Overworked teen model dies due to exhaustion, representatives deny allegations

New Delhi: A fast-paced life in the present times has given way to a cut-throat competition to reach the top. Unfortunately, there are those who don't believe in giving themselves a break.

Overworking is never a good option as the body needs time to unwind.

Children, especially teenagers who are introduced to a work environment at an early age need to be made aware of this.

As per reports, a 14-year-old Russian model died due to exhaustion as a result of overworking.

Vlada Dzyuba, who taking part in Shanghai Fashion Week in China, began feeling dizzy and started being sick last week (October 24) and was taken to a Shanghai hospital the next day, but died on Friday after her condition quickly deteriorated.

The Chinese agency representing the model, however, has denied allegations that she was overworked and exhausted.

The death of the teenager in a Chinese hospital on Friday (October 27) has shone a light on the murky world of western models in China, many of whom are from the former Soviet Union.

The Siberian Times alleged that Dzyuba died of meningitis compounded by severe exhaustion.

ESEE's chief executive Zheng Yi separately told the state Global Times that she had worked a legal eight hours a day during her two months in China before her death.

"Dzyuba had 16 different jobs during her two-month stay in China, she had regular breaks while working," Zheng told the newspaper on Sunday. "Most of her work was completed within eight hours. Her workload was moderate compared with other models."

After the Shanghai event Dzyuba travelled to Yiwu, a city south of Shanghai, but a model shoot was cancelled because she began feeling unwell and she returned to Shanghai.

Dzyuba's tender age – she was to turn 15 on November 8 – also highlights a piece of Chinese law that says children under 16 can be employed in certain industries with official permission.

There was no immediate reply from Shanghai Fashion Week or Russian officials in China.

However, the Global Times quoted a representative for the event saying it was investigating and cited a medical report saying that she had septicopyemia, a type of blood poisoning.

(With AFP inputs)