Model Crystal Renn has always been an advocate for plus-size models and titled one as well. She’s posed for major magazines and big designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier and Chanel in addition to modeling in advertisement campaigns for plus-size retailers and an array of other brands. She’s been such a role model for plus-size girls and models and now is being criticized for her weight loss.
Weight has always been an issue for Crystal — previously, she has battled anorexia and more currently, feels pressure to maintain her plus-size m
odel title. In a recent interview, Crystal talks about the pressures and the labels/standards other people have created for her. She says her body has changed over the years, but what she stands for in regards to this issue has always been the same.
“I feel pressure from more than any place from the public and the media. By placing a title on my head — which is plus size — and then this picture from what people say plus size actually is, I’ve basically failed you with just that,” she says. “I would have to have another eating disorder to live up to that expectation. I had anorexia ultimately because someone else set the standards for me and I wanted to follow it. And if I followed what the public wanted from me or what the media wants from me, I would be doing the same thing — I would have a binge eating disorder.”
The important thing to realize Collegiettes™: Our bodies are constantly changing. Our weight fluctuates — we sometimes eat more depending on our stress levels and homework load, or we sometimes don’t exercise as much as we would like. Whatever your situation is, you should once and for all put an end to criticizing yourself in the mirror. Love your body, stay fit, and eat healthy. It starts with one girl at a time! Read the article Operation Beautiful: Power of a Post-it to learn more about one woman’s crusade to banish fat-talk.
“I think the most important thing we all need to know whether you’re a model, you’re a normal person walking around, you’re a photographer, an editor, or you’re anybody in the world, it’s about individual health. You cannot tell if someone is healthy from the outside because health is different for everybody at different sizes,” says Crystal.
Truthfully, Crystal shouldn’t feel pressured to be thin or maintain her “plus-size” status and image. Whatever is healthy for her body should be “accepted.” “Accepted” may even be the wrong word — who cares what other people think? Of course that’s easier said than done.
I’m a relatively small girl but boy do I nit-pick at my thighs — sometimes those American Eagle jeans just don’t fit. I look myself up and down in the mirror wondering why they are tight in some areas and loose in others. I’m a size five and I’m fine with that. As long as I eat healthy meals and set aside days to do some form of exercise (I walked 25 blocks the other day — that counts right?) I think I’ll be all set.
As for those out there who think Crystal should be careful not to lose weight so as not to lose her “plus-size” label — Crystal has reported that she is healthier now than she’s ever been before thanks to hiking and exercise. Just as everyone’s health, face, emotions, love life, and SAT scores are different — so are our bodies. We live on diversified college campuses, in diversified neighborhoods, and in a very diversified country and world, so let’s bring diversity to our models as well.