Beneath the humor and high fashion in “The Devil Wears Prada,” there is a dangerous idea: that success, beauty, and being thin are intrinsically connected. With a steady global rise in eating disorders since 2000, affecting nearly 31 million Americans, the film’s use of casual jokes regarding starvation and body image hits less like satire and more like reinforcement and encouragement. With renewed attention on “The Devil Wears Prada” ahead of the May 1, 2026, release of the sequel, it is worthwhile to question the message the film sends about the cost of fitting in.
Nearly 20 years ago, the popular book “The Devil Wears Prada” was adapted into a film. Directed by David Frankel and starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, the film was set for success. “The Devil Wears Prada” grossed $326.6 million upon release. Streep received a Golden Globe, and other cast members received Academy Award nominations.
“The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2” are both targeted toward young adults, specifically women, who are among the populations most at risk for developing an eating disorder. “The Devil Wears Prada” is a satire-comedy about the fashion industry and demanding bosses, and it accomplished that. Still, it was unnecessary and harmful to present damaging ideals and encourage unhealthy standards of behavior to an audience that includes at-risk populations.
In a recent interview for “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” Hathaway spoke about how the models set to appear in the sequel were “traditionally sized” and said she asked for representation of all natural body types. This same energy carried over into the second film, which was more satirical in its comments on bodies and food and acknowledged several times that such comments were not acceptable.
There has recently been more advocacy in the film and fashion industries to be mindful of the messages they send, and hopefully, this advocacy will continue to grow. Hathaway and others have spoken up about this, but it is disappointing that 20 years later, it is still an issue. Eating disorders are the second-leading cause of death related to psychiatric health disorders, and someone dies almost once an hour as a direct consequence of an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are an issue that can impact you or someone you care about.
You matter, your body matters, and you deserve care and nourishment.
If you think you might be struggling with an eating disorder, there is hope. Recovery is possible.
Visit the National Eating Disorders Association for more information.
NEDA Help Line: 800-931-2237
