You’ve probably heard of the gorgeous plus-sized model Crystal Renn. She’s been modeling since she was 14 years-old and has appeared on four international Vogue covers, walked down countless runways and has even written a memoir. Her memoir, entitled Hungry: A Young Model’s Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves, describes her battle with anorexia nervosa and the tough world of modeling.
After starving herself for years, Renn decided enough was enough and gained 70 lbs, going from a size 0 to a size 12. Since becoming a plus-sized model, Renn has been an advocate for an end to size discrimination in the modeling industry.
Renn’s efforts to change the fashion industry has been warmly received. Photographers and designers alike have embraced her womanly curves, allowing her to step out of the the box that is the size-zero.
However, it appears that Renn stepped out of one box and into another. The plus-sized box. Several weeks ago, the model walked down the runway for Karl Lagerfield’s Chanel show in St. Tropez. While still larger than the average model, it was obvious that she had lost some weight. People noticed, and began to complain, speculating that she may be relapsing into anorexia. Her agent assured everyone that she wasn’t actively pursuing any kind of weight loss. According to him, Renn “fluctuates between a size 10 and a 14″ and that the model’s traveling and active lifestyle contributed to her weight loss.
I don’t know about you, but I believe Crystal Renn lost the weight the healthy way. If you’re busy traveling the world and staying active, you’re going to lose weight. What bothers me more than her possibly-unhealthy-but-maybe-not weight loss is the fact that she’s been put in a box. Because she represents “bigger” girls everywhere, Crystal Renn is not allowed to lose weight and her “womanly curves” with it. Once again, the debate has shifted to size instead of health.
It seems to me that women who aren’t skinny don’t want to face the harshest criticism when they lose weight. Do you agree?
Crystal Renn at Chanel show, source: People
What do you think – do you think certain models are placed in a box according to size? Why do you think the transition between “boxes” causes a debate in the fashion industry?
hydrangea / 78 posts
To be honest, I’m having a hard time understanding what is happening with the ”box” issue. Hehe.
All I can say is that she’s a beautiful woman for knowing what SHE wants.
guest
She looks smaller than a size 10 on the last picture.
guest
She’s beautiful & I would rather see her than the skinny need to eat a sandwich type models.
daisy / 570 posts
oh my, her last picture … doesn’t look too flattering. something about her face …
but i’m actually in the middle of reading her book
orchid / 129 posts
Her face is so skeletal! It’s hard to believe she’s plus sized off of that face alone! It’s almost as if her face was photoshopped onto someone else’s body!
guest
i just don’t get it……….
they give gemma ward shit for being a size 6-8 in the chanel’s st tropez show but giving crystal renn shit for being too skinny to be plus-sized?
why do models just have to be stick skinny or really big…. how come there are no in-between?
guest
I think some people are just haters. You’re darned if you do, and darned if you don’t. You’d just be better off knowing who you are, what’s best for you, and knowing that what you’re doing is healthy. If you’ve adopted unhealthy habits, make the adjustment. It shouldn’t be about losing or not losing weight.
ranunculus / 3457 posts
On that last picture, she looks sick. Sunken cheeks… skeletal face… I understand why people think she’s relapsed into anorexia.
But whatever, she’s gorgeous anyway.
daffodil / 1607 posts
@sijink@xanga - yea seriously, she’s praised for being bigger than gemma, and gemma looks really healthy and curvier now
guest
@sparkletone1684@xanga - I agree!
guest
She is tall so a size 12 would even look thin I am short so a size 12 sill looks plus size
sunflower / 368 posts
She should be able to do whatever she wants…
guest
God she is hot! I wish I looked like that. Granted I don’t look bad (size 10 and happy but with stretch marks) And plus-sized isn’t until size 16 if you guys didn’t know. So she isn’t a plus sized model just a NORMAL sized one. Average size in the US and a few other places is size 12!
guest
i actually could care less.
everything’s just a fad.
things will change.
sunflower / 312 posts
My thoughts EXACTLY!
guest
Ok, she’s gorgeous no matter what size she is, and I also believe she lost it in a healthy way. Like you said, when you are more active and busy, you tend to lose weight. This whole idea of boxes is so annoying. Why can’t one just BE?
guest
she looks healthier. like she is at her set weight. she looks like she still has healthy womanly curves to me! :O
guest
why can’t models just be models without the “thin size” or “plus size” label? their size shouldn’t take away from what they are MODELS.
orchid / 153 posts
I think people need to stop idolizing a certain sized person as a “model.” A model is a representation of something to be mimicked or achieved. So why would we want to achieve a size 0 to 12 fluctuation? Why would we want to either stay on the heavier side, or starve ourselves until we’re frail? Why can’t we embrace the fact that metabolisms function differently for everyone, and that we are who we are, and what we look like does not define our worth?