There is a lot of attention on self-image right now. What is it? What should it be? I talk about it a lot, because for the most part.. I'm pretty comfortable with mine. However, a lot of people aren't, so I've brought in a few people to inspire us all. Today, we will start with someone I've known for a while...
I spend a lot of time reading articles trying to find what people are interested in… what inspires them. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across an article on the
Huffington Post - “11 Body Image Heroes of 2013”. Right above the incredible
Jennifer Lawrence, who came in at number two, was plus-sized (normal-sized)
model Jennie Runk, who I actually attended college with at Stephens. Some of
you might remember the 5’10, size 10-14 bombshell as the first plus-sized model
to be featured in H&M’s swimwear catalogue in 2013.
I had to reach out to her. I had to know how this beautiful,
confident woman manages to maintain her healthy body image views in the media
and fashion industry. Some of her answers will surprise you. In fact, they have
changed the way that I even see myself…
Tennessee Martin: How did you get into modeling? What made you
decided to pursue it as a full time career?
Jennie Runk: I was discovered when I was 13, at Petsmart in
Chesterfield, MO, while raising money for the Open Door Animal Sanctuary. Mary
Clarke, from Mother Model Management, met my mother there and set up a meeting.
When my mom told me a modeling agency was interested in me, I told her I wasn’t
interested. I think my exact words were, “Mom, I’m so much more than a face and
a body, why would I ever want to model? That’s so superficial.” I was pretty
active in my high school’s theater department however, so when my mom mentioned
that a career in modeling could lead to an acting career, I reluctantly agreed
to give it a shot. I stuck with it when I learned that it’s not as superficial
as I assumed - most of the people I’ve met throughout my career are really
interesting and down-to-earth people. Also, as it turns out, I was pretty good
at it.
TM: When did weight/size first become an "issue" in modeling
or life?
JR: For me, personally, it was never an issue. I’ve fluctuated
between a size 10 to 14 a few times in the past 10 years, and no matter what
size I was currently at, I loved it. There are certain things I love about
being a size 10, and certain things I love about being a size 14. If I woke
up tomorrow and was suddenly a size 2, I’d love that. If I woke
up tomorrow and was a size 22, I’d love that too. It’s about
perspective. Instead of thinking “my butt is too big,” think “this booty is the
best booty because it’s so big.” Since I’ve been a plus size model from the
beginning, my size has never been an issue for work. I don’t let the word
“plus” mean anything negative. To me, it’s the same as calling me brunette or
tall. It makes no difference how other people label me. This is the body I come
in. I’m happy to be me, so if I’m labeled as plus sized, then I’m happy to be
plus sized
TM: What advice do you have for other women who are facing body issues?
JR: You are so much more than your body. You are a unique
individual person with her own thoughts, opinions, traits, and passions. You
should never limit your sense of self to what you think other people might see
when they look at you. Think about your idea of the perfect person, someone you
would want to be friends with or fall in love with. Create a person in your
mind that you aspire to be like, and then work towards becoming that person.
Don’t ever let anyone else tell you who that person should look like, don’t let
any outside source define beauty or perfection for you. That’s for you, and
only you, to decide.
TM: What do you think makes a woman beautiful?
JR: To me, real beauty comes from the effect a woman can have
on a room. Being captivating isn’t about glossy hair or a certain waist size,
it means you can literally captivate someone by what you have to say and how sincerely
you say it. It’s about being open, inviting, and friendly to anyone you
converse with. It’s about having a passion, and being able to fiercely defend
why you’re passionate about it. It’s about being sincere when you tell someone
it was nice to meet them. There is a substantial amount of beauty is in an
uninhibited smile.
TM: The fashion industry is a lot like the entertainment industry.
There are a lot of smoke and mirrors involved with making women and men appear
flawless. How do we remind young women that these expectations aren't
realistic?
JR: I was a girl scout co-leader the year I was in Vogue, Seventeen,
and CosmoGirl magazines. I brought these magazines into a meeting with my troop
and asked the girls to point out all the differences they saw between the
images in the magazines, and the girl they saw standing right in front of them.
They pointed out that I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, not expensive designer
gowns or clothes. They also noticed that my hair was up in a bun, rather than
styled, and that I wasn’t wearing any makeup. Overall, they said I looked more
like a real person outside of the images, than in them. This is also why I post
pictures to my facebook and instagram of me, just living my life like a normal
person. I want my fans, especially young girls and teenagers, to know that I
don’t always look like what I do in magazines or catalogues. Creating an image
for a magazine or advertisement is just that, an image. It’s not supposed to
look like real life. It’s supposed to look like a heightened, more exciting
version of real life. I think the fashion and entertainment industries do this
for the same reason illustrators create cartoons for kids, and for the same
reason authors create novels. Real life can be hard, confusing, or even just
boring. Sometimes it’s nice to see a fantasy life - a different version of life
where everything is beautiful and anything is
possible.
TM: What is the most incredible thing you've experienced that you
were able to do because of your modeling career?
JR: Every year, I volunteer in the Mathews Dickey Boys and Girls
club Sheer Elegance show in St Louis. I do everything I can to sell tickets for
the show, because the money goes towards funding their program. The club really
does amazing things for kids in the area. They not only provide free sports
teams and clubs for kids to join, but they also offer free tutoring and homework
help. It’s a great way to keep kids from joining street gangs or doing drugs,
because they have so many constructive ways to keep them busy and help them
realize their full potential, all completely free. The more successful I get,
the more I’m able to give back to the community, and that’s what’s so
incredible about it. I wouldn’t be able to give back as much as I do if I
hadn’t had the kind of career I’ve had.
TM: You have beauty, and brains. If you were a political
leader during this time, what is the number one thing you would change?
JR: I would be proactive in putting a stop to bullying in schools.
Violence in adults is likely to have started in childhood, so why not go to the
source? Not only will kids be able to learn more in a safer environment, but
children with violent tendencies will learn early that there’s no place in a
productive society for that kind of behavior. I just read an article in Popular
Science that showed, statistically, how well healthy eating campaigns have
affected the obesity rate in kids, and how those kids are more likely to grow
into healthier adults because of this. It’s proven that having a positive
impact on a child’s physical health will help them grow into healthier adults,
so I think we should apply that to mental and emotional health as well. We are
more than our bodies, after all.
TM: You have a beautiful figure. How do you maintain a weight where
you are comfortable? Do you have a specific "life routine"?
(Nutrition/Workout/etc.)
JR: I’m a vegetarian, which helps me maintain healthy eating habits.
I need to make sure I get protein and iron from things like beans and
vegetables. I don’t beat myself up for indulging in Baked by Melissa cupcakes
when I’ve had a long day, or getting cheese fries from Steak n Shake when I go
home to Missouri. I only eat when I’m hungry, then when I’m not hungry anymore,
I stop. I can tell when my body isn’t happy with what I’m putting into it. When
I’m not getting enough iron or protein or vitamins, I get tired and moody, so I
act accordingly. If I’m feeling moody, I’ll get a protein salad or some fruit,
then I’ll feel better. I walk a lot in New York City, sometimes a few miles a
day, and I’m pretty active when I’m shooting, so I don’t worry about hitting
the gym. I’m not really a gym person, to be honest. I hate sweating. I love
swimming however, I’ll jump at any chance to get active in the water. You can’t
tell you’re sweating when you’re in the pool!
TM: What do you hope to leave behind on this earth as your legacy?
JR: I want to keep communication going about the way women
treat each other and the negative effect this can have on society. I think
that, if enough people are aware of this and talking about it, then we’ll
finally stop fighting this pointless war on our own bodies. It’s a waste of
energy we’d be better off using on other, more important things. It’s silly to
be fighting each other when we still live in a world where women have yet to
earn the same wages for the same amount of work as their male coworkers. Think
of all the amazing things women can accomplish if we take the passion we use
towards attacking any body type that’s not our own, and apply it to something
that really matters. In the end, the question of which bodies are better is not
only pointless, but also embarrassingly unimportant. They’re just bodies, we
all have one, and they should be as diverse as our thoughts and personalities
are. If when I die, people are a little nicer to each other because of
something I’ve said or done, then I’ll be happy with the life I’ve led.
TN: Are you happy with the way your life has turned out? What has truly contributed most to your happiness? What would you change?
JR: I wake up most days in stunned disbelief of how well my
life has turned out. It’s almost like I went to sleep as an awkward 13 year old
and woke up in my mid-twenties with an apartment in Manhattan, a degree, an
awesome career, a great book collection, and the coolest cat in the world. For
most of the past decade, I’ve been so focused on finishing school so I could
move to New York and really work on my career that I hadn’t really thought
about what I’d do once I got here. All that focus and dedication paid off, but
it made those years seem to fly past like a second. If I could change anything,
I would have told myself to really slow down once in a while to appreciate the
process. Although, if I were to say something like that to my teenage self, my
teenage self would have replied, “um, move out of my way, I’m working on stuff,
ugh adults are so weird.”
TM: Any advice to those who are hesitant to pursue their dreams, regardless of the reason?
JR: Go for it. Even if you fail, you’ll always know you had the
courage to try. That courage, and knowing you have it, is inspiring.
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