Jael Strauss, a former contestant on "America's Next Top Model", has spent six years struggling with a drug addiction which has completely damaged her once striking appearance, leaving her desperate and homeless.

At 22, Strauss was an ambitious model and a finalist in cycle eight of the Tyra Banks hosted show, but now, Jael's family claims she is close to losing her battle with methamphetamine.

In what they state was a last ditch effort to reach out to their daughter, the family enlisted the help of Dr Phil. However on the episode, which airs on September 13, "the full blown meth addict" resists all help.






With Strauss living on the streets, Dr. Phil her brother, Brandon, and mother, Debbie, go to her hometown with the hope of finding her. Reluctantly, Jael agrees to travel to Los Angeles to see Dr. Phil.

However, after she is seen physically resisting being placed on the Dr Phil stage, she then runs away, out onto the Paramount lot.

Dr. Phil follows her and makes a point of noting: "This is the first time in ten years I've come out here, (and it's) to talk to you."




Strauss, 28, who called herself "well-rounded" while on the show, also had her fair share of struggles prior to her appearance on Dr Phil.

A few episodes into the 2007 "America's next Top Model" season, she had to deal with a pal's death from an overdose.

While Jael decided to remain on the show, revealing in an interview: "There was never, never a question in my mind to leave the competition. My friend is gone and I am still here living life to the fullest," she chose to dedicate her photo that week to her dead friend. 

Then, that same year, Jael filed a lawsuit against the release of erotic photos taken of when she was 16.

Her family adds that while experiencing her friend's overdose "really shook her", she herself could not keep away from drugs. They even claim that her drug addiction has taken its toll both mentally and physically, including rotting her teeth and leaving her body covered in sores.

What a tragedy...The truth is that Jael seems to be in denial and looks very far down the destructive path. What do you think?

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