Plus Model Jennie Runk Talks About The Industry, Body Image And Dieting With Elle Magazine
Plus model Jennie Runk recently talked to Elle Magazine in an interview where she discussed dieting, how she became a plus model, body image and more.
The 25-yr old model, who is signed to Ford Models, was the first plus size model to be featured in a swimwear campaign for retailer H&M last year and has worked with Italian plus size brand Marina Rinaldi as well as walked in a few runway shows for Elena Miro.
She has been outspoken about her views on size diversity in the fashion industry. She is on the smaller side of the plus modeling range at a size 12, which has made some say that she is not “plus size”. However, her stance on body image and willingness to speak up on these important topics has gained her many fans.
In her Elle interview, Jennie tells writer Marisa Meltzer that she doesn’t own a scale – that measurements are what clients care about. She also brings to light an important fact of how inconsistent clothes sizing truly is, when asked if she truly wears plus sizes:
“Every brand sizes differently; it’s hard to discern what size you are. I have things from a size 10 to a 14, some 8s and a 16. If I were in a store, I would pick up a 12 to a 14.”
Jennie tells Elle that she doesn’t obsess over her eating habits and tries to eat healthy overall, saying “The only person you can really rely on is yourself to teach you to eat healthy.” She admits to indulging once in a while, saying “Healthy people are happy people.”
Jennie also shares her thoughts on body image:
“The biggest thing for women to keep in mind is you can’t ever let someone define beauty for you. Look in the mirror and say that this is my definition of perfection.”
To get an idea of how strongly Jennie feels about body image and how it is portrayed in the media and industry…Elle made a mention of a statement Jennie made on her Facebook page talking to an episode on the TV show South Park about photoshopping, accompanied by the image below:
“Women – we need to stop fighting each other. We are who we are, and we are supposed to look different. We should not all look like slightly different versions of ‘the perfect girl’. We are supposed to be different shapes, sizes, colors, etc. We should be embracing these differences, not trying to airbrush them out. Let’s get real. Images in the media are a fantasy – like a movie or novel, they depict a glamorized, FICTIONAL, version of life. To prove my point, here is a picture of me as I am right now, catching up on my DVR. Fresh out of the shower with no makeup and totally unstyled hair, this is the real me. Know there is a difference between the real me, and the girl you see in my campaigns and catalogues, etc. Like characters in your favorite books or movies, we are based on real people, but in the end, those images are fictional. Please note the difference, and if you have children, explain it to them. This is important.”
To read the entire Elle Magazine interview with Jennie Runk, click here.
To connect with Jennie Runk on Facebook, click here.
What do you think of Jennie’s comments regarding body image? Please leave us a comment below and let us know what you think.