Edwina Horseman death: Friends claim H Brand designer struggled with loneliness and eating disorder

A socialite and fashion designer once affectionately known as the ‘cashmere queen’ died after a long term battle with an eating disorder and loneliness, friends say.

Edwina Horseman, 36, was found dead inside her $15million Bellevue Hill home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last week.

The designer, who erupted onto the Sydney social scene in 2011 with the launch of her luxury cashmere and fur label, H Brand, had reportedly been struggling for years before her death.  

Friends claimed she felt abandoned by the A-Listers who once showered her in affection and struggled after the disintegration of her relationship with uniform manufacturer, Joe Dahdah, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Edwina Horseman (pictured left) has died at the age of 36. She was the designer behind fur and cashmere label H Brand and good friends with Roxy Jacenko (right)

Friends claimed she felt abandoned by the A-Listers who once showered her in affection and struggled after the disintegration of her relationship with uniform manufacturer, Joe Dahdah (pictured together)

Friends claimed she felt abandoned by the A-Listers who once showered her in affection and struggled after the disintegration of her relationship with uniform manufacturer, Joe Dahdah (pictured together) 

The couple share three children aged 10, eight and six but separated in 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic. 

‘Before she died, she was abandoned by pretty much everyone who wasn’t family,’ an anonymous source reportedly told the publication.

‘That’s the tragic truth about her decline. When her life got really tough, most of her so-called society friends were nowhere to be seen. They’d moved on to the next overnight sensation.’

Ms Horseman had reportedly been battling an eating disorder for years prior to her death.

Following the success of H Brand, Ms Horseman (left) went on to unveil two further labels with her business partner Tara Cunniffe - Theron and H Brand Faux

Following the success of H Brand, Ms Horseman (left) went on to unveil two further labels with her business partner Tara Cunniffe – Theron and H Brand Faux

Friends previously claimed she also suffered a heart condition, and in 2007 aged just 22, she suffered a heart attack.

But in the last 12 months amid repeated lockdowns and restrictions on socialising, Ms Horseman had become overwhelmed by loneliness, the publication reported. 

In the weeks before her death, Ms Horseman had reportedly also been admitted into hospital for respiratory-related issues.

Her last major public appearance was in 2017 for a charity fundraiser. 

Following the success of H Brand, Ms Horseman went on to unveil two further labels with her business partner Tara Cunniffe – Theron and H Brand Faux.   

A coroner will determine the cause of Ms Horseman’s death.   

The 36-year-old (second from right) had launched the label back in 2011 with her sister before going on to unveil two other brands with business partner Tara Cunniffe - Theron and H Brand Faux

The 36-year-old (second from right) had launched the label back in 2011 with her sister before going on to unveil two other brands with business partner Tara Cunniffe – Theron and H Brand Faux

Ms Horseman’s death is the latest in a long list of successful Australian women who have struggled to overcome their demons. 

Jo Ferguson, a former celebrity stylist who was reportedly friends with Ms Horseman, died in April 2020 of liver and kidney failure.

She had reportedly instructed her medical team to turn off life support instead of committing to six months of sobriety to qualify for a life-saving liver transplant. 

In the months and years prior to her death, the once vivacious Sydney party girl had reportedly withdrawn, was no longer connected with most of her former friends and returned to her family home in South Australia to ‘get her affairs in order’. 

Jo Ferguson, a former celebrity stylist who was reportedly friends with Ms Horseman, died in April 2020 of liver and kidney failure. Pictured on December 28, 2008

Jo Ferguson, a former celebrity stylist who was reportedly friends with Ms Horseman, died in April 2020 of liver and kidney failure. Pictured on December 28, 2008

Beloved TV presenter and fitness guru Kylie ‘KJ’ Jaye died two weeks shy of her 49th birthday in March after a long term battle with anorexia.

Fans knew the Sydney-born Channel 10 and E! Entertainment presenter was deeply unwell for two decades, but the details of her death were shrouded in secrecy.

Almost a month after her body shut down, her distraught family divulged the intimate details of her struggle with the eating disorder with the hope of shedding light on the silent illness that tens of thousands of Australians suffer from. 

Her little brother Isaac Humphries said Ms Jaye only revealed she had anorexia while lying in a hospital bed nine months ago and used a ‘cover illness’ for years to hide the extent of the disorder.

Pictured: Kylie Jaye at a cocktail party at the Crystal Palace at Luna Park in Sydney on October 27, 2004

Pictured: Kylie Jaye at the showing of Farah Angsana Couture held at The Chateau Marmont Penthouse on July 23, 2007, in Hollywood, California

Pictured: Kylie Jaye at a cocktail party at the Crystal Palace at Luna Park in Sydney on October 27, 2004

Kylie Jaye died from a previously undisclosed condition at the the age of 48. She is pictured in her final Instagram photo posted March 3

Kylie Jaye died from a previously undisclosed condition at the the age of 48. She is pictured in her final Instagram photo posted March 3

Mr Humphries said his sister wanted to destigmatise the illness, but felt hampered by her career as health and wellbeing idol who had a series of yoga and diet programs.

‘Her media profile and reputation for healthy living may have made talking openly about her eating disorder even more difficult,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Jaye struggle with the illness since 2002 but the situation became dire over the past five years when her career became more demanding, and her organs started shutting down.

Pictured: Kylie Jaye, who died from anorexia at the age of 48 in March on the Gold Coast

Pictured: Kylie Jaye, who died from anorexia at the age of 48 in March on the Gold Coast

Meanwhile Jaimi Kenny, the bubbly daughter of Australian sporting greats Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny, battled alcoholism and an eating disorder before her tragic death in September 2020.

The 33-year-old died at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital following the long fought battle, surrounded by her loved ones.

The expectation to follow in her parent’s footsteps reportedly weighed heavily on her and she later developed anxiety at the age of 14. 

Leading up to her death, Jaimi had been receiving treatment for an eating disorder at private clinic End ED, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Despite her ongoing struggles, friends of Jaimi told how she always brought ‘light and laughter’ to the lives of those around her.

Lifeline 13 11 14 

Jaimi Curry (left) died in hospital surrounded by her loved ones, including mum Lisa Kenny (right) after a long fought battle with anorexia and alcoholism

Jaimi Curry (left) died in hospital surrounded by her loved ones, including mum Lisa Kenny (right) after a long fought battle with anorexia and alcoholism

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