Have You Ever Heard of ''Cushing Syndrome'''? | Up Close

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Back in the 90s, Cathy had a glittering career sharing [music] the catwalk with superstars like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss.

[00:00:08]I modeled from the age of 17 [music] right up until I was about 30, 31. And then I had my child and I even modeled whilst I was pregnant.

[00:00:18]Ah, this is all mad, mad, mad mad memories. I haven't seen this stuff for years. This here, I remember it was in California and that was for Selfridges.

[00:00:28]My gosh, my hair so short. Took me all around the world. Just a fantastic, fantastic career. I had a gap in my life from the age of 31 up until now, I'm 47.

[00:00:39]Well, I haven't done any modeling.

[00:00:41]Um, and I was incredibly ill.

[00:00:44]Cathy's career was cut short when she was struck with Cushing's [music] syndrome, a rare condition which can cause the body to gain weight due to abnormally high levels of a hormone called cortisol.

[00:00:55]I went from a size 10 where my looks and my body made me money, I became obese.

[00:01:02]Horrendous problem with facial hair. I lost my hair on my head. If you were to look at me profile, my back I had a hump. It's called a buffalo hump.