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Plus Size Model Crystal Renn Takes On The Critics

07/22/2010 at 02:30 PM ET

Brian Zak/Sipa

Crystal Renn was returning from a photoshoot in Paris for French Vogue earlier this month when she got some troubling news. Retouched photos of the plus size model, who famously overcame anorexia and exercise bulimia 7 years ago before rising to the top of her profession, had been released showing the size 10 beauty looking shockingly thin. “You want to laugh because you know it’s not you, but then you realize everyone out there seeing these images thinks it is,” Renn tells PEOPLE. “I was obviously upset and concerned. I don’t want some girl who’s recovering from anorexia to see the picture and think I don’t think that you can be any size and be beautiful. That’s completely not what I’m about.” But Renn, 24, is the first to admit that she is slimmer now than when she first relaunched her career as a plus size model at 5’9” and 175 lbs. “Over the years I had made my way down to 165 lbs. and a size 12,” says Renn, who has walked the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel and booked campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana. In the last year, she slimmed down to 150 lbs. and a size 10 when she finally began exercising again after 7 years during which she avoided all workouts. But discovering “fun” activities like hiking and yoga helped her take a more balanced approach to fitness in the past year, she says. “I used to workout obsessively for 8 hours a day,” she admits. “Now, I want to do something fun that’s good for my body.” For more information on Crystal Renn’s body controversy, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on stands now. –Charlotte Triggs

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Plus-Size Model ‘Shocked’ by Altered Pics - AOL News | Fashionista 365 on

[...] (blog)Plus-size model 'shocked' at being made to look thinnerOne News Pagemsnbc.com -People Magazine -Styleiteall 10 news articles » AKPC_IDS += "35638,";Popularity: unranked [...]

Jon on

You go girl, you tell them!

Boricua on

She is not that pretty but she has a beautiful body.

AMy on

Seriously??????? SHE IS NOT A PLUS SIZE MODEL!!! WTF IS THIS WORLD COMING TO???? I THINK SOMEONE AT PEOPLE MAGAZINE NEEDS TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE.

debbie on

Beautiful and Healthy looking! Good for her, wish her the best and be true to you sweetie! BUT a 10 is NOT plus size, that is just sick!

Amanda Johnigan on

This is a realistic depiction of what an American woman is suppose to be like and actually the reality. There are not too many women out there that are a size 00. That is just NOT real. Why can we not get over the fact that this woman is PERFECT just the way she is and healthy. It unnerves me that people actually think women are beautiful at a size anorexic! Get real advertising and start with this lady. I bet you would sell more clothes!

I want to see more women a size 10 (or even greater) in advertising. I know they are out there but they are considered FAT! That is far from the truth.

Marian on

Hmmmmm….they call a size 10 Plus Size because it IS. This country has a severe obesity problem. I do not condone harassing or mocking anyone because of their size but let’s call it what it is people. We are raising the first generation of American children that will not out live their parents due to WEIGHT and the complications that come with it. And, before anyone accuses me of not relating or not understanding, oh yes I DO. I used to be obese. All it took was me taking a long hard look at myself and realizing I was eating to comfort myself. Very few people have a “glandular conditon”. If someone as weak as me could lose a hundred pounds over the course of a year I think others can too.

kitkat111 on

Yes, idiots. A size 10 is plus! But I guess in a country where obesity is a FAR greater health issue than anorexia, all of you fat asses will cry foul and keep my insurance premiums high, with your diabetes, heart diseases, hip and knee replacements, back problems etc. blaming your weight on “glandual problems” versus eating healthy and exercising.

tinkrbel on

It is outrageous that she is considered a plus model but then again my doctor told me that I should weight 100lbs with a completely straight face. I’m 5’1 or 2?! I’ll accept I was overweight at 165 but I have not weighed 100lbs since before puberty. It doesn’t help anyone to try and meet ridiculous demands.

Janielle on

she’s a plus size model??? Holy Moly that makes me a whale!! Her thighs don’t even touch!! and I can see her hip bone! Seriously, what is the world coming to!?! In my personal opinion…all “models” should look like this…meat on their bones…identifiable muscle structure! She looks healthy and alive…instead of what we normally see on the runway…gaunt, starved and moody! Maybe if they had some fries they’d smile!

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