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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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Showing 170 comments

Elle on

Well, I don’t know about whether the size is overweight, but her picture looks healthy and beautiful. As a recovering anorexic, I am always so glad to see people who are healthy (exercise and eat well) but can love their bodies too. America, healthy does not equal size zero.

margarita on

SIZE 10 IS A PLUS SIZE??? SINCE WHEN??? I AM A SIZE 10 AND I DONT CONSIDER MYSELF A PLUS SIZE, OVER WEIGHT WOMAN…

Ann on

Since when was size 10 plus size? wtf?

Sundae on

A plus size is size 20W and up when you go shopping for clothes! I can’t believe they consider a size 10 a plus size. Wake up America!

kari on

Sorry, ladies but size 10 is a plus-size. Have you watched the news lately and read about the obesity epidemic. If you are 5’9″ you shouldn’t weigh 175 lb. and consider yourself at a healthy weight (unless you are a professional athlete packed with muscle). Being overweight doesn’t mean you are not beautiful, it doesn’t mean you are bad–it means you are overweight, and therefore a plus-size. Stop trying to make obesity seem like it should be the norm just because you are overweight. If everyone drank to excess everyday and so did you, it wouldn’t mean that SHOULD be the norm…it means you drink too much.

Lee on

The real problem is how shallow people have become. It’s not all about what you look like on the outside, folks. And for those of you who think this model (or some of the other women who have commented here mentioning their height/weight) are “fat” or not worthy because they don’t fit today’s “ideal”, take a good hard look at yourself and what your values are. And yes, we do have an obesity problem in the U.S. but being a size 10-14 does not qualify as such.

Kendra on

She is a model. It dosen’t matter what size you are what matters is that you care.

Yinka O on

Ahh AHH sister Odun when did size 12 become slim in Nigeria I am a 8/10 and I am still called orobo at 5’6

Courtney on

Okay.. we can stop calling her a “plus size” model. The main reason she’s NOT PLUS SIZED. I’m a bigger girl and sad to say I’ve noticed that alot of times now women and girls who are, about size 5 are pullng the “OMG I’m a BBW” card. When you’re not. You wanna be a BBW fine go out and eat and stop looking like you were rescued from a 3rd world country. BIG is beautiful and I’m sorry Crystal Renn but you just don’t cut it.

Lisa on

well there are several things being thrown around and some of them are just plain wrong. Yes, obesity is a problem here in the US, we love our food way too much. BUT that being said, a size 10 is hardly obese.

also, you need to consider PROPORTION when you talk about weight. 165 is a lot on a 5’2″ frame but not horrible on someone who is 5’9″!

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