Patricia Krentcil,Tanning Mom, Lashes Out At Critics

Posted: 05/03/2012 6:22 pm EDT Updated: 05/04/2012 12:01 pm EDT

The now-infamous "Tanning Mom" of New Jersey has a dark side to her public image that almost matches her extremely artificial suntanned complexion.

Patricia Krentcil, 44, has been fighting to clear her reputation since police accused her of child endangerment for allegedly bringing her 6-year-old daughter Anna inside a tanning booth.

She lost her cool on Wednesday when questioned by a TMZ reporter about the charges she exposed her kindergartener to potentially harmful ultraviolet rays.

"I'm a great mother and I would never do that to my child," Krentcil said while getting into a car.

She added a vague accusation that she has an arch rival lurking out there to make her look bad.

"There's somebody out there my whole life that doesn't like me," said Krentcil, "because they're jealous, they're fat and they're ugly."

To burnish her reputation, Krentcil appeared on national television to explain her side of the story. But many became bewildered by her skin tone which appeared practically charred during an interview on CBS. Critics said she might be tanorexic, or addicted to tanning.

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Tanning Mom, Patricia Krentcil

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Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." She brought her daughter, Anna, whom she allegedly took into a tanning booth in April. Krentcil denies the allegation.
Here's Tanning Mom with HuffPost Weird News editor Andy Campbell.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." She brought her daughter, Anna, whom she allegedly took into a tanning booth in April. Krentcil denies the allegation.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.
This photograph of Patricia Krentcil was released by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J. Krentcil, of Nutley, N.J., whose own skin is deeply bronze-colored from regular visits to a tanning salon, has been accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth in violation of state law. Krentcil entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday in Superior Court to a charge of child endangerment. (AP Photo/Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
Patricia Krentcil, 44, left, stands with her lawyer John Caruso during a court appearance on charges of child endangerment at the Essex County Superior Court, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J. Krentcil is accused of taking her 5-year-old child into a tanning booth. Krentcil tells The Associated Press her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day. New Jersey state law prohibits anyone under 14 from using tanning salons.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Patricia Krentcil, 44, waits to be arraigned at the Essex County Superior Court, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J., where she appeared on charges of endangering her 5-year-old child by taking her into a tanning salon. Krentcil tells The Associated Press her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day. New Jersey state law prohibits anyone under 14 from using tanning salons.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Patricia Krentcil, 44, center, walks out of Essex County Superior Court with her lawyer John Caruso, right, after court appearance on charges of child endangerment, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J. Krentcil is accused of taking her 5-year-old child into a tanning booth. Krentcil tells The Associated Press her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day. New Jersey state law prohibits anyone under 14 from using tanning salons.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Patricia Krentcil, 44, walks out of Essex County Superior Court after court appearance on charges of child endangerment, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J. Krentcil is accused of taking her 5-year-old child into a tanning booth. Krentcil tells The Associated Press her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day. New Jersey state law prohibits anyone under 14 from using tanning salons.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Reporters talk to Patricia Krentcil, 44, center right, as she walks out of Essex County Superior Court after court appearance on charges of child endangerment, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J. Krentcil is accused of taking her 5-year-old child into a tanning booth. Krentcil tells The Associated Press her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day. New Jersey state law prohibits anyone under 14 from using tanning salons.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Patricia Krentcil -- also known as Tanning Mom -- was in Westchester, NY on Friday, Sept. 21 to show off her better-looking skin and promote the book she allegedly swears by, "The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin." During the event, she told The Huffington Post exclusively that Mitt Romney's now infamous "tan" is fake.