Linda Evangelista, once a captivating supermodel, finds her greatest joy in motherhood. Discover her journey from the runway to raising her “beautiful” son, Augustin.
Despite her global fame, Linda Evangelista chose to raise her son Augustin away from the public eye, sharing only occasional glimpses of him on social media. Now 18, Augustin is making his way into the spotlight, with many noticing his striking resemblance to his mother. His life includes a close relationship with his award-winning actress stepmother and a strong bond with Linda, which grew even stronger during her struggles with a traumatic cosmetic procedure.
Linda, an iconic 1990s supermodel from Canada, rose from humble beginnings to transform the fashion world, balancing her high-profile career with her role as a devoted mother.
While Linda Evangelista’s career commanded intense focus, her personal life held greater significance, especially when she became a mother. At 22, she married Gérald Marie, head of her Paris modeling agency, though their marriage eventually ended.
Linda later found love with actor Kyle MacLachlan before welcoming her only child, Augustin, or “Augie,” in 2006. Initially private about her son’s paternity, Linda later revealed that French businessman François-Henri Pinault was Augie’s father. Embracing motherhood wholeheartedly, Linda shared, “Motherhood is my whole life now. It’s the best. I am so fulfilled.”
Transitioning to life with her son, Linda left behind the glitz of her supermodel days for a simpler lifestyle, tailored to Augie’s interests. Laughing, she noted, “I have a child who doesn’t like fashion. He wants jerseys. We watch sports and go to games. I do boy things now.”
Over the years, Linda Evangelista has shared glimpses of her son Augustin on social media, showing their close bond and offering fans a view into her life as a mother. In 2021, she posted a touching photo of Augustin at the beach, calling him “the light of my life.” She celebrated his 16th and 17th birthdays in 2022 and 2023 with photo tributes, expressing her gratitude for him.
When Augustin turned 18 in 2024, Linda shared more photos capturing his growth. Fans marveled at his resemblance to her, commenting on their shared features with remarks like “DNA is wild!” and “He’s your twin.”
After her relationship with Augustin’s father, François-Henri Pinault, he married actress Salma Hayek, who became Augustin’s stepmother. Linda has spoken warmly about their blended family, sharing a memorable Thanksgiving when Salma flew in with her daughter and cooked a feast for everyone, including Linda’s favorite Mexican chicken with truffled potatoes.
Salma has embraced her role wholeheartedly, expressing gratitude for her blended family. She shared, “I always wanted to have a lot of children… My husband has three other children, so I have four.” The family publicly showed their bond when Linda and Augustin joined Salma on the red carpet, drawing praise for their close connection. Fans admired Augustin, commenting on his intelligence, handsomeness, and the strong upbringing he received from Linda.
While dedicating herself to family, Linda faced a difficult experience. In 2015, she underwent CoolSculpting, a fat-freezing procedure aimed at maintaining her appearance. Unfortunately, the procedure led to unexpected side effects, leaving her both physically and emotionally scarred.
Within months of her CoolSculpting treatment, Linda noticed painful, hardened bulges where she’d hoped to slim down. She was diagnosed with paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a rare reaction where fat tissue grows instead of shrinking. In a vulnerable interview, she shared how this left her “brutally disfigured” and “permanently deformed,” drastically impacting her self-confidence.
In 2021, she opened up on Instagram about her struggle, revealing she could no longer work in the industry she loved. After undergoing seven sessions, she filed a $50 million lawsuit against CoolSculpting’s parent company. Reflecting on her experience, Linda questioned why there’s so much pressure to alter our bodies, admitting, “I just didn’t think I would look like this.”
The botched CoolSculpting procedure also strained Linda’s relationship with her son, Augustin, who noticed her withdrawing. He would ask, “Mommy, do you remember when you used to be fun? When you used to laugh all the time?” Linda admitted she hated how her ordeal affected their bond. Initially, she kept her struggles with PAH from him, not wanting to burden him, but eventually, she opened up, explaining he might hear things about her condition. Augustin reassured her, saying he didn’t care about appearances and that he was there for her.
Linda emphasized that she’s raising Augustin to understand that true beauty is internal and that everyone is beautiful, though she struggles to apply this belief to herself. Despite the impact of her experience, her posts highlight the unbreakable bond they share, with motherhood bringing her more fulfillment than fame ever did.