Vogue World: Milano brought some of fashion's biggest names to Milan on 22 September, but its choice of sponsor has sparked a separate debate about body image. Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind Mounjaro and the GLP-1 pill Foundayo, was listed as one of the event's presenting sponsors alongside ALO, eBay and Meta Glasses.
This, while the event also featured plus-size models including Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser, making the link between size inclusion and a company known for weight-loss medicines a focus of criticism from eating disorder groups and fashion academics. The concerns were reported after the Milan show, with critics questioning what the partnership could mean for the fashion industry's message about bodies.
Vogue World Gets Attention
Vogue World: Milano was held inside Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the first day of Milan Fashion Week. It was the fifth Vogue World event, following earlier shows in New York, London, Paris and Hollywood.
The show was built around five acts that looked at Italian fashion, craft, technology and creativity. Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Alicia Keys and other major names were part of the event, while designers and models presented looks inspired by Italy's fashion history.
Vogue also said the event helped support a project to improve the Quarto Oggiaro Library in northwestern Milan. The show was therefore presented as more than a runway event, with fashion, culture, craft and charity all included in the programme.
Eli Lilly Backed the Show
Eli Lilly was not simply mentioned as a guest brand. Vogue's official event programme listed Eli Lilly and Company among the presenting sponsors of Vogue World: Milano, alongside ALO, eBay and Meta Glasses.
The company is best known in the current weight-loss debate for medicines such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, while its newer oral GLP-1 medicine Foundayo was approved in the US in April 2026 for adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related medical problems. Lilly also says 2026 marks its 150th anniversary.
The sponsorship was part of a wider brand partnership rather than an advert for one specific medicine. Vogue also published a video called 'Portrait of Progress', produced with Lilly, which focused on health, creativity and the company's history without directly promoting Mounjaro or another weight-loss drug.
Plus-Size Models Walked Too
Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser were among the models who appeared at Vogue World: Milano. Vogue's own coverage lists both women among the major models who walked in the show, with Graham also appearing in Vogue's photo coverage from the event.
Their presence added another layer to the discussion because both models are well known for their work in fashion beyond the traditional straight-size runway model range. Vogue has previously included Graham and Elsesser in its coverage of leading curve and plus-size models.
However, the presence of these models does not mean Vogue World was promoting weight-loss drugs. The Guardian reported that the show's promotional material did not refer to thinness or weight-loss medicines, while a Condé Nast source said the Lilly partnership focused on the company's overall brand rather than one particular drug.
Lilly Defends Its Partnership
Lilly has tied the Vogue World deal to its 150th anniversary and its wider health message. The company's own history page confirms that it marked 150 years in 2026 and lists Foundayo among its recent medicines.
Vogue's 'Portrait of Progress' video follows the same broad message. The film describes health as the starting point for living, creativity and self-expression, while showing fashion and medical technology together.
The disagreement, then, is less about whether plus-size models appeared at Vogue World and more about what a fashion event chooses to associate with its brand. The Guardian's report shows that critics see a conflict between size inclusion in fashion and a partnership with a company that makes medicines used for weight management, while Lilly says its focus is health rather than appearance.
