Jennie Runk (born November 2, 1988) is an American plus-size model. She is best known for appearing in H&M's Summer 2013 beachwear campaign, which was featured on the front page of H&M's United States website in late April 2013.[4][5][6][7]
Jennie Runk | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1988 Georgia, United States |
| Occupation | Fashion model[3] |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[1] |
| Hair color | Light Brown |
| Eye color | Blue [1] |
| Agency | Jag Models,[2] Ford Models,[1] Mother Model Management (mother agency) |
Early life
Jennie Runk was born in Georgia and later moved to Chesterfield, Missouri. Runk became a Girl Scout at age 5.[8] As a teenager, she was involved with her high school drama program and worked as a Girl Scout leader. Her family rescued and fostered dogs.[9] She volunteered for the cat adoption center for Open Door Animal Sanctuary at Petsmart in Chesterfield, Missouri.[8]
Runk graduated from Parkway West High School in 2007. She graduated from Stephens College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing in 2011.[3]
Career
Runk was discovered in 2003 at 14 in a PetSmart in Chesterfield, Missouri by Mary Clarke of Mother Model Management while she was volunteering for the cat adoption department.[9][10] At the time, she was a size 8, in between straight size and plus-size modeling.[8] The Clarkes told her she needed to either lose weight or gain weight to model. She chose to gain between 10 and 20 lb (4.5 and 9.1 kg) to a size 10–12 to become a plus-size model.[8][10][11]
She has appeared on Good Morning America and was profiled by Cosmopolitan.[9]
She initially signed with New York agency Wilhelmina Models in March 2004.[12] She later switched to Ford Models.[8] Runk starting modeling full-time in 2011 after she moved to New York City.[8] Her first major editorial was Body Language in US Vogue's April 2005 Shape issue, which was photographed by Steven Meisel.[8]
In addition she appeared twice in Glamour, most notably (in November 2009) nude with six other plus-size models including Ashley Graham, Crystal Renn and Lizzie Miller.[13] Other editorials include Cosmo Girl in February 2006, Marie Claire in October 2007, and several Seventeen editorials.[3][10] Runk was also interviewed by Vogue Italia's Vogue Curvy.[3]
Her beachwear appearance in H&M's Summer 2013 campaign was featured on the front page of H&M's US website in late April 2013 and received extensive media coverage and spread rapidly through blogs and social media.[5][6][7][8] As a result of the coverage, Runk wrote an op-ed piece for BBC on size diversity in fashion and her experiences as a model in May 2013.[6]
Runk has modeled for many plus size retailers, including two Marina Rinaldi campaigns in 2012.[14][15] Jennie has also walked in several Elena Miro runway shows.
Personal life
Runk lives in New York City. She owns a one-eyed cat, Jasmine.[8]