| Jennie Runk | |
| Birth Date: | 2 November 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Georgia, United States |
| Occupation: | Fashion model[1] |
| Height: | [2] |
| Haircolor: | Light Brown |
| Eyecolor: | Blue |
| Agency: | Jag Models,[3] Ford Models, Mother Model Management (mother agency) |
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 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. 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.[1]
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] 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 10and to a size 10–12 to become a plus-size model.[8] [9] [10]
She has appeared on Good Morning America and was profiled by Cosmopolitan.[11]
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 Vogues 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.[1] [9] Runk was also interviewed by Vogue Italias Vogue Curvy.[1]
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.
Runk lives in New York City. She owns a one-eyed cat, Jasmine.[8]