Hungryby Crystal Renn [Biography Renn]
At the age of 14, Crystal Renn, a regular teen attending school in Mississippi, was spotted by a modeling scout. She was told she could be a supermodel, but first, she would have to lose a little weight. Crystal lost 70 pounds in order to gain glamour, fame and a modeling contract with a competitive New York modeling agency. Crystal also gained a severe case of anorexia and exercise bulimia. As a straight sized model, Crystal was proud of her thin body and the fact that her hips measurements were smaller than the sample clothing she would be modeling. However, to Crystal's frustration, her new modeling career in new York city would did not take off and despite her 'heroin chic' frame, her photos did not inspire the fashion world. It may have been due to the vacant look in her eyes, her emaciated body or the fact that her hair was falling out. Crystal was starving herself and what few calories she did eat, she made herself exercised back off that same day. To Crystal's horror, as she became a year older, her body began to change and no matter how little she at and how much she exercised, her body refused to stay at a size zero. The more weight she gained the more she became manic about controlling what she ate (mostly plain lettuce), exercising to the point where she could barely walk and experimenting with diet drugs. She belonged to two gyms so that people would not raise eyebrows when she exercised for eight hours a day almost everyday. As her weight increased, Crystal's modeling agency was closely monitoring her size. The agency would call her in for test photos, then wince at the images and tell her 'the hips need to come down'. This was Crystal's wake up call. She decided to get healthy, nourish and heal her body. Crystal quit her current modeling agency and was immediately signed on with Ford Modeling Agency as a plus sized model. Once she became healthy and her weight settled at a size 12, her career took off. Crystal is the only plus-size model to appear on a Harper's Bazaar cover, and in four international Vogue editions. She has broken the stereotype of plus sized modeling, enjoyed lucrative contracts with many high-profile plus-size clothing manufacturers and has also appeared on the runway for top couture fashion designers. Crystal Renn paved the way for Plus sized models. In her biography, Crystal describes her new found happiness and contentment and success as a plus sized model which is apparent when comparing her straight sized modeling photos with her more recent photos in the biography. At times, Crystal's self-image waivers more than once between a very poor self-image to almost egotistical which may give some insight into why she was prone to such a severe eating disorder. The book also discusses America?s obsession with weight, how the modeling industry is slowly changing its view on ultra skinny, unhealthy models as well as how some areas of the fashion industry are still refusing to see anything other than a size zero as beautiful. This would be a great book for anyone who is interested in the behind the scenes working of the cutthroat fashion and modeling industry or has ever struggled with a weight problem and body image. By the end of this biography, you will be pulling for Crystal Renn to find herself, fulfill her dream and her place as a successful model in the fashion industry. [If you like this, you may also enjoy
Alek: From the Streets of Sudan to the Runways of Milan and New York By Alek Wek or
Secrets of the Model Dorm by Amanda Kerlin]
-- recommended by Jessica H. - Walt Branch Library
[ Wikipedia page for Crystal Renn ]
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