Dumped for a model half her age… the love of her life’s having a baby with Uma… Will it all spark another downward spiral?

In early January, Elle Macpherson told two of her closest girlfriends she was looking forward to 2012 because “I think Jeff and I will take that next step”. The supermodel, who turns 48 later this month, finally felt she’d found a man to put an end to her run of romantic bad luck – and she was dreaming her boyfriend of more than two years, Jeff Soffer, would soon propose.

But just weeks later, Elle’s dreams lie in tatters. Hotel tycoon Jeff has dumped her and has started seeing a 25-year-old Colombian bikini model. Elle has endured a chequered love life over the past 30 years, but her friends say this break-up is especially painful for her. “Jeff’s new girlfriend is 25 years old – Elle had been on the cover of every magazine going before this new girl was even born,” says a close friend. “Elle is old enough to be her mum. It’s ridiculous to think that Elle is being dumped for someone younger when she still looks so incredible herself.

“But even though this just proves Jeff is shallow and not the right guy for Elle, she has taken it really hard.” Elle’s closest friends and family are now keeping in very regular contact to make sure she doesn’t sink into the depression that led her to rehab back in 2003.

Nine years ago, Elle blamed spiralling depression and exhaustion for the breakdown that landed her in the Meadows clinic in Arizona – and her inner circle is determined to make sure she doesn’t hit rock-bottom again. “We all want things to turn around for Elle,” says her friend. “She is an incredible woman and doesn’t deserve this. We want her to be able to smile again and be happy.”

Read more about Elle's heartbreak and her rollercoaster romances in the past in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday March 12, 2012.