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Birth
Future Supermodel Crystal Renn is born in Miami, Florida to mother Lana. During Renn's infancy, Lana [mother] would leave her daughter in her grandmother's care due to flightly behavior from a drug addiction. -
Drastic Measures
After Renn was discovered by the scout, she went into overdrive trying to be something she was not. The next day, Renn says she "went home and bought Elle MAcpherson's Your Personal Best Workout exercise tape and did it five times in a row," (Ebsco). Starving herself and allowing only ice water and aspertame as a diet, Renn had lost 42% of her body mass by 2002 (Ebsco). -
Discovery
In 2000, Renn, a fourteen year old girl with 43 inch hips, was discovered by a model scout while out and about with her grandmother in the town where she lived. Promising the young girl a profitable career in the fashion industry after showing her images of supermodels he managed, the scout told Renn it would only work out if she could get her hips down to 34 inches (industry standard).
[Photograph: Stylelist] -
Drastic Measures Continued
Working out eight hours a day, Renn began the struggle of "staying thin". She joined two gyms as to not raise suspicions about her strange exercise and diet patterns, which consisted of "licking a lemon for a reward" (Ebsco). Throughout this time, Renn continued to get booked by clients, despite side effects of the disease. Hair fell out on set, her joints ached, and she was a "nasty shade of grey." At times, Renn was not able to speak, and described the experience as similar to death. -
Agency Complications
Despite Renn's conditions, her agency fought a battle to send her one and only guardian, her grandmother, back home. According to an agency claim, her "presence was impeding Crystal's progress," (Ebsco). During this time, Renn described her performance as a model as poor, for she was not able to connect with the camera in ways that models should. Her body was weak, and she was not able to perform correctly, and she was not booked for many high profile jobs.
[Photograph: Stylelist] -
Drastic Measures Continued
In 2002, with a new body and a new marketing plan for her newly developed image, Renn's disorder proved much worse. Upon arriving at the agency, she was deemed too thin, having 33 inch hips. Her agent lied on her model card, claiming her size was 34 inches, which provoked Renn to starve herself more, thinking she was doing a good job on her "diet."
[Photograph: Stylelist] -
Size Eight Beginnings
2003 proved to be a starting point for Renn, who introduced herself to the world as a new girl. Upon meeting with her agent, Renn claims to have "gone to lunch, and had salad with walnuts and salmon. I had olive oil with my balsamic. The voice was still there, saying those things will make you fat. But I had made up my mind," (Ebsco). This would prove to be the start of the best career choice Renn would ever make. -
Turning Point
Starting in 2003, a change ensued. At seventeen years old, Renn's body began to change. With every passing moment she gained weight regardless of her diet of lettuce and water. Her body began to change drastically, resulting in cruel comments such as, "She's huge!" from high profile casting directors and photographers. Shortly after these occurences, Renn reported to her agency, measuring out at a size eight (US), and was given an ultimatum, She was either to starve herself down, or go "plus." -
Beginnings
At the tail end of 2003, Renn met Gary Dakin, head of the Ford Models plus division, based in New York. Dakin, according to Renn, became her utmost supporter. Starting a week after her meeting with Dakin, she was "put in a model apartment where all I did for two months was order food," (Ebsco).
[Photograph: Women Management NY] -
Taking Flight
2005 was the turning point in Renn's career. With the help of her new agency, Ford Models, she made her debut as a plus size model and was finally able to "create the beautiful images she held in her mind," (Ebsco). In one year alone, she was shot by photographic legend Steven Meisel for both American and Italian Vogue(s), was featured in Vogue Paris, closing off the her success by walking the Jean Paul Gaultier runway show (a feat almost unheard of concering plus sized models). -
Dolce & Gabbana Bombshell
In 2006, Crystal booked what could be considered the turning point for plus sized models across the globe. Starring in the Dolce & Gabbana campaign, Renn did the impossible. Regardless of the voices of her past agency telling her that "a plus size model could never do magazine shoots", Renn broke the mould and set a new stage for curvy models everywhere. (Ford Models Blog, Photo) -
First Love
After falling in love with Greg Vrecenak, a teacher of unfortunate children, Renn was wed in the year of 2007. Renn was walked down the aisle by confidante and agent Gary Dakin and wore a "dress with butterfly wings," (Ebsco). Despite their lovely marriage, Renn and Vrecenak split due to his issues with her travels for work and disability to disassociate her personal and professional life. -
Mango Campaign
In 2007, Renn booked notable back-to-back campaigns for retailer Mango, in which she was featured wearing both big and small crayons, which made a rather big statement. She was featured in the ads among standard size models (34 inch hipped models), and there was no statement made regarding her larger size, which was a huge step and a rather unheard of one in the fashion industry. (Photo: Mango Archives) -
Hungry
In the summer of 2009, Renn released her book, Hungry, which profiled the hardships she faced in her early years in the fashion industry, her eating disorder, and an inside look at the all around industry. The cover art had two editions--one including her covering herself up in a grand black ball gown, and the other displaying her in a black, tuxedo jump suit-like gown, hunching forward, hands on her stomach. The media exploded, and was received with open arms from most sites and critics. -
Divorce
Mid-2009 Renn and husband announce their split under irreconcilable differences. -
Hungry Promotional Tour
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Jean Paul Gaultier Advertisement Campagin
In 2010, Renn was selected as one of three models to appear in the designer's ad campaign. She is featured alongside two standard size models, Emma Xie and Kelly Moreira, wearing a black trenchcoat-like one piece and sky high red heels with a head scarf. The campaign was photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin (models.com), and this campaign marked an era in which Renn was considered Gaultier's muse. -
Journalism Stint
In September 2010, Renn was given the honor of reporting on behalf of Glamour magazine for the autumn Fashion Week collections. -
Face of Jimmy Choo
In the summer of 2011, Renn was selected by the executives of Jimmy Choo as the new face of the luxury brand, which was considered a huge milestone for the model, -
Weight Loss Controversy
In the earlier part of 2012, Renn sparked a public outcry from civilians across the globe when she arrived at a notable New York City event, showing a close to size two figure. Fans of the model were outraged, and statements were made against the model, very publicly in fact. Editor-in-Chief of PLUS Model Magazine made a statement bashing Renn. "Everyone rallied around her and now she’s turned against us. She has betrayed us," (RadarOnline). -
Media Protests
Among the many people upset with Renn's weight loss, include magazines, photographers, and stylists. Doctor Jessica Aronson, who specializes in psychological and eating disorders, made a statement that may imply Renn has fallen into the fated relapse period, "It is common for people with eating disorders to have periods of relapse. This can be caused by numerous factors but most common are emotional issues," (RadarOnline).
(Photo: Women Management NY)
