This is the first post of three on Jocelyn Wildenstein, the New York Society Lion Woman. While many of us recognize her face, not many of us really know her story. By understanding how she came to be, maybe we can better understand why she has made herself look the way she does. Divas the site.com has an excellent writeup of her personal story, which doesn't just trash her and her plastic surgery. Here is the Cliff Notes version:
Jocelyn grew up in a middle class family in Switzerland. There she became a skilled hunter and pilot. She eventually met and married billionaire art collector Alec Wildenstein. Marriage was difficult. Though Jocelyne tried as hard as she could, it was sometimes a thankless task to jolly her husband out of his somber moods. The only consolations, it seemed, were the lions in his private jungle and his priceless art collection. When Alec's eye began to wander after many years of marriage, Jocelyne grew jealous and believed that drastic measures were called for.
Pushing fifty and insecure about her looks, Jocelyne visited a renowned plastic surgeon. She wanted to revitalize her appearance in order to recapture the Alec she was so desperately in love with. The first surgeries were successful. This happy state of affairs lasted quite some time, and Jocelyne had the feeling that things were once again back on an even keel. So it was with both shock and sadness that she learned Alec wanted to sleep with other women. Not knowing what to do, a desperate Jocelyne formulated a plan that was so audacious in its daring that she may be forgiven for failing to see its drawbacks.
Jocelyne realized that Alec loved his jungle estate, and the cats that inhabited it, more than anything else in life. So armed with this information, she returned to her plastic surgeon with an unusual request: She wanted to be transformed into one of the giant Cats that Alec loved so much. Though surprised at this unorthodox request, the surgeon did his best to comply.
After countless surgeries - no one can say with certainty just how many - Jocelyne the Swiss beauty disappeared, and "The Queen Of The Jungle" took her place. Jocelyne's appearance was indeed striking. The first time Alec saw his new wife, it is said he screamed at the sudden appearance of this creature that confronted him. Naturally, Jocelyne was disappointed, and returned to her plastic surgeon for more work. It is rumored that several prospective patients ran screaming from the office, so concerned were they that they would end up looking like Jocelyne. As the reader may well imagine, this did nothing to improve the poor socalite's anxiety. However, Jocelyne persevered, and hasn't stopped to this day. When questioned as to the precise number and types of surgeries she's had, she merely replies with a smile "no more or less than any other woman".
Part II will focus on what I think she has had done. Click HERE for Part II of the Jocelyn Wildenstein series: What Plastic Surgery Has She Had?
To view streaming video of a segment of Montel that I did on plastic surgery addiction, click here.
Photo credit: Divas the site.com, Photorazzi.com
Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:
27 comments:
Wow. That's pretty sad. I feel sorry for the woman so insecure that she would be willing to turn herself into a whole other species in a desperate attempt to win back her husband's love.
Switzerland, nordic?
uhm.. what?
I know the doctors only did what she asked, but someone should have said, I can't do this to you...
If she was Nordic, she would be either Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic or a Finn - not Swiss.
Thanks for the correction. I took it straight off of the Divas site and didn't think twice about it! It is now corrected...
This poor woman needs a psychiatrist, not a plastic surgeon. She was obviously in a great deal of distress due to her husband's rejection, and had the wrong idea to begin with. Wanting to transform into a lion??? Doesn't anyone see the problem in that???
As a medical professional, her plastic surgeon should have realized this just as he is trained to recognize a person with BDD. Her doctor should have assisted her to find someone who could have help her build her self confidence either through psychotherapy or some other means instead of taking advantage of her unstable state and milking her for God knows how much $$$$$$. This is truly shameful, and makes all plastic surgeons look unethical in the eyes of the public. Just my 2 cents as a future doctor myself!
That is one interesting story...
I wonder what she does today?!
I saw the pictures and then I found this site. Thank you for the understanding article. Truly, this poor woman has a spiritual problem. Her soul is deeply wounded and it's unfortunate that she would do such dramatic surgeries to her face to win affection, acceptance, etc. I would pray that she finds ultimate love and acceptance in God. He created her and knows every detail of her life. The major "surgery" or transformation needs to happen in her heart.
. . But after all those surgeries and all this time . . . is she still married ?
I'd love to ask her "honestly - was it all worth it . . ?"
Whether we think it is sad or not - it's really not our place to judge. It wouldn't do for us all to be the same, now would it ?
I've seen a recent photo and it looked like she may have had some corrective procedures, she didn't look as scarey and was borderline normal.
In response to Judith comment. "Wow. That's pretty sad. I feel sorry for the woman so insecure that she would be willing to turn herself into a whole other species in a desperate attempt to win back her husband's love."
Not to win back her husband's love. Please, no one loves somebody so much. More likely she's done this not to part with her husband's money.
Her husband is dead now! That's the beauty of life that all things end and you realize that all the happends will end. I feel for her but what a horrible thing to do to oneself because of a man. She is supper rich, she could of done a little lifting here and there and find a better man for herself. But trully what doctor would do that, no matter what's the cost?
A sad story with a bit of a worped ending, but is it the end? The truth of the matter is that many women would go to extremes to keep or stay with the person they loved, but this woman had the means to do it. If the entire world were rich imagine what we would look like!!!!!
Your friend said...
That is one interesting story...
I wonder what she does today?!
Hunts for zebra?
horrible, resembse Dr Morous Island ...
It seems to me that all she really needed to do in the beginning was grow back her eyebrows and have an expert show her how to shape them into a more natural and appealing form. The surgeries have obliterated her natural facial features.
Can she be fixed? Why hasn't she tried?
To say that no one loves someone that much is patently absurd. Wars have been waged, nations crumbled, thrones abdicated, murders committed, and every vile human crime ever conceived of has been perpetrated in the name
of love. It is probably second only to religious differences as the reason that people hurt each other with such an uncontrolled passion. This was a beautiful woman who would have probably done very well for herself financially if she had to divorce. Society women know how to shop, and finding a high caliber divorce attorney would have been a snap. Furthermore, she traveled in the right circles and could have landed another wealthy husband if that was her motive. I think that her reasons were not rational, and you can't apply logic to an act that is committed by someone who is acting so illogically. This woman was obsessed with her husband. In her mind it was love. No one would do this for love? You're crazy. No one would do this for money (except her plastic surgeon!).
Its almost like an urban legend, or a fable, with a rich and valuable morle at the end!
I found myself being judgmental until I read this article. I can't even imagine the pressure she must have felt. No, not a lot of women would have gone to that extreme but there is a different dynamic when you are in a world of wealth.
Think of the richest guys/girls you have ever dated. I dated one and his mindset was completely bizarre. I did find myself becoming very insecure and unsure. So I am just saying, to be completely immersed in something like that, most of us couldn't imagine.
So the good doctor didn't feel he should deny any surgeries? I went for something silly (it was serious I thought at the time), doctor told me basically to get over it and he wouldn't do it and to come back when I was ready for implants!! You get the idea...
Hey Antony,
I just want to say fantastic blog, I will be deffo be reading everything.
I just want to look at every celebrity to go under the knife!
Oh gawd though what has Jocelyn done though... I do feel sorry for her. :(
Maybe she should have asked for a brain implant, but instead she spent all this money on becoming deformed ! Just think about all the poor families, or sick kids she could have helped with all that money and kept the beauty that she already possessed and went on to find a real man to love her for who she was and what she looked like.
Dearest Jocelyn...I still believe in beauty is in the heart of the beholder...believe in yourself first and you will have eternal beauty.....Love Julie
i beleive a man will stray and a woman will stray in a marriage / relationship if they really want to no matter what ,,, if they are not getting attention they need at home or just arent happy with their partner, they will stray or if they are sex addicts ,,, you have to look at the whole picture here but for this woman to go to these lengths to please a man husband or not is really, really sad ...i feel sorry for her but at the same time i hope woman all over the world can learn from her mistakes and if a man isnt pleased with you then let him go and you will find someone that does love you for you !!!!!!!!! and i always say ....dont get mad get even !!! if he cheats then that gives you a chance to do it too !!! go find a hunk of a man and screw him like youve never been done before ...but of course use protection !!!!!!! lol
Ohh God this is a real shocker to me i have known Joycelyn after working at Oljogi but i didnt know it had turned this tragic. I pity her this is what love can do . What she needs now is spiritual intervention not more surgeries.
Wow she must be totally insane...not just for getting all that insanity done..but after looking so crazy for so long..."More or Less"? Man some people are pyscho..shes prob schizo
This woman turned into a monster in order to please or have her husband satisfy, what about her happiness. Does she feels happy with him?
Post a Comment