MAKEUP FOR A CAUSE

MAKEUP FOR A CAUSE is brought to you by two young women, Izzie Arzoumalian and I, Luka, who've suffered from anorexia for half their lives. Our dual interest in mental health, the invisible condition, has inspired this casual interview, aimed at uncovering a surprise myth and fact about anorexia as well as getting personal. Come along with us, Shopaholics! Oh, and before you do, follow Izzie's Instagram handles to see her exceptional makeup artistry: @ia.mua and @createwith.ia.

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Our Myth or Fact for you, Dolls!

Myth

There is a major myth that men don't have eating disorders or at least, that a very small proportion do. But, no doubt, this is a myth. The myth is invalidating for them, making early diagnosis and receiving help, to their detriment, a dangerous rarity. Such misrepresentation in the ED community only leads to the possibility of this figure growing.

Fact

The fact is that there is a grand one quarter of males who suffer from eating disorders, a scary number, that is little known to society and those who are considered professionals in the field. I believe that if there were more recognition for males, this shocking, saddening number could be significantly reduced. The reduction would occur with early intervention, reduced stigma and overall validation, compassion and understanding: three vital components of recovery.

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I've always valued Izzie's opinion as another ED sufferer, an artist and most importantly, a dear friend. So I've asked her a series of questions to allow you to hear her honorary opinion, also.

I asked her the following:

What does beauty look like to you? 'To me, beauty’s not about one look - it has no face. It’s how you carry yourself, how you feel, and how you show up as you. I love how makeup and creativity let you express that and even shift how you see yourself. Beauty’s in the details - a laugh, a vibe, the way someone lights up. It’s all about feeling good in your own skin and lifting each other up.'

How did you decide that you wanted to be a makeup artist? 'I’ve always been a creative creature, and makeup became my way to express that and build confidence. In Year 10, I realised I could turn that love into a career after studying skincare, makeup and hair through TAFE. Movies like White Chicks, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Exorcist, and the Marvel Universe sparked my passion for SFX and showed me how powerful makeup is in storytelling. My true passion lies in the innovative and otherworldly: prosthetics, medical realism, sci-fi transformations, and visionary fashion looks that push the limits of makeup and hair. I still love it just as much as when I started. There are no limits to what you can create, and I can’t imagine doing anything else as a career. '

What's one thing you wish more people knew about eating disorders? 'Well, Luka, there’s more than just one thing. The two things I've heard in recovery that really stuck with me are:

1. Eating disorders are terrorists. And,

2. The purpose of recovery is to(get)her. IYKYK. If not, let’s talk about it. 

Eating disorders aren’t one-size-fits-all. They’re complex mental illnesses rooted in control, self-worth, and emotional pain; not just food or appearance. Two people can have the same diagnosis with completely different symptoms. That’s what makes treatment so personal - and why there’s no quick fix or guaranteed recovery path. Medical education and training are lacking and support is expensive, limited, and often biased. Meanwhile, innocent people are silently dying by making themselves smaller, physically and emotionally. This isn’t rare. It’s a global issue, shaped by beauty standards, diet culture, social media, and generational pressure and it's been dangerously normalised. But here's the truth: we can change this. When we learn how to talk about it without shame, we create safety, we reduce harm, and we enable space for recovery. That’s why I created 'fuck eating disorders'. It's to challenge stigma, speak the truth, and start the conversations we need to have, especially with those we love. Talking about it can save lives and is one thing we can all do to say a big f you to ED.'

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Izzie's value in me as a writer and friend has also allowed me to discuss a topic that I wouldn't otherwise. I thank you, Izzie, for such an opportunity.

You’ve created such a powerful space through your blog. I’m curious, how do you navigate the way social media both uplifts and complicates conversations around eating disorders?

You wonder how I navigate social media, and the truth is, I don't. I feel as though I become more entangled in its web of confusion, distortion and toxicity with every comment, good or bad, that I receive. On the one hand, positive comments feed into moments of serotonin where I feel valued, seen and validated. And on the other hand, negative comments feed into my shame with myself and into the responsibility I feel in being a public figure for blogging, fashion and mental health. Social media has been a wonderwall in allowing me to excel in the successful promotion of my blog, and whilst that's something I value, sometimes I just want to be seen simply, without complexities, as a 22-year-old girl, engaging with social media as a simple pleasure. I've always wanted to be a model, and having the opportunity to gain recognition for my modelling photos online is something that excites me. But I do it because I love it, not because I want the attention, and unfortunately, that is something that has become inherently misconstrued by others' input. I wish more people allowed me to navigate social media, share myself with the public, and express myself in front of the camera without the external opinion. However, I understand that part of having social media is accepting personal responsibility for the fact that it does mean opening yourself to public scrutiny at worst and opinion at best. It is with hope that I stand, still, with it being a wish of mine. Something I have learnt to navigate, however, Izzie, is that despite social media's complications, people with eating disorders are and should always be allowed to simply exist. I stand firm in believing that expecting ed sufferers to hide from the camera only intensifies the shame and stigma everyone already feels on a shockingly large scale. If part of feeling uplifted is having social media like all my friends, I've learnt that that is something I not only deserve, but that everybody in the world deserves, regardless of their body shape. And that is the beauty of the 'unfollow' button. If you are offended by another person's existence, you can create your own boundary and remove them from your corner of the internet. It really is that easy, and is something Izzie and I wish that was promoted more as opposed to the fostering of hatefulness, which is explicitly unhelpful for any and everybody.

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So, Dolls, it's a wrap! It is our desire that we've sent the message of anorexia education out into the world for you to receive it with an open mind, a courageous heart and an inextricable fire within. We want you to be moved, we want you to have learnt, and we want you to never stop asking questions. We're both infinitely here to give our two cents in a pure attempt to change the way the world is.

All our love,

COS, Izzie & Luka.