By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Tyra Banks may have dressed up like an obese woman --as an experiment for her daily talk show-- but the former 'Sports Illustrated' cover girl has taken umbrage to the notion that she is really "fat."
On the Feb. 1 edition of her eponymous, Emmy Award winning chatfest, Banks will confront the tabloids and gossip websites that ran unflattering photos of her in a bathing suit over the holidays with headlines blaring, "America's Next Top Waddle," "Tyra Porkchops," "Former Model Tyra Banks Reminds the World Why She is Now Retired from the Runway," and "Dude, Did Tyra Gain Like 50 Pounds Below the Neck?"
Always willing to go all out for her television viewers, the fashion icon --admitting to putting on some weight over the holidays -- stands in front of the televised studio audience in the exact same bathing suit next to a life-size cut-out of the tabloid photo to demonstrate how a simple shift in body position or a change in a camera angle can "add weight" in a photo creating the "money shot." She admits that in the photo "... the booty is a little thick," but shares with her audience how the tabloids are ridiculously obsessed with weight.
"Luckily, I'm strong enough and I have a good enough support system. . . My mama has helped me to be a strong woman so I can overcome these kinds of attacks, but if I had a lower self-esteem, I'd probably be starving myself right now. That's exactly what is happening to women all over this country," the former Victoria's Secret spokesperson said.
Banks adds, "I'm happy to be 20 or 30 pounds heavier than the average model and I felt like that was a positive image especially with what's going on now in society with models and women hating themselves and hating their bodies."
"So I have something to say to all of you who have something nasty to say to me or to other women that are built like me, women who sometimes or all the time look like this, women whose names you know, women whose you don't, women who've been picked on, women whose husbands put them down, women at work or girls at school, I have one thing to say to you: KISS MY FAT ASS!"
Alrightee then.
It is quite just that, too.
Comments: (49)
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By: janese on 2/03/2007 6:07AM
OMG!!!! I sooo agree with with LT on this one. I've actually met Trya in person and she is actually drop dead gorgeous- with or without the weight- and she's also really sweet. But homegirl is a walking contradiction- and she needs to get it together! She's actually perpetuating the same stereotypes that she's so desperately fighting against, and it's kinda disturbing to look at. "I'm not saying it's bad to look like that photo- but how dare you media imply that I look like that photo!!" Huh? What a train wreck-lol, but how much fun is it to watch a babe like that losing it on t.v.? More Tyra please!!
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By: Chelle Porter on 2/03/2007 3:39PM
I think Tyra is a beautiful young lady. No matter how much weight you gain love you for who you are. When you start getting on up in age the weight has a tendency to creep up on you. So exercise, eat right, and take good care of yourself. You are still beautiful inside and out.
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By: JoJo on 2/05/2007 10:19AM
Stay strong Tyra and forget about others who are player hating you!!!!!!
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By: TRINA on 2/16/2007 10:17PM
I think Tyra is great! The thing about her she's retired from modeling. Her weight is not an issue anymore. Its good gossip but just doesn't matter. Whatever she weights its her business she has 2 shows and still walking it out!!!!!!! And as for her doing it on her show if she does they're are models shes not. The industry is what it is.
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By: rodney on 2/17/2007 6:30PM
i would like to be the first male to actually say that, i would take Tyra, i mean the Tyra where all refering to if she were Fat or even Blind i would still make love to her endlessly.
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By: JimElla on 2/19/2007 7:26PM
Preach it girl we need a few more celebs to speak up for people that are not a size 2 because skinnier isnt always prettier women need to start being proud of their curves and you look just fine girl, no matter what u weigh now.
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By: olivia on 2/21/2007 7:43PM
Tyra is the bomb... She is hot at any size .. I think
she still has what it takes to model lingerie or swimsuits . She teaches women you can be beautiful at any size . I love you Tyra - You will always be my favorite role MODEL...
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By: Ray W. on 3/02/2007 2:35PM
Tyra; You are very pretty, and I guess I would be first in line to Kiss your cute ass; when are you available?
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By: Katherine on 2/21/2007 4:44PM
As for Tyra giving out CONSTRUCTIVE criticism to girls on America's Next Top Model, she does it because those girls are NOT the woman she is. She was stick thin for a long, long time before now. The girls being told to lose weight have not. If they want to be in the modeling industry and be that model they envision, they do need to lose weight. Tyra is still gorgeous as ever and has NOTHING to be ashamed of.
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By: Calvin on 2/21/2007 4:51PM
Tyra is still one of the sexiest women I have seen model or no model she is a 10.
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