Plus-Size Model: Anorexia Felt Like 'the Flu Times 10'

In her teens, Crystal Renn punished herself relentlessly in pursuit of her dream of becoming a model. After years of self-inflicted hell, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Renn has found success by being herself—she is now the world's highest-paid plus-size model. Time chats with her:

• On her introduction to modeling: "One day a scout came up to me and said 'Oh my gosh, you're going to be the next supermodel.' I didn't even know what that meant. He pulled out a picture of Gisele and said, 'This is who you can be.' But he said I had to lose nine inches off my hips."

• On life as a size 0: "I would go to 10 castings followed by a trip to the gym for three to four hours and sometimes even up to eight hours. I would eat lettuce and vegetables all day long, but I would think about food all of the time. I would wake up sometimes feeling like I had the flu times 10.
• On losing her eating disorder: "I remember making the decision to eat again. It was pretty amazing. My first meal was what many would regard as very healthy: a salad with salmon, walnuts and olive oil. At the time, I feared that I would gain 100 pounds with one bite."

To see the complete Q-and-A, click the link below.
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