Crystal Renn
Encyclopedia
Crystal Renn is an American
fashion model and author
.
. Renn was told she would need to lose almost a third of her total body weight if she wanted to become a model. Later, after years of anorexia nervosa
, Renn reassessed her diet and exercise habits. After gaining 70 pounds (32 kg) and re-emerging as a U.S. size 12, she was re-marketed by her agents as a plus-size model
. Renn has authored a book, Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves, about her experiences in the fashion industry in relation to her several body type transformations.
On June 30, 2007, Renn married her longtime boyfriend Gregory Vrecenak at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan, New York. Fashion portraits of her wedding were taken by photographer Brian Boulos. In mid-2009 the couple ended their marriage. Renn currently resides in Brooklyn
, New York
.
In November 2010, Renn said she had lost weight through hiking and yoga, and that her dress size dropped to a US 8.
and being the only plus-size model to appear on a Harper's Bazaar cover and appearing in four international Vogue editions. Renn has enjoyed lucrative contracts with many high-profile plus-size clothing manufacturers such as Lane Bryant
, Evans
and Torrid
, and has also appeared on the runway for Vena Cava, Heatherette
, Elena Miro, and most notably for Jean-Paul Gaultier
in his Spring/Summer prêt-à-porter 2006 collection in Paris, garnering favorable and extensive media interest. Recently, she walked in the Chanel
Resort 2011 runway show. She recently appeared in the F/W 2010 Jean Paul Gautier campaign and has appeared in campaigns for H&M
, Chanel
, Dolce & Gabbana
, Saks Fifth Avenue
, Jean Paul Gautier, Jimmy Choo
, Barneys, Dsquared, and Nordstrom
. She has also appeared in editorials for American, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Latin American, and Teen Vogue
, Italian Elle
, Russian and American Harpers Bazaar, Glamour
, V
, i-D
and Vanity Fair
.
Renn is also notable for appearing in back-to-back campaigns in 2007 wearing big crayons and regular-sized (not specifically plus-size) clothing for Spanish retailer Mango
; her photos appearing amid those of smaller models and without notation regarding her larger size, a rare occurrence in conventional apparel advertising.
In 2011, Renn became the face of the spring/summer campaign for Jimmy Choo
and the spring/summer MR Denim Collection by Marina Rinaldi
, a plus-size jeans collection.
Renn's first book, Hungry, was co-authored by Marjorie Ingall and released on September 8, 2009. During an on-camera interview at an Australian industry function, Renn's agent Gary Dakin noted that her total income would now be "close to 7 figures".
Renn reported for Glamour
at New York Fashion Week
2010 on the fall collections.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion model and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Personal life
Renn started her modeling career in high fashion at the age of 14 after being spotted by a professional scout in her hometown in Clinton, MississippiClinton, Mississippi
Clinton is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. Situated in the Jackson metropolitan area, it is the tenth largest city in Mississippi. The population was 23,347 at the 2000 United States Census.-History:...
. Renn was told she would need to lose almost a third of her total body weight if she wanted to become a model. Later, after years of anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
, Renn reassessed her diet and exercise habits. After gaining 70 pounds (32 kg) and re-emerging as a U.S. size 12, she was re-marketed by her agents as a plus-size model
Plus-size model
Plus-size model is a term applied to a person who is engaged primarily in modeling plus-size clothing. Plus-size models also engaged in work that is not strictly related to selling large-sized clothing, e.g., stock photography and advertising photography for cosmetics, household and pharmaceutical...
. Renn has authored a book, Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves, about her experiences in the fashion industry in relation to her several body type transformations.
On June 30, 2007, Renn married her longtime boyfriend Gregory Vrecenak at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan, New York. Fashion portraits of her wedding were taken by photographer Brian Boulos. In mid-2009 the couple ended their marriage. Renn currently resides in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In November 2010, Renn said she had lost weight through hiking and yoga, and that her dress size dropped to a US 8.
Career
In addition to working repeatedly with notable fashion photographers Ruven Afanador and Steven MeiselSteven Meisel
Steven Meisel is an American photographer, who obtained popular acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex...
and being the only plus-size model to appear on a Harper's Bazaar cover and appearing in four international Vogue editions. Renn has enjoyed lucrative contracts with many high-profile plus-size clothing manufacturers such as Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant is a United States retail women's clothing store chain focusing on plus-size clothing. It began in the early 1900s with the innovative maternity designs created by Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin. -Beginning:...
, Evans
Evans (clothing retailer)
Evans is a women's clothing retailer located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. They have over 300 stores around the UK selling plus-size clothing, lingerie, wide fitting shoes, swimwear and accessories.- Timeline :...
and Torrid
Torrid
Torrid is an American retail chain owned by Hot Topic. The store offers plus sized apparel and accessories for women and teenage girls sizes 12 - 26. Torrid began operations in April 2001. The first location opened in the Brea Mall in Brea, California...
, and has also appeared on the runway for Vena Cava, Heatherette
Heatherette
Heatherette is a fashion company and design house run by and former Club Kid Richie Rich, located in New York City. Heatherette came out with a bang in 1999 when they began collaborating on t-shirts and leather goods as a hobby on their living room floor...
, Elena Miro, and most notably for Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier , born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French haute couture fashion designer. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash....
in his Spring/Summer prêt-à-porter 2006 collection in Paris, garnering favorable and extensive media interest. Recently, she walked in the Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
Resort 2011 runway show. She recently appeared in the F/W 2010 Jean Paul Gautier campaign and has appeared in campaigns for H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
, Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, Jean Paul Gautier, Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo
Dato' Jimmy Choo, OBE, born Choo Yeang Keat, is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes....
, Barneys, Dsquared, and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
. She has also appeared in editorials for American, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Latin American, and Teen Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Italian Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, Russian and American Harpers Bazaar, Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
, V
V (American magazine)
V magazine is an American fashion magazine published since 1999. The magazine is printed seasonally and highlights trends in fashion, film music and art. A men's fashion quarterly entitled VMAN started as an offshoot in 2003.-History:...
, i-D
I-D
i-D is a British magazine dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. i-D was founded by designer and former Vogue art director Terry Jones in 1980. The first issue was published in the form of a hand-stapled fanzine with text produced on a typewriter...
and Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
.
Renn is also notable for appearing in back-to-back campaigns in 2007 wearing big crayons and regular-sized (not specifically plus-size) clothing for Spanish retailer Mango
Mango (clothing)
Mango, stylized MANGO, is a clothing design and manufacturing company. Isak Andic is the president.Its goal is "to be present in every city" in the world...
; her photos appearing amid those of smaller models and without notation regarding her larger size, a rare occurrence in conventional apparel advertising.
In 2011, Renn became the face of the spring/summer campaign for Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo Ltd
Jimmy Choo is a British high fashion house specializing in luxury shoes, designer bags, and accessories. The company, J. Choo Limited, was founded in 1996 by couture shoe designer Jimmy Choo OBE and Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon OBE. In April 2001 Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. bought out...
and the spring/summer MR Denim Collection by Marina Rinaldi
Marina Rinaldi
Marina Rinaldi is a ready-to-wear, plus-size women's clothing brand of the Italian Max Mara Fashion Group, one of the best known of the company’s 35 different labels...
, a plus-size jeans collection.
Renn's first book, Hungry, was co-authored by Marjorie Ingall and released on September 8, 2009. During an on-camera interview at an Australian industry function, Renn's agent Gary Dakin noted that her total income would now be "close to 7 figures".
Renn reported for Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
at New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week
The semi-annual New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009, is held in February and September of each year in New York City. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world .-History:The first New York Fashion Week, then called Press Week, was the world's first...
2010 on the fall collections.
External links
- Australia photo shoot, May 2009 at Harper's BAZAAR
- Interview with Models
- Interview 2009 with The Guardian
- Articles by Crystal Renn at Glamour