from, Gina revealed that much of it comes from the friend in question. "People who still have the strength to keep going and be positive even after going through hard times. People that never give up really I find the most inspirational." She added that she also has great respect for "people who do what they say they are going to do."

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BgPtrqgBD-n/?hl=en&taken-by=strawberriesandcream1]]

Looks certainly don't mean everything to the single mother. On her Maxim profile, Gina listed that her "best features" include her "sense of humour", how much she "cares about people, friends and family", as well as her laugh.

She also revealed that she's quite the foodie. When asked what she'd do if she could rule the world for a day, she replied that she would "Make it so that Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Nutella would all have zero calories" - I mean, we're with you there girl.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BZXq_TXDoZ9/?hl=en&taken-by=strawberriesandcream1]]

We certainly wish Gina all the best for the competition, but either way, it's evident that she's doing pretty great already.

In other news, people are falling desperately in love with this blogger's photo of her rolls.

It's no secret that renowned fashion designer, Vera Wang, looks fantastic for her age.

In fact, she looks just as youthful as she did decades ago, despite being almost halfway through her seventh decade, at 74 years old.

She's recently become the talk of social media as fans of the iconic fashionista still can't believe she manages to stay looking so youthful. Fortunately, she's often shared tips on how she manages to stay looking so much younger than her age.

While a lot of it is obviously down to her fantastic genes, the New York-born entrepreneur has admitted, however, that her secret doesn't necessarily involve going to the gym or having a strict diet.

Vera Wang has often opened up about tips she has for maintaining a youthful appearance. Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2022, Wang participated in an interview for BBC 100 Women, where she frankly discussed the ageism she's experienced after receiving attention online for her youthful appearance. During the interview Wang said that, other than having a good night's sleep, another thing she "values" is having a vodka cocktail at the end of the day - she said it helps her "transition from a very intense work schedule" to a "bit of a private life".

Elsewhere during the discussion, Wang admitted that her role in the fashion industry has helped contribute to her youthful appearance. "I've been in fashion since I was 19 years old. Not in front of the camera, behind it. I never thought about youth, probably because I work with the most beautiful women in the world on a daily basis," she said.

"And because of that I more envision them as my muses, and maybe it's a way of dealing with aging that is productive. So I always said that vodka cocktail, a lot of sleep, but work - work is the magic elixir," she added.

The industry icon - who has dressed everyone from Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande to Gwen Stefani and Mariah Carey - also revealed that she never thought of "going way out of my way" to preserve her youth "in a fanatical, obsessive way".

Several years earlier, in 2016, Wang explained her workout routine to Harper's Bazaar, where she said that she concentrates on doing small bouts of exercise consistently. "I usually lift weights, not much - two pounds and three pounds. It takes me a total of five minutes," she said, adding that one thing she never skips is lunch.

"I go through phases with what I eat for lunch," she continued. "I like sashimi with brown rice and vegetables, Chinese steamed broccoli with chicken and rice, or the artichoke salad or fish from Sant Ambroeus."

As well as changing up what she munches on for lunch, she told the outlet that she prefers to only drink water, having stopped drinking Diet Coke in 2010. "That was the hardest thing I ever gave up," Wang admitted.

Well, there we have it! A five-minute weightlifting sesh and a vodka cocktail? I'm sure many people wouldn't have a problem with that routine!

Featured image credit: lev radin / Alamy