GirlsGuideTo | WTF? The “Tanning” Mom

If we couldn’t convince you yesterday to stay away from tanning beds or longs days at the beach sans sunscreen, maybe this will. It is never our intention to be “mean girls,” but this woman is scary. Disturbing even.

Patricia Krentcil from New Jersey is in the news because she’s charged with second-degree child endangerment for supposedly taking her daughter to a tanning bed where she was burned from exposure. She and the girl’s father say she was burned from outdoor sun exposure without sunscreen. State law prevents anyone under 14 entering a tanning booth, but Krentcil admitted she regularly takes her five-year-old into the room…meaning she’d still get some exposure…

She has said, “I tan, she doesn't tan," she says. Oh boy, does she tan. The owner of her salon said that Krentcil pays a flat fee of about $100 per month for unlimited tanning sessions, and that she tans about 20 times per month, roughly five days per week. The owner added that Krentcil does the maximum time of 12 minutes in a standup booth. And you know things are really bad when even Snooki is saying you’re crazy. Yes, SNOOKI.

So know that you know why she’s in the news, can we talk about her skin? The woman is 44 and she not only looks significantly older, but she just looks completely unattractive this way. There’s no way you can argue with me on this point. And I don’t even want to know her risk of cancer, it’s got to be scary high. What does her husband say? What is the image her little girl is growing up with? That crazy tanning is ok?!?

Our verdict: WTF? There are just so many things wrong with this situation.

What do you think? Does she look “tanorexic?” Do you think even taking the girl into the room is enough for her to get exposure (to the UV rays and a bad behavior)?