Teen World Cup Fan's Hunting Photo May Have Killed Her Modeling Career
It's a been a tough week for blonde teenagers who pose for Facebook photos with dead African animals. First, 19-year-old big-game hunter Kendall Jones had her photos of trophy leopards, elephants and rhinos scrubbed from Facebook after an internet backlash. Now the career of a 17-year-old Belgian model, discovered in the crowd at the World Cup, might be over before it begins because of her own hunting photos.
Axelle Despiegelaere, spotted in the stands during one of the World Cup's infamous "honey shots," became famous online as "the most beautiful football supporter" and was quickly snapped up by cosmetics company L'Oreal. Here's the video she made with them this week:
But the internet giveth, and the internet taketh away: Someone found Despiegelaere's public Facebook page, where she'd posted a hunting trip photo with a dead oryx. The earlier backlash against Kendall Jones, combined with this caption, seemed to hit a nerve:
L'Oreal has "cut ties" with Despiegelaere since the photo emerged, the Independent reports. The company said the contract was a one-off deal which has now been completed, and the World Cup beauty is not a spokesperson for the brand.
A rep for L'Oreal told the Independent that the company was aware of the photograph, but wouldn't comment on whether it prompted them to end their relationship with Despiegelaere. The company was also quick to put distance between its brand and anything to do with dead animals:
L'Oréal "no longer tests on animals, anywhere in the world, and does not delegate this task to others."
Despiegelaere hasn't commented on the controversy around her photo, but she has deleted her Facebook page.