H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight

Jennie Runk was volunteering at a PetSmart when the stunningly beautiful woman was spotted by a modeling agent. There was just one issue. The 13-year-old was a size 4. She either had to lose weight, the agent said, or gain weight, so she could be marketed as plus-size. Runk chose the latter.

Now 24 and wearing a size 12 or 14, she sent the Internet into seizures earlier this month when major clothing retailer H&M splashed a bikini-clad Runk on its homepage. She was the face, and body, of its beachwear campaign -- not plus-size beachwear, just beachwear -- thrusting Runk -- suddenly into the limelight as a body image cheerleader and everywoman advocate.