Patricia Krentcil became a viral sensation in 2012 after being charged with child endangerment. Many people know her better as “Tan Mom,” a nickname she earned because she was obsessed with tanning and spent time in the booth five days a week.
Eventually, the controversial condition known as tanorexia — where someone doesn’t recognize or accept how dark their skin has become — nearly cost Patricia her life. Today, she’s doing much better, though she still visits tanning salons.
Over the past decade, “Tan Mom” has been through a great deal. This is what she looks like now.
Being overly fixated on anything — whether it’s food, shopping, binge‑watching shows, or anything else — rarely leads to healthy habits. Some obsessions are more dangerous than others, but it’s important to recognize how any fixation can affect your life over time.
If you ever feel like something is starting to take over your life or overshadow other important responsibilities, it may be wise to talk to someone. Reach out to a friend or consider counseling.
Patricia Krentcil – ‘Tan Mom’
For Patricia Krentcil, her obsession brought her unexpected internet fame. She began tanning when she was young, and it quickly became a major part of her life.
In 2012, she became widely known after standing trial for allegedly taking her daughter to a tanning salon. She was never convicted, but her name spread everywhere.
Today, she approaches tanning more cautiously, though years of tanning have significantly impacted her appearance and her life.
Patricia’s tanning habit began at age 23. According to the owner of City Tropics tanning salon in Nutley, New Jersey, she visited about five times a week for up to 12 minutes per session. She paid $100 for an unlimited monthly plan.
“I’ve been tanning my whole life, going to the beach, tanning salons and so forth,” she said.
Credit: Instagram/realtanmom
But it wasn’t her tanning routine that first made her an internet sensation. In 2012, her face appeared everywhere for an entirely different reason.
Charged after bringing daughter tanning
In May 2012, Krentcil faced child endangerment charges. CBS New York reported that police accused her of placing her 6‑year‑old daughter in a stand‑up tanning booth, causing burns.
Patricia insisted it was all a misunderstanding and denied ever taking her daughter, Anna, into the booth.
“No, not at all, not at all, not whatsoever,” she said.
Still, Nutley police arrested her and charged her with child endangerment, claiming Anna had suffered a minor burn.
According to ABC, New Jersey law prohibited anyone under 14 from using a tanning facility. Teens older than 14 could go only with parental consent.
The controversy began when a school nurse asked Anna how she got burned, and the child replied, “I go tanning with mommy.” Patricia maintained that Anna had been burned while playing outside in their backyard.
“There’s not room… I would never permit it… It didn’t happen,” she said.
Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil YouTube/10syncro
“She’s 6 years old. Yes, she does go tanning with mommy, but not in the booth,” Patricia added. “The whole thing’s preposterous!”
This was when the media began calling her “Tan Mom.” The story went viral, and her face appeared on news broadcasts and in newspapers worldwide.
“They just don’t realize how much color they have”
The case also drew attention to tanorexia — a condition where someone becomes dependent on tanning and can’t recognize how dark they’ve become.
“When you look at this, this is somebody who has a problem which most likely has a condition called tanorexia, where they just don’t realize just how much color they have,” dermatologist Doris Day told ABC News.
“There’s really no excuse to take a young child to a tanning salon,” she added.
“We often consider going to a tanning salon the equivalent of smoking for the skin, and the younger you start, the more the effects build up.”
Health experts agreed Patricia’s case was extreme. Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner told the NY Daily News:
“In all my years of treating patients as a dermatologist, I have never encountered anything like this.”
Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil Instagram/realtanmom
“Going to a tanning salon 20 times a month, frankly, is insane, especially with all the public education on the dangers of tanning beds and skin cancers.”
He added that Patricia might suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, which can lead people to pursue repeated cosmetic procedures — including excessive tanning.
‘Tan Mom’ faced up to 10 years in prison
The Skin Care Foundation reports that indoor tanning users are four times more likely to develop melanoma. Sunbeds can emit 12 to 15 times more UV radiation than the sun.
Despite being released on $25,000 bail, Patricia faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
“She never went in,” Patricia said of her daughter. “It was beautiful out, and they went into the kiddie pool. She’s a redhead. She got sunburnt.”
She insisted tanning was her own harmless habit.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. Is there something wrong about getting your nails done or somebody who smokes too much or somebody who overeats?” she asked.
“If this was such a problem, why wasn’t this said years ago?”
Cleared of charges – moved to Florida
In February 2013, Patricia was cleared when a grand jury refused to indict her.
Still, mothers across the country criticized her parenting. Patricia fired back, calling them “fat and ugly.”
“There’s somebody out there for my whole life that doesn’t like me because they are jealous, fat, and they’re ugly,” she said, according to the Daily Mail.
“Look in the mirror and look at yourself instead of looking at me. I’m sorry I’m tan. I like to be tan. It just feels good. But I think these moms need to step off and step away.”
Her viral fame soon became overwhelming. Paparazzi followed her, and she was mocked by Kim Kardashian and on Saturday Night Live.
Eventually, it became too much. She began drinking, and the family moved to Tampa, Florida, for a fresh start.
Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil YouTube/World of Adam Barta
Her teenage children — Ashley, 18, Alec, 17, and Austin, 15 — were also “badgered at school” after the incident.
‘Tan Mom’ wanted to cash in on her fame
A year after the charges were dropped, Patricia decided she wanted to tell her own story.
She told In Touch magazine she planned to star in a movie about everything that had happened. With thousands in legal bills and her husband Rich out of work, she hoped to earn money from her notoriety.
She also wanted to launch a tanning lotion line called “Real Tan Mom Healthy Glow,” write a book, and said she had received modeling offers from New York, London, and Paris.
Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil Instagram/realtanmom
“It’s not even near being over,” she said of her time in the spotlight. “Everyone wants me. I have a lot of other opportunities, so I’m just trying to figure out where to move my family.”
A near‑death experience
In June 2019, Patricia nearly died.
Her friend Adam Barta told US Weekly she was in critical condition due to complications from pneumonia. Her family rushed to Florida to be with her.
“Currently, she is still on life support (via the intubator) and in a medically induced sleep until her heart and lungs are strong enough to function on their own,” Barta said.
“The fluid is draining from her lungs and she is improving today, but she is definitely not out of the woods.”
He added that doctors hoped to remove the ventilator within a few days if she continued improving.
Patricia had suffered cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with pneumonia, pancreatitis, and a lung infection.
Fortunately, she survived — and today she appears healthier and happier. Her Instagram photos show her smiling, though the effects of years of tanning remain visible.
Instagram/realtanmom
This is ‘Tan Mom’ today
In April 2021, she told the NY Post she no longer dwells on the tanning‑salon incident. Instead, she embraces her “Tan Mom” persona.
She also said she still tans twice a week in her own tanning bed.
“It doesn’t bother me anymore. It’s two separate people,” she explained.
“There’s Tan Mom, celebrity, and then there’s Patricia Marie, Mom.”
What do you think of this story? Should tanning salons remain legal, or should they be shut down entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments — and pass this article along to friends and family on Facebook.
