So, you’ve probably seen the headlines or maybe binged that Netflix show Apple Cider Vinegar and now you're wondering: who on earth is Milla? And why is everyone linking her to Belle Gibson? Honestly, the rabbit hole goes deep. If you’re looking for a simple "friend versus foe" story, you won’t find it here. The reality is way more complicated, kinda tragic, and honestly, a bit infuriating.
Belle Gibson is a name that still makes people in Australia—and around the world—see red. Back in 2013, she was the "it" girl of wellness. She had the glowing skin, the adorable son, and a heartbreaking story: terminal brain cancer cured by nothing but whole foods and positive vibes. It was a lie. A massive, calculated, profitable lie. But then there’s Belle Gibson Milla. Specifically, Milla Blake.
If you're looking for Milla Blake in the real-world history books, you won't find her. She’s a fictionalized character played by Alycia Debnam-Carey. But she isn't just "made up" for TV drama. She’s a composite, a mirror, and most importantly, she’s heavily based on a real person named Jessica Ainscough.
The Real Inspiration Behind Belle Gibson Milla
To understand why the "Milla" character exists, you have to look at the late Jessica Ainscough. Known to her thousands of followers as the "Wellness Warrior," Jess was the real deal—in the sense that she actually had cancer. She was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form called epithelioid sarcoma when she was just 22.
Unlike Belle, who faked the whole thing, Jess was living it. She documented her journey of rejecting conventional treatments like amputation and chemotherapy in favor of "Gerson Therapy"—a controversial regimen involving coffee enemas and massive amounts of carrot juice.
Here is the kicker: the show depicts a rivalry or a "frenemy" vibe between Belle Gibson Milla (as Milla). In real life? They barely knew each other. They met briefly at a conference. They existed in the same digital "wellness" bubble, but they weren't the tight-knit duo the screen suggests.
Belle basically saw what Jess was doing—the authentic, albeit scientifically questionable, struggle—and she colonized it. She took the aesthetic of a dying woman’s hope and turned it into a business model.
Why the distinction matters
- Authenticity: Milla (Jess) believed in what she was doing. She paid for that belief with her life in 2015.
- The Grift: Belle didn't believe in the "cure" because she knew there was no disease.
- The Fallout: While Jess’s legacy is a cautionary tale about medical misinformation, Belle’s legacy is one of pure, unadulterated fraud.
What Actually Happened with Belle Gibson?
It’s easy to get lost in the dramatization, but the facts of the Belle Gibson case are staggering. Her app, The Whole Pantry, was a global sensation. Apple was even going to pre-install it on the first Apple Watch. Think about that for a second. One of the biggest tech companies in the world was ready to bank on her "miracle" story.
But the house of cards started wobbling when she didn't donate the $300,000 she promised to charities. Journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano (who wrote The Woman Who Fooled the World) started digging. They found that the hospitals she claimed to support had never heard of her.
Then came the 2015 interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly. The headline said it all: "No. None of it is true." She couldn't even explain how the brain cancer she claimed to have—the one that had supposedly spread to her blood and spleen—just... vanished.
Fast forward to now, in 2026, and the "Belle Gibson Milla" connection is resurfacing because of the cultural obsession with scammers. But for the families involved, like the Schwarz family who had a son with a real, terminal brain tumor, it’s not just "content." Belle used that little boy’s story to sell her own brand, promising him donations that never arrived. Federal Court Justice Debra Mortimer called this conduct "unconscionable." That’s legal-speak for "evil."
Where is Belle Gibson Now?
You’d think after a $410,000 fine in 2017, she’d be working a 9-to-5 to pay it back. Nope. As of the latest updates in late 2025 and early 2026, the Victorian government is still chasing her for that money. With interest and penalties, the debt has ballooned well past $500,000.
Authorities have raided her home in Northcote multiple times. They’ve seized items to sell. But the fine remains largely unpaid. There’s a persistent "vitriol," as journalist Richard Guilliatt puts it, because the legal system feels toothless here. She wasn't sent to prison. She was just told to pay a fine she claims she can’t afford.
The most bizarre twist? In recent years, she was spotted deeply involved with the Oromo community in Melbourne, even claiming she had been "adopted" by them. It’s a pattern of seeking out new identities and vulnerable communities to embed herself in.
Lessons from the Wellness Grift
The story of Belle Gibson Milla isn't just about one liar; it's about a culture that wanted to believe her. We love a miracle. We love the idea that a green smoothie can do what a radiologist can't.
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How to spot the next Belle
- Vague medical terminology: If they can't name their doctors or the specific clinic where they were treated, be wary.
- The "Cure-All" promise: Cancer is a hundred different diseases. If someone claims one diet cured five different types of Stage 4 cancer, run.
- Financial opacity: Legitimate influencers who fundraise for charity will provide receipts or "remittance" advice. Belle just gave excuses.
The tragic reality is that while the character Milla represents those who were truly desperate for a cure, the real Belle represents the dark side of the attention economy.
If you want to protect yourself or your loved ones from falling for similar "wellness" scams, the best step is to always verify medical claims through peer-reviewed sources like the Mayo Clinic or Cancer Council. Don't let a "true-ish" story on social media replace the advice of an oncologist. If you're curious about the legalities, you can read the full 2017 Federal Court judgment (Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v Gibson) which lays out every single lie in clinical, cold detail. It’s much less glamorous than the TV show, but it’s the truth.