The fashion designer is the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The organisation has been campaigning to stop girls who are too young or too slim from being used in catwalk shows.

Yesterday it laid on a panel discussion entitled "A Well Balanced Life", in which fashion bigwigs discussed the issue of eating disorders among models.

Diane believes part of the problem is that too many girls are part of the industry. “Not everybody can be a model. It doesn’t matter how skinny you are,” she said, according to The Cut.

“I think [agents] should be honest and say, ‘You are beautiful and everything, but you will never be a model.’ You know? And it’s OK. You can be something else rather than, ‘If you starve you’ll become a model.’”

Model Elettra Wiedemann was on the panel and faced a question from US Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The magazine supremo quizzed Elettra on the warning signs designers can look for when a model is likely concealing an eating disorder.

The model insisted she doesn’t have all the answers but explained she tried to help a friend recently when the woman grew fuzz on her arms and her hair started falling out. “I could tell she was not feeding her brain,” she explained.

Designer Olivier Theyskens added he has been left shocked by the change in models over the Fashion Week period. He has seen a total change in girls between walking in New York, when the season starts, and Paris – where the shows end.

Karolína Kurková was subdued at the event as she had “a little procedure” the day before. She didn’t discuss what it was but did reveal the effects a past thyroid issue had on her.

“I was 24 and going through menopause - that was one of my side effects,” she recalled. “I thought I was going crazy. I was having panic attacks every minute and I didn’t know what was happening, because I’ve been a healthy person. I’ve exercised all my life. I’ve always eaten well and taken care of myself.” © Cover Media