WATCH: Crystal On That Retouched Photo Scandal

by Ruthie Friedlander | 12:17 pm, July 22nd, 2010

When photos circulated of a svelte looking Crystal Renn, the fashion blogosphere was decidedly flabbergasted. The face of plus size modeling looked as though she’d dropped no small amount of weight. Betrayed, angry, confused — these were some of our reactions to seeing the photos that were originally taken for a charity t-shirt company.

Upon hearing that the photos were simply a result of some serious manipulation by the photographer, we were relieved that Crystal, who famously battled anorexia and bulmia in her teens and early twenties, had not gone back to unhealthy ways from her past. Never one to shy away from difficult issues, Crystal spoke out against the photos, claiming that while she understands the need for a touch up here and there, “retouched photos like these send the wrong message to women.” She may have lost some weight due to a new exercise regime, but she swears she remains the same healthy size 10.

On The Today Show this morning, Crystal sat down with Meredith Vieira to talk about the photo scandal and the effect it had on her.

“When I first saw the pictures, I have to say, I was absolutely shocked. I think I sat in silence for a good five minutes, beacuse I knew nothing of the pictures. When I was looking at the computer screen that’s not what I saw. So I was aboslutely shocked and I don’t think it’s an accurate portrayal of my body in anyway. I mean, I’m a size ten, and that looks more like a size two.”

Crystal has no apprehensions about being pegged as plus size, but celebrates the freedom it permits her, both in her career and her life. And the support from an industry that many assume puts spotlight solely on the skinny has been unyielding. “People I keep running into for work [say] ‘Don’t you lose any weight!’ That’s Carine Roitfeld, Karl Lagerfeld, and Cindi Leive — it’s just great that you have these wonderful people supporting you.”

Watch the full clip below.

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