I’m Not Anorexic, Says Model Stephanie Naumoska

When 19-year-old model Stephanie Naumoska took part in the finals for the Miss Universe Australia beauty pageant, her appearance and weight impressed judges and the public opinion – but not in the way she meant them to. Cataloged as too skinny, underweight and possibly even anorexic by health experts in Australia, Naumoska is now biting back at the rumors by saying she’s very healthy, as the Herald Sun informs.

The model, who did not win the pageant to go on to represent Australia in the Miss Universe competition, says that, despite reports she weighs a mere 49kg (at 180cm in height), she reckons she rather falls somewhere in the 52-55kg category, although she has not weighed herself recently. Moreover, she rubbishes reports that she’s not eating healthy by stressing she has six to eight meals a day, and couldn’t be happier with her body.

“I think it is very unfair that I have been criticized that I’m too skinny. I have never been anorexic or bulimic I don’t throw up my meals after I eat them, I don’t starve myself, none of that. I eat six to eight healthy meals a day.” Naumoska says for the publication. While she does not mention the alleged “Macedonian heritage” that makes her so skinny (as a pageant official said yesterday), Stephanie insists that this is just how her body is, and she does little to stay that way, with not eating being completely out of the question.

“I’m here to defend the skinny people. I have been modeling since I was 13 and have a lot of friends who are really tall and skinny. It is just the way that our bodies are.” the model says, as quoted by the Herald Sun. Moreover, if the above arguments can’t get through to her critics, Stephanie also stresses that she is more than happy with her body right now, a thing that would not be possible were she an anorexic. “I think everybody should love what they were given and this is the way my body is so I’m happy.” Naumoska adds.

Still, her statement has failed to convince some media representatives and health experts that she is, indeed, not suffering from an eating disorder. The skeletal frame she revealed in the swimsuit phase of the beauty competition, with protruding pelvic bones and ribcage, and slender arms have earned her the label “bony” and “underweight.” Specialists continue to insist she needs to have blood tests run to determine whether she’s anorexic or not. “What I see in the photos is muscle wastage on the upper arm and legs.” nutritionist Susie Burrell said yesterday.