Crystal Renn's New Book, Hungry, Story of a Plus-Size Model

by Scott Wu | August 26, 2009 at 10:05 am

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Crystal Renn's new book, titled "Hungry", is about to hit the shelves on September 8, which chronicles her intriguing journey in the world of modeling. Crystal Renn, now 23, calls herself a size 12 plus-size model, and her curvy figure is seen on the runway for Gaultier, in Vogue, and ads for Dolce & Gabbana. Like Lizzi Miller, she too launched a successful career as a plus size model.

When Crystal Renn was 14, she was told that she had to lose 9 inches off her hips to start a modeling career. She ended up going from 175 lbs to 95 lbs in 2 years. By the age of 16 she started working as a model in New York, and had to maintain a weight between 105 to 95 lbs for the whole time. However, she realized she couldn't do it anymore at 17. In a recent interview, she was asked what made her stop:

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.

Is fashion changing? or is it simply a topic instead of an enduring change in aesthetics? Renn is hopeful as she has seen many positive changes. She believes it's only a matter of time before plus-size becomes mainstream again, as it had been 100 years ago. Of course, by then it wouldn't be called "plus-size":

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.