Eli Lilly, the American pharmaceutical maker of weight-loss medications Mounjaro and Foundayo, sponsored Vogue World's fifth iteration in Milan on Tuesday, drawing criticism from health advocates and observers who say the partnership sends a problematic message about thinness as aspiration.
The event, overseen by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, featured models including Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez. Eli Lilly was credited as a "fashion adjacent" sponsor in the event materials.
Critics argue the sponsorship links a pharmaceutical company selling weight-loss drugs to a fashion platform that has historically promoted narrow body ideals. The partnership combines a medical product designed to reduce weight with an industry long associated with promoting thin models and aesthetics, raising questions about the messaging such an alignment sends to consumers and the public.
Eli Lilly manufactures a broader range of medicines beyond weight-loss treatments. The company's decision to sponsor a high-profile fashion event marks a notable entry into the cultural conversation around weight-loss drugs, which have surged in popularity and visibility in recent years.
The Mounjaro injection and Foundayo pill are among several weight-loss medications that have gained significant public attention and adoption, partly due to use by celebrities and influencers. The products are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
No statement from Eli Lilly or Vogue's organizers addressing the criticism has been provided in the available reporting.