If you search for Linda Evangelista now, you will quickly find two very different versions of the supermodel: the fashion icon who dominated the 1990s and the woman who later spoke publicly about a devastating experience with CoolSculpting. The reality in 2025 is more nuanced. Linda Evangelista has not simply disappeared from public life, nor is her story accurately summed up by the word “disfigured.” She has returned to fashion, appeared on major magazine covers, attended high-profile events and spoken much more openly about aging, body image, illness and recovery.
Her CoolSculpting experience remains an important part of that story. Evangelista said the treatment caused a rare complication called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), in which treated areas can become enlarged rather than reduced. She subsequently underwent corrective procedures and eventually sued the company behind CoolSculpting. That lawsuit was settled in 2022, with financial terms not disclosed.
So what is Linda Evangelista doing now, what happened to her appearance, and how has her life changed? Here is the fuller picture.
Linda Evangelista now: where is she in 2025?
In 2025, Linda Evangelista is very much back in the fashion conversation.
One of the clearest signs of her return came in April 2025, when she became the cover star of Harper’s Bazaar. The accompanying interview focused not only on her legendary modeling career but also on the surgeries, scars, aging and personal experiences that shaped her life away from the runway.
She was also photographed attending Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show during Paris Fashion Week in March 2025.
That matters because for several years Evangelista’s public story was dominated by her absence. She had once been one of the most recognizable models on earth, yet she withdrew from public view after the complications she associated with CoolSculpting.
Her return therefore represents more than another celebrity appearance. It shows that she has been rebuilding a public identity on her own terms.
In 2025, she is also 60 years old, having been born on May 10, 1965. Her approach to fashion has evolved accordingly. Rather than trying to recreate her 1990s appearance, she has increasingly spoken about personal style, aging and accepting the person she has become.
What happened to Linda Evangelista with CoolSculpting?
The CoolSculpting story is frequently simplified online, so it is important to separate established facts from sensational headlines.
CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis, a technique designed to reduce localized fat by cooling fat cells. Evangelista underwent multiple treatments in 2015 and 2016, targeting areas including her chin, thighs, abdomen and areas beneath her arms.
According to Evangelista, instead of becoming smaller, some treated areas became larger, harder and more prominent.
Doctors subsequently diagnosed her with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, commonly abbreviated as PAH.
What is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia?
PAH is a rare complication associated with cryolipolysis in which fat in the treated area becomes enlarged rather than reduced.
This is different from ordinary weight gain. The problem is localized to areas that have received treatment.
For someone considering a cosmetic procedure, this distinction is important: a treatment marketed as non-invasive does not automatically mean that it has zero risks.
Evangelista’s experience became particularly significant because she said she was not adequately aware of this particular risk before treatment. She eventually underwent corrective procedures, which she described as painful and unsuccessful at first.
The reported frequency of PAH has varied between studies, which is one reason older articles sometimes give very different numbers. The medical literature has also suggested that the complication may have been underreported or misdiagnosed.
Was Linda Evangelista permanently disfigured?
This is one of the most searched questions about her, but the wording deserves care.
Evangelista herself used extremely strong language when describing what happened to her, including saying she had been “brutally disfigured” and “permanently deformed.” Those descriptions came from her own account of the physical and emotional consequences of the procedure.
That does not mean it is appropriate to reduce her current appearance to a before-and-after photograph.
Her 2025 interviews show someone who has experienced significant physical changes but is continuing to work through how she sees herself. In Harper’s Bazaar, she openly discussed scars and the effects of numerous medical procedures.
This is an important distinction.
Linda Evangelista now is not simply “the model who was disfigured.” She is a 60-year-old former supermodel who has dealt with a rare cosmetic-procedure complication, other major medical experiences, surgery and the ordinary realities of aging.
Calling her permanently “unrecognizable” also ignores the fact that she has returned to public fashion events and major editorial work.
Did Linda Evangelista have surgery after CoolSculpting?
Yes. Evangelista said she underwent corrective procedures after developing PAH.
She has described having liposuction to address the affected areas. Earlier reports stated that she underwent two corrective liposuction procedures, which she considered unsuccessful.
Her later medical history is considerably broader than CoolSculpting, however.
In 2025, she discussed other surgeries and significant health experiences, including a bilateral mastectomy following breast cancer and additional procedures. These experiences are part of the reason that photographs of Evangelista today should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of one particular cosmetic procedure.
Her body has been through multiple forms of medical intervention.
That is one of the most important pieces of context missing from many quick online summaries.
Linda Evangelista’s scars and changing relationship with her body
Perhaps the most revealing part of Linda Evangelista’s recent story is not how she looks but how she talks about looking at herself.
In her 2025 Harper’s Bazaar interview, she discussed her scars and the emotional process of accepting what she sees in the mirror.
This represents a significant shift from the way her story was initially reported.
After CoolSculpting complications became public, much of the coverage centered on the contrast between her famous 1990s appearance and her altered body. That comparison may have captured attention, but it also reinforced precisely the beauty pressure she was struggling with.
Her more recent approach is different.
She has spoken about learning to live with scars rather than treating every physical difference as something that must be corrected.
A useful lesson from her experience
For ordinary people considering cosmetic procedures, Evangelista’s story highlights an issue that is easy to overlook:
The decision is not only about the probability of a complication. It is also about whether you are emotionally prepared for the possibility that the result may not match your expectations.
That is a more useful takeaway than simply asking whether a celebrity “looks better now.”
Is Linda Evangelista still modeling?
Yes.
Her 2025 return to major fashion coverage provides clear evidence that she remains active in the fashion world.
Her Harper’s Bazaar May 2025 cover was particularly notable because it presented her as a fashion figure with a story beyond her historic supermodel status.
She also appeared at Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 presentation during Paris Fashion Week.
And in September 2025, Vogue reported that she was among the fashion personalities involved in Zara’s 50th-anniversary creative project.
These appearances make one point especially clear: Evangelista’s career did not end with the CoolSculpting controversy.
It changed.
Linda Evangelista’s career before CoolSculpting
To understand why her return is significant, it helps to understand how unusual her original career was.
Evangelista became one of the defining faces of the supermodel era alongside names such as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Claudia Schiffer.
She became famous not simply because of her appearance but because of her extraordinary ability to transform it.
She changed hair colors, hairstyles and overall visual identities repeatedly. Her collaborations with major photographers, designers and fashion editors helped establish her as one of the most versatile models of her generation.
That history explains why her later struggle with appearance became so emotionally powerful.
Her professional identity had been built around transformation.
Then, for a period, transformation became something happening to her body rather than something she controlled.
Three less obvious insights about Linda Evangelista’s story
1. Her biggest comeback is not necessarily a runway comeback
It is tempting to measure Evangelista’s recovery by how often she appears at fashion events.
But her 2025 interviews suggest something deeper: she is reclaiming control over the narrative surrounding her body.
For years, other people largely defined the story through photographs, headlines and speculation. Now she can explain what happened in her own words.
That is a different kind of comeback.
2. “Non-invasive” does not mean “risk-free”
Evangelista’s experience is a useful reminder for anyone researching aesthetic treatments.
Non-surgical and non-invasive procedures can still produce significant complications. A consumer should therefore ask not just, “How quickly will I recover?” but also:
- What are the uncommon complications?
- How are those complications treated?
- Who will manage a complication if it occurs?
- What happens if I am unhappy with the result?
- Is the treatment appropriate for my individual anatomy?
Those questions are more valuable than relying solely on promotional before-and-after pictures.
3. Her current appearance cannot be attributed to CoolSculpting alone
This is perhaps the most important correction to make when reading online discussions.
Evangelista has discussed CoolSculpting-related PAH, corrective surgery, breast cancer treatment and other medical procedures. Therefore, attributing every visible change in her face or body to CoolSculpting is inaccurate.
Her appearance in 2025 reflects many years of life and multiple medical experiences—not one single event.
What happened with Linda Evangelista’s lawsuit?
Evangelista filed a product-liability lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics in 2021. She sought $50 million in damages and alleged that CoolSculpting had caused the physical changes she described.
In July 2022, she announced that the case had been settled.
The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed publicly. Evangelista said she was pleased to have settled the case and wanted to move forward with her life.
That means articles claiming a specific settlement payout should be treated cautiously unless they provide reliable documentation.
The case itself is closed, but the broader conversation surrounding cosmetic-procedure risks continues.
Is Linda Evangelista happy now?
It would be impossible—and unfair—to reduce someone’s private emotional life to a simple yes or no.
What can be observed is that Evangelista is much more visible and outspoken than she was during the years when she withdrew from public life.
Her recent interviews show someone reflecting on aging, scars, fashion, illness and self-acceptance. She has continued appearing in fashion publications and at industry events, suggesting that she has found a way to participate publicly without pretending that nothing happened.
That is arguably more meaningful than trying to determine whether she has returned to her exact 1990s appearance.
Linda Evangelista now vs. the 1990s
The comparison is unavoidable, but it can also be misleading.
| Then | Now |
|---|---|
| Global supermodel in her 20s and 30s | 60-year-old fashion icon |
| Known for dramatic transformations | More focused on authenticity and personal style |
| Constant runway and editorial exposure | Selective fashion appearances |
| Image-driven career | More personal storytelling |
| Youth and perfection were central to the industry | Aging and self-acceptance are part of her public message |
The important point is that there is no realistic “going back” to the 1990s.
Evangelista does not need to look 30 again to have a successful career in fashion.
Her 2025 appearances demonstrate that the industry can still value her experience, personality and cultural significance.
FAQ
What is Linda Evangelista doing now in 2025?
Linda Evangelista remains involved in fashion and public appearances. In 2025, she appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, attended Saint Laurent’s Paris Fashion Week presentation and participated in other fashion-related projects.
Is Linda Evangelista still affected by CoolSculpting?
Evangelista has continued to discuss the physical and emotional consequences of the PAH complication she says resulted from CoolSculpting. She underwent corrective procedures and has spoken about the lasting impact on her relationship with her body. Her current appearance, however, should not automatically be attributed entirely to CoolSculpting because she has also experienced other major medical procedures.
What exactly happened to Linda Evangelista after CoolSculpting?
She said that areas treated with CoolSculpting became enlarged and hardened instead of becoming smaller. Doctors diagnosed her with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, a rare complication associated with cryolipolysis. She subsequently underwent corrective surgery and later filed a lawsuit against Zeltiq, which was settled in 2022.
Did Linda Evangelista win her CoolSculpting lawsuit?
The case was settled rather than decided by a public trial verdict. Evangelista announced the settlement in July 2022, but the amount and other financial terms were not publicly disclosed.
How old is Linda Evangelista now?
Linda Evangelista turned 60 on May 10, 2025. She continues to work selectively in fashion and has increasingly spoken publicly about aging and accepting her body after years of medical challenges.
Does Linda Evangelista still model?
Yes. Although her career today is more selective than during the peak of the supermodel era, she continues to participate in fashion. Her 2025 Harper’s Bazaar cover and appearance at Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show demonstrate that she remains an influential figure in the industry.
Conclusion
The most accurate answer to “Where is Linda Evangelista now?” is that she is still here—and still working.
Her life after CoolSculpting has included physical complications, corrective procedures, emotional struggles and other serious medical experiences. But the story did not end with the headlines describing her as “disfigured.” The 2025 Linda Evangelista is visible again, appearing in major fashion publications and at industry events while speaking openly about aging, scars and self-acceptance.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from her story is that recovery does not always mean returning to the person you were before. Sometimes it means building a new relationship with yourself after something changes permanently.
For a model whose career was famously built on transformation, Evangelista’s latest chapter may be her most personal transformation yet.
