NJ's Infamous 'Tan Mom' Running For Senate In FL: Reports

BOCA RATON, FL — Patricia Krentcil, who became a media sensation and earned the nickname "Tan Mom" after she was accused more than a decade ago of taking her then-5-year-old daughter into a New Jersey tanning booth, is running for U.S. Senate in Florida, according to reports.

Krentcil, of Boca Raton, Florida, and formerly of Nutley, filed paperwork Monday to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Sen Rick Scott in 2024, according to a Federal Elections Commission filing obtained by NJ.com and first reported by TMZ.

"I want to use my power of fame, and personal struggles, to bring awareness of the need for equality and diversity, especially in a time when our nation is in such a crisis," Krentcil wrote on her campaign website.

Krentcil's announcement comes nearly a decade after being charged with child endangerment after her young daughter was burned in a tanning salon. New Jersey law prohibits children under 14 from entering a tanning booth.

Krentcil later pleaded not guilty and an Essex County grand jury declined to indict her.

Since then, Krentcil went on to film a docuseries called "Tan to 10," which followed her family after the death of her husband. She also appeared on "The Howard Stern Show" and recorded a single called "Glossy," according to Entertainment Weekly. She moved to Florida in 2018 and was hospitalized in 2019 with pneumonia.

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According to her campaign website, if elected, Krentcil aims to be "a champion for those who are underserved and underheard."

"Patricia went out in the streets of Florida and came face to face with the heartbreaking issues affecting so many here," her campaign website reads. "From the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, equality, diversity, and beyond, Patricia is a champion for those who are underserved, and underheard. As a lover of the outdoors — and yes she advocates for using a high SPF these days — she also is (a) champion for the environment."