Kind of ironic, huh? A book called Hungry that I just ate right up as quickly as I could. But model Crystal Renn‘s autobiography is that good. Seriously, I could not put down Hungry: A Young Model’s Story of Appetite, Ambition, and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves for two days straight.

In her incredible memoir, written with former Sassy health editor Marjorie Ingall, Crystal shares how she was just a teen girl living with her grandmother in Clinton, Mississippi, when a modeling scout changed her life. The scout approached her at a charm school class and said Crystal could be just like Gisele Bundchen if she wanted to—meaning, she had to take off a lot of weight. Over the next several months, a 165-pound Crystal became anorexic, starving herself so she could drop 70 pounds and become a “straight-size” model.

Today’s New York Times Style section covers the rise and possible bail out of It Girl fashion model Agyness Deyn. Will she pursue acting? Singing? Will she leave modeling altogether? Well, you won’t get any straight (or even vaguely specific) answers from her, not even on the more benign questions. (It seems she’s gone to the Kelly Bensimon school of question answering—talk in circles about unrelated topics and hope the interviewer doesn’t notice!) But, as the NYT reporter suggests, does she actually have nothing going on upstairs, or is it just a way to fend off a line of questioning, remain elusive and thus intriguing to most everyone? You decide. Some Agy gems, after the jump!

Even though model Sara Ziff has walked for Chanel and Marc Jacobs and has been the face of Calvin Klein, Gap, Stella McCartney and Dolce & Gabbana, she strips the modeling industry of its glamour like she’s ripping off false eyelashes. Mentorship from Twiggy? Coddling from Miss Jay?

Actually, the life of a professional pretty face means fending off a scuzz-load of pervy photogs, according to Sara’s documentary “Picture Me” about the behind-the-scenes of modeling.

I woke one day and decided to be the artist’s model at the local art school instead of being one of the painters/sculptors as I usually am. Most artist’s models always looked a little spacey to me and uncomfortable, even unhappy to be the one standing nude in front of students. What I had not counted on was that the poses I was asked to hold would be more than my small body could bear. By the end of each short session, my body ached, and I was happy enough to step down from the dias and stretch. While I was posing, I had to keep very still and focus on something with my eyes to keep steady.

You read that right; Robert Pattinson is just too manly … for a modeling career, anyway. Not surprisingly, before he became the breakout heartthrob he is today, Robert started out as a child model at the tender age of 12. His pretty-boy look worked well for him until he turned 16 and became too “much of a guy.” He tells British magazine Closer, “When I first started I was quite tall and looked like a girl, so I got lots of jobs, because it was during that period where the androgynous look was cool. Then, I guess, I became too much of a guy, so I never got any more jobs. I had the most unsuccessful modeling career.” It’s hard to believe that with those luscious eyebrows, sallow cheeks and long, thick wavy hair, he would be accused of being too manly … or that he had a most unsuccessful modeling career. But that’s Robert for you, I guess—a regular “Paul Bunyan,” as New York jokingly referred to him. [NYMag]

Really MTV? Now, I know I can hardly knock ya too much—after all, The Hills is my vice—but when I read about an upcoming show called Model Makers, I knew maybe my favorite craptastic network had gone too far. Billed as a “Transformation Make-Over” reality show, Model Makers advertised for contestants with the following ad:

Have you always wanted to model but don’t know where to start? Maybe you don’t know the right people. Maybe you are not thin enough. Maybe you are not photogenic.  MODEL MAKERS will give you the ultimate make-over and transform you into the model of your dreams. Women come in all shapes and sizes, but models don’t. The term model conjures an image of stick-thin, towering beauties oozing confidence, glamour, poise and sexuality from every pore. ‘Skinny,’ ‘no body fat,’ and ‘size zero’ are the words and phrases associated with models. ‘Chubby,’ ‘well-fed,’ and ‘big-boned’ are not…

If you haven’t heard already, the July issue of Italian Vogue was unprecedented. All the models in it were black. Amidst the buzz that followed, the much-hyped “Black Issue” became such a popular success that distribution was increased by 40-percent, an amazing feat. Some (including me) saw the concept—race as an “issue”—as a gimmick, an attempt to shush critics who frequently point out how little page-time the fashion industry gives to anything other than white faces. But, without a doubt, the issue got people talking about the issues. Now, let’s hope their attention isn’t squandered.

Um, wow. I am kind of speechless. The New York Daily News reports that a new modeling show has come to town, this one called Britain’s Missing Top Model. The U.K. show features models with various disabilities, like missing limbs, partial paralysis, and hearing loss. The show wants to challenge society’s traditional notions of beauty, which sounds great to me, but I also know that none of these women are going to be bigger than a size four, so that’s a standard of beauty no one is really willing to face yet either. Anyway, Marie Claire U.K. editor Marie O’Riordan serves as a judge for Missing Top Model, and says, “I do believe the program could help challenge our attitudes to disability. I want to see the winner shake up the fashion industry. These young women shouldn’t be invisible to the fashion world just because they are disabled.” Can we just ask one question? What is the deal with the title? “Missing” Model? What does that mean? [The NY Daily News]

Oh no they didn’t! Karolina Kurkova, the Victoria’s Secret supermodel that Elle recently posted about in the forums, has been called fat by the Brazilian press. The smack talk started after a show in Sao Paulo, where Kurkova walked the runway with more meat on her bones than usual. And gasp, she has cellulite on her booty. Um, good for her! And for the record, we think she looks sexier than ever. [Fox News]

The Pussycats Private Adult Entertainment business in Albany, NY, has closed after being evicted from its space in a mini-strip mall. Apparently, on the portion of the lease where the leasee states what operations will take place on the property, the Pussycats’ owner wrote “in-store modeling for clients.” And actually, when you think about it, that’s what stripping is: women modeling clothes, however tiny, for whatever client happens to be seated in front of them. [Albany Democrat Herald]

For the record, Tyra is giving: the catalog smile, the commercial smile, and the smile without the eyes. [New York Times Magazine, 6/1/08 edition]

According to a press release sent to Jezebel, this tittilating New York Times Magazine interview will detail all 275 of TyTy’s modeling smiles “from ‘angry but still smiling’ to ‘flirting with boyfriend.’” Will there be a part two which details all 1,576 of Tyra’s smiling-with-her-eyes poses?

That’s Whitney from America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10—she’s the plus-size model in the final three in tonight’s season finale. I have no idea if this is Whitney before she was on the show or if it’s a recent picture, but girlfriend is significantly skinnier. I hope this is a picture from awhile ago and Whitney has since embraced her more natural, fuller figure. If this is recent and she’s lost as much as 20 pounds? Boo! Stupid diet industry… [Oh No They Didn’t!]

Did you hear? There’s an Angelina Jolie Sex Scandal brewing! In Touch dug up a bunch of “racy” photos from when she was 16 in which she models swimwear. Now, look, I get it that this kind of modeling, when you’re underage can be a little grody, but I’m pretty sure Angie lived in Europe back then and they’re way more tolerant of pre-teen sexuality there. Also, all of the bathing suits she sports are pretty heinous and not especially revealing, at least compared to today’s standards. Above is the video done during the shoot, in which Angelina’s pouty poses were apparently inspired by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch’s “Good Vibrations”! [DListed]