Crystal Renn was born in 1986 in Florida, USA. She is now a successful plus size model based in New York. However, her journey has not been an easy one as chronicled in her new book which was released on the 8th September 2009 called Hungry. The book looks at her struggle with rigorous diet and exercise regimes to keep her at a size 0 (USA), as required by the fashion agencies. She soon became ill and had to make some major changes in her life. Renn now heralds plus-size as normal. “It’s every girl.”
Crystal Renn started her modeling career in high fashion at the age of 14 after being told to lose almost a third of her total body weight. This weight loss eventually triggered a health crisis, causing her to reassess her diet and exercise habits. After gaining 70 pounds (32 kg) and re-emerging as a U.S. size 12, she was re-marketed by her agents as a plus-size model, and now enjoys a highly successful career. “At 17 my body completely rebelled. I couldn’t loose more weight and I realized I was going to die for a job. The next day I was completely chastised by my agency for my size and one agent pulled me aside and said, “There’s an option for you. You can either go plus-size or do commercial work.” And I asked, “What’s plus-size modeling? I’ve never heard of that.” And she said, “Well it means you can be whatever size you want and model.” But she said it was for old women! But for whatever reason, everything made sense and I knew this was the route I had to take. I went and had a salad with salmon and walnuts and olive oil. I gave into what my body needed. I could be healthy and happy and still model.”
When Renns career was re launched as a plus size model some critics assumed this would mean that she would look like a “woman-mountain” , however, what they found was a confident healthy woman at size 16 (UK) and no bigger than any other woman in the street. It is only in the skewed world of fashion that her proportions count as ‘plus-size’.
We have definitely seen a move towards women desiring a curvier figure rather than a stick figure. Crystal believes we will see a positive change towards the plus size figure; “I believe it’ll change because fashion is always changing. A hundred years ago, heavier women were more ideal and now it’s a size 0. I think it’s a cycle and I think that women want to see themselves in the pictures — they want to see their size, color and height. I think if that happens, it’ll make women feel more empowered and they’ll love themselves more. In fashion, it starts with the sample sizes and I think designers are becoming more aware. But I think there have been many positive changes. I’ve done all of the Vogue’s and Dolce & Gabbana ads. It’s just a matter of time before it’s brought back to mainstream.”
Order your copy of Crystal Renns book Hungry by logging onto Amazon.
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