The story of former model Suzy Pérez's downfall has many people shaken up. Suzy rose to fame as a model and video vixen who appeared on the covers of urban magazines as well as in some of the most popular music videos in the early 2000s. She has since disappeared from the public eye, and some people reported seeing her roaming the streets of New York City, looking nothing like her former self.
More from MamásLatinas: The most shocking celebrity news of 2019 so far
The Dominican model is said to be homeless and has been open about her drug addiction. Many are wondering what caused her downward spiral after having such a promising career. Various rumors are circulating, including one that she was taken by the mafia and thrown into a prostitution ring in Europe. Suzy claims she was beaten, raped, and given drugs, which led to her addiction. Not only has her appearance drastically changed because of her lifestyle, but her family fears the worst for her health and well-being because of her drug use.
The model rose to fame in the 1990s.
The Dominican model was known for her beauty, with long black hair, caramel skin, and an incredible body. Her photos were often featured in urban magazines, and she appeared in countless music videos in the early 2000s.
Her family has been remembering how she used to be.
Her nephew Joshua has been taking to Instagram to spread awareness about his aunt's situation. He also shared some throwback photos of her modeling days and clips of the videos she appeared in at the height of her career alongside big stars like Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, and Ludacris. Joshua has also been pleading for people to stop giving money to his aunt if they see her on the street, since he says she is using that money to fuel her addiction.
Her son Savion started a GoFundMe account to help his mom.
The model's son started the fund-raiser to help find a rehabilitation for her and move her out of Washington Heights, New York, and "into place where she would not be exposed to drugs and street life." Her son says that finding a good job as a transgender person in New York is tough, and at just 19 years old Savion's part-time job at a grocery store is not enough. Savion wants to use the money to help his mother get treatment for her addiction and also said that she suffers from bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, and a herniated disc.
The model has suffered a lot of trauma that led her to become a drug addict.
She told reporter Gelena Solano that she was brutally beaten by a group of men that almost left her dead. Her drug addiction also led to her losing custody of her son. She also said that after her mother passed away, she was never quite the same.
A reporter from 'El Gordo y La Flaca' has tried to intervene.
Gelena has been reporting on the model for El Gordo y La Flaca and has also tried to lend a helping hand to Suzy by reuniting her with her son, getting her food and clothes, and even taking her to a hair salon to get cleaned up. They attempted to have her enter a rehab facility, but she refused and asked to be taken back to upper Manhattan.
A man uploaded a heartbreaking video of her on the street.
Sadly, after refusing the help, she was found fighting for her life by a man on the street in August. Her family continues to ask the public for donations on the GoFundMe page to help with her rehabilitation. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).
