More Than a Decade Later, We’re Still Thinking About Crystal Renn’s SI Swim Debut in Australia

The model was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. for the 2012 magazine.

Crystal Renn was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Sydney/Cairns, Australia.Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

One-time SI Swimsuit model Crystal Renn was featured in the magazine in 2012, when she was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Sydney/Cairns, Australia.

Renn entered the industry in 2014 when she was professionally scouted in her hometown. She is the author of a memoir titled Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves, which details her experiences being told to lose weight and starting a career as a plus-size model.

“The truth is, in modeling we have a big, big, big middle ground that is not acknowledged. In the late eighties and early nineties, modeling at a ‘middle size’ was normal, but it has not been normal now for many years. Still, I have chosen to accept myself in this middle area. It is my happy medium. I am a woman, and changes are naturally going to happen. I cannot predict what my body will do next year,” she candidly told Glamour magazine. “Over the course of 12 years, I've basically had three modeling careers. A decade ago I was what the industry calls a "straight-size model"—and suffered from an eating disorder. Luckily I realized that I'd be a better woman and model if I could actually function on the job and not be starving or crazy. I saw an opportunity to model at a different size while I could recover from an awful thing, and I took it, becoming plus-size. That was my second career.”

Below are four of our favorite photos of Renn in Australia.

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Now through Nov. 1, 100% of SI Swimsuit’s portion of proceeds from cover prints purchased here will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund, which is helping to support the people and places of Maui affected by the recent wildfires.

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