Crystal Renn

Crystal Renn is an American model and author born on June 18, 1986. She is widely recognized for her work in the fashion industry, including her career as both a high-fashion and plus-size model, as well as her published writing detailing her experiences with body transformations within the profession.

Her modeling career began at the age of 14 after she was discovered by a professional talent scout in her hometown of Clinton, Mississippi. Upon entering the industry, she was told she needed to lose nearly a third of her body weight. Following years of struggling with anorexia nervosa, Renn re-evaluated her diet and exercise routine. She gained 70 pounds (32 kg) and returned to modeling as a U.S. size 12, after which her agents re-marketed her as a plus-size model. In late 2010, she reported losing weight through yoga and hiking, which brought her dress size to a U.S. size 8.

Throughout her career, Renn has worked extensively with prominent fashion photographers such as Ruvén Afanador and Steven Meisel. She secured lucrative contracts with major plus-size apparel brands, including Lane Bryant, Evans, and Torrid. In 2007, she appeared in notable back-to-back campaigns for the Spanish retailer Mango, wearing standard-sized clothing alongside smaller models without explicit notation of her larger size. In 2011, she became the face of the spring/summer campaign for Jimmy Choo and the spring/summer MR Denim Collection by Marina Rinaldi.

Renn has walked the runway for numerous major designers and fashion houses, including Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Zac Posen, Shiatzy Chen, Vena Cava, Heatherette, and Elena Miro. Her advertising campaign credits include Philipp Plein, Dolce & Gabbana, DSquared², Mango, Liz Claiborne, Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, and H&M. Additionally, she appeared in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Her editorial credits span international editions of high-profile magazines, including American, Australian, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Latin American, and Teen Vogue. She has also been featured in Italian Elle, Russian, Australian, and American Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, V, i-D, and Vanity Fair. During New York Fashion Week in 2010, she reported on the fall collections for Glamour.

In addition to modeling, Renn co-authored the book Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves alongside Marjorie Ingall, which was released on September 8, 2009. By 2012, her annual earnings reached the high six figures. On the personal side, she married Gregory Vrecenak in Manhattan in June 2007, but the marriage ended in mid-2009. She resides in Brooklyn, New York.