Arizona Muse is one of fashion’s hottest models as the face of Estée Lauder fragrance Modern Muse and the star of a Louis Vuitton campaign with David Bowie.
But behind the scenes, sources say, the beauty’s private life is a mess, and Manuel Quintana, the estranged father of her young son, has had a breakdown over their trans-Atlantic custody battle.
Page Six recently reported Quintana accused beautiful Muse in a blog post of having “a major problem with alcohol, painkillers and amphetamines” and “[begging] me to rush to [New York] so I could care for my son full-time” after an alleged “breakdown” she had in September 2011.
Muse, 25, has since relocated to London, and a friend of Quintana’s told Page Six she’s now not responding to his pleas to see their son, Nikko, 4.
“It’s tearing him apart,” said a source. “He’s devastated. He’s been calling Arizona and not getting any calls back. He is really concerned.”
In a short film for Modern Muse, the gorgeous model’s shown in London and New York, as well as at a family home in the Berkshires with adorable Nikko. “When Manuel saw that video, he hadn’t even known Nikko was in America,” a friend said.
Quintana claimed he cared for their son while she built her career and enjoyed the high life.
But now, “he feels his son is living with nannies because she travels for weeks,” a friend said. “He was taking care of Nikko for years, and now feels that he can’t do anything to see him.”
Concerned friends said Quintana’s currently at Promises in Malibu receiving treatment for depression and anxiety. “He’s had a meltdown and is incapable of functioning, he’s so depressed,” said a source.
Quintana admitted on his blog last year that Muse was “taking care of my expenses” until they fell out, adding, “A lot of you . . . consider me a slime ball . . . for airing our ‘dirty laundry.’ ”
He’s posted a picture of Nikko on Facebook with the words: “I wish you could come visit me, take me by the hand, and tell me that everything is alright [sic].” Muse’s rep declined to comment.