The mother of a Brazilian fashion model who died from complications of anorexia has appealed for parents to take better care of aspiring young models.
The death of Ana Carolina Reston (21) follows growing criticism of the use of underweight models in the fashion world.
"Take care of your children . . . no money is worth the life of your child, not even the most famous (fashion) brand is worth this," her mother, Miriam Reston, told O Globo newspaper.
She said her daughter had been trying to help her family with the money she made as a model. Miriam spoke on national television and to local newspapers to highlight the tragedy.
Ms Reston died on Tuesday in Sao Paulo from a generalised infection caused by an eating disorder in which sufferers obsessively deprive themselves of food in pursuit of an ultra-slim look.
She weighed only 88 pounds (40 kg) and was about five feet, eight inches tall. Doctors consider this weight normal for a 12-year-old girl no more than about five feet (1.5 meters) tall.
Many top models come from Brazil, and thousands of young girls from all walks of life dream of modeling careers, inspired by the international success of Gisele Bundchen or Adriana Lima.