People Features
Tyra Banks: Weight hypocrisy in America
By Stone Martindale Jan 30, 2007, 19:41 GMT
Tyra Banks - © Scott Alan / Photorazzi
Tyra Banks was recently under fire by Internet bloggers and tabloids for the cardinal sin of not being stick thin, yet daring to wear a bathing suit in public.
In a classic case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't," we have become a country that is visibly busting at the seams from horrific fast food choices.
Over a lifetime there are normal fluctuations of weight for all men and women, and it is especially women who bear the brunt of fat backlash and vitriol, causing too many to unnecessarily beat themselves up over nothing.
The end result is so many women of all ages either giving up and eating excessively, making terrible choices in food and eschewing regular exercise, or turning up with eating disorder diseases stemmed in self loathing and control issues over perceived appearance and self worth, and it's all wrong.
I am not talking about the morbidly obese. But we all know when we are heavier than we should be, and most of us deal with it and regulate ourselves after binges, holidays or inactivity.
We live in a country with a real weight crisis due to lack of time, laziness, poverty, ignorance, and a siren like industry of convenience and fast foods all too happy to entice you to buy their nutritionally empty products.
People stand in line daily at check out lines in supermarkets purchasing cheap, processed, inappropriate food items while gazing at unrealistic stick thin actresses and models on the cover of magazines, staring back at us while headlines spit out the same salvos on how to lose weight in weeks.
No one seems to cook healthy,fresh real food anymore, who has the time to cook a proper scratch meal when we are too busy on the couch watching Gordon Ramsay or Rachel Ray on television tell us how easy it is to do in our own kitchens?
The "Top Model" host Banks went on the offensive and appeared on CNN's Larry King and explained why she posed for People after gaining 30 pounds.
Tyra she felt she had could not be silent anymore and had to stand up to critics who say she got fat after photos and posted horribly unkind comments about her size appeared in tabloids and on the Internet.
"It was the negative comments," said Tyra, the tipping point as she revealed she has slowly 30 pounds from her peak model weight, and now weighs 161. She is also 5' 10."
Banks was savaged by headlines like "America's Next Top Waddle" and "Tyra Pork chop."
The retired model is 33 years old, and has taken a direct approach to dealing with the tabloid snipers. Tyra said, "To call that ugly -- so many young girls are looking at that -- I need to let them know that's not ugly. It was very important for me to be on the cover of People magazine and bare my body and say, 'I'm 161 pounds.'"
The solution can be as easy as refusing to purchase these women's magazines that hypocritically play on appearance fears.
Shop only the perimeters of any market, discover the delight of eating a piece of fresh fruit and look to alternative markets that feature whole and organic foods, try to step out of the usual patterns you have ingrained in your routines. But most of all, follow Tyra's lead, enjoy your life, relax and stop listening to the destructive weight chatter.
COMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Thank goodness, finally a true rolemoddle for the real women of the world. God bless you Tyra. You are even more beautiful than ever.
let me just start by saying i am skinny!!it feels weird to be ckinny. I want to be slim not stick skinny!I don't know why they want models to be so skinny like that!models represent us in a wierd way no matter what shape or size!I luv tyra cause she is not gonna let thet get to her!!
I agree with what Tyra says but she will use anything to get more publicity for herself. Her show seems to be based on confronting people that have attacked her or defending herself against criticism. The time Naomi was on for attempting to ruin T's career, the time she showed pics of her red hair and repeated criticism made of the style. She also uses the show to reenact her catwalk days. How many times is she going to build a catwalk and walk down it?? Take a few tips from Kate Moss and develop a bit of media-shyness!
I applaud Tyra Banks for fighting back. I think she looked great as a model and today looks great as a talk show host. To be 5'10' and weigh 160 pounds - I can think of many women who would love to be in her shoes! There is nothing unhealthy or fat looking about her. I hope she keeps this in the news so that more women will be comfortable in their own skin.
But you could keep in shape, so young people can see you to struggle with weight problems. Don't just blow up like a blow fish and expect no one to say anything!
The model/celebrity Tyra Banks should NOT feel the need to 'defend herself' for 'putting on a little weight.' It's upsetting that there's such weight hypocrisy in America, and I even admire her for having to go through all the tabloid nonsense!! Those authors who can't find any other topic to write about but her small increase in weight, they need to get a real job and shame on them!'
to hell with those who are there to destroy people just to make money into their pocket.tyra is the best for this generation after opra and she is the right person to educate girls as far as weight in concerned.I LOVE YOU TYRA.DONT MMIND THEM,THEY ARE JEALOUS
Tyraa's hypocrisy is amazing, but expected from someone so shallow (judging by her TV shows). After gaining great fame and fortune participating in an industry that objectifies women in general, and unnatural thinness in particular, she protests too loudly. If this 30~40 pounds is 'more natural' for her, and she is 'happier' at this weight (her words), then all those years she was unnatural and not as happy. What kind of role model is that (no pu intended. Young women who purge and eat dangerously and who have image and esteem issues were getting there standards from Tyra and those like her. It didn't seem to bother Tyra much then; why is she mother Theresa now. You can't bast the media for reporting on how bad you look when you yourself made your face and body objects. She made a great living having the tabloids, the press, and the public remark on how wonderful she looked while she was a model, this is just the flip side of it. get over yourself Tyra
I'm sure she is or will be back to being slim again regardless of what she says about being heavier is OK for her. She sounds like a hypocrite, and pictures of her or any other celebrity on a magazine cover is NOT the real person - they've been airbrushed to death!!! Too bad these young girls can't realize this!! I also saw her show where she had a discussion with Mariah Carey, I think, about 'farting' - dusgusting and not very entertaining. Maybe she should stick with modeling!
I just saw a preview on tv of her next talk show. She is screaming at her 'critics' looking like a witch........not because of her weight, but because of that awful, straight hair hanging limply around her face!!! I think she needs to hang it up, she can't stand criticism, and she should know by now that's part of her celebrity status. Like it or not, she chose to be there. I don't recall Rosie acting like a raving maniac after the Donald's awful descriptions of her.........
Tyra, you are a beautiful lady and a rolemoddle.keep doing what you are doing. GOD bless.
Thank God for strong women like you Tyra. They pick the right one to fight with because you fight back. I love you for your realness, your personality, entertainment you have provided for the public. I know you know better than me that haters will hate. The words of money mike if you only have 4 haters than you should be working on your 5th. Keep on shinning so haters can keep on hating.
Who Cares????? it is none of our business how she looks, she looks the same to me. jus let her do what she has been doing. leave her alone
The best thing to do is ignore these crazy celebrities' shows, magazines, music and quit wasting hard-earned money for them to build their gigantic homes, expensive cars, etc., while most people are slaving away just to make a living - they couldn't care less!!!!
Omg!! you people who wrote that stuff about tyra are stupid i repeat STUPID!! you guys dont have a life really, you just wait until someone is looking a way or doing something and post it in the magazines and blogs ext. But i just have to say that is beautiful she is like a big sister to me and i love her if she gained weight or how ever she looks because she is beautiful and she can do anything beacuse its her LIFE!! tyra i am so happy that you defendied your self on your televison show and if i was in the same place as you were i would have done the same!! I LUV YOU TYRA AND YOUR SOOO BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK!!!
To Sarah
To Sarah - sorry......I guess the rest of us aren't personal friends of Tyra's like you apparently are!! I don't care one way or another about her weight.
She is just too 'into' herself!!!!
well thats what you think and you know what i dont really care so keep your personal feelings and intrests to your self ok !
and maybe your too into your self!!
i agree with sarah and everything she said!! and the girl from the past that was how can i explain it um.... the girl who said to sarah that others arent as close to tyra as she is well shes wrong because you dont know the whole freging world and your just talking about yourself so think before you talk ok!!
Some of you people need to learn to spell before you start spouting off at others.......this is a comment site, and the rest of us are commenting on Tyra - get over it!!!!
Tyra is not only beatiful, she is also very funny and intelligent!!
ya popa rokie neeed to stop and leave Tyra Banks alone because ya trying to make her look fat by making lies about her but guess wat the same picture ya took of her in her bathing suit she she went on her show with the same one and prove to ya she only gained 40 pound. YOU GO TYRA SHOW THEM HOW A LIAR THEY ARE KEEP ON STEPING UP !!!!!!!!!
I think the people that publish horrible comments about her don't feel very good about themselves. To talk smack about this successfull and beautiful woman is insane. So what if she can't isn't stick thin? It's the woman inside that matters, and that's what the critics and America needs to learn, damn.
Three pages????
OMG! Who cares how much Tyra weighs? She would still be beautiful, and a GREAT role model for girls even if she was fat! I love Tyra and I watch her show every day! I hope every body seen her show on Thursday, when she shot back at the tabloids! All I have to say to her coment, is 'You go girl!' I seriosly think we need MORE models and actresses like her, who aren't conserned about their weight, but more concerned about what young girls who look up to them are thinking. Like I said 'You go Tyra girl!'
She's a looney.
AMEN. Thank god, Tyra Banks. I think that Tyra has come to the thought that no matter what size, we all should be comfortable in our own skin. What is the point of showing off stick figures when we all know that real women can't even try to fit those sizes? Tyra your a goddess!
I think that Tyra showing that it's not ugly to be 160 lbs is great. There is no reason you should have to be model skinny to feel beautiful, and her being a role model at a heavier wait is great! God Bless her! Seriously!
Well. Obviously, Tyra's made a living making girls feel bad.
Saying that what she's doing now is just to help make 'girls feel better about themselves' seems hypocritical, considering for her entire career she convinced girls that they HAVE to be stick thin by the disgusting, disturbing, near pornographic images on the front cover of magazines.
She can't say what she's doing now is gonna make a difference. At all.
What was weird was that they were photographing her with all of the other models for that show, or was it for a calendar? at Maroubra Beach in Sydney. We took the pix and wondered why she was in the mix with the other slim models? ego? vanity? before and after?
Either way she was a very nice person and signed autographs for a young local girl then the minders were all over the beach trying to stop people walking any where near! Even chasing people into the carpark and abusing them. Meanwhile thereal pictures were being taken with long lenses. There are more pictures! Koby Abberton , Paris Hilton and Tara Reids friend from Australia is a Maroubra boy and may have some inside info gossip?
I'm sorry...someone made a comment about her blowing up like a blowfish...? What kind of person are you? Watch her talk show she does not look fat at all. You people have the real problem saying such cruel things about people. Get some tact, and grow up. You should be healthy, yes but being 110 and what almost six feet tall...that not only does not look good as to what you people care about so much what you look like, but that is very unhealthy. I agree something should be done about obesity, but come on people get real. She is not obese and obese does not mean having a little bit of fat on you. Quit being ignorant.
I always had this idea: there is no sexy there is no perfect but what there is is theres unique. Tyra showed that. She is so great for doing that and if she is reading this, I say, you go girl!
Hey, Tyra looks amazing being 161 or not. She is an idol for women and young girls, showing them that they're beautiful no matter what they weigh. So lay off, guys. Tyra could be 500 pounds for all any one should care. She is an amazing woman and spokesperson for us all.
tyra is beautiful inside and out so all yall haterz just get off her pipe your number one fan tyra much love baby stay strong
Who agrees with me that there is no sexy there is no perfect but what there is is theres unique
Haha. Tyra Banks isn't publicity-shy because she need not be, unlike Kate Moss. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, look it up. Tyra's ways are just like any other woman. She makes small-talk just like everyone else, everyone human. She's no more shallow than your average woman and she is beautiful. And having formerly been a little round for my height back when I was 13, I know what it's like to be ridiculed for gaining a little bit of weight even though that was long ago. Someone needs to defend all these girls. Tabloids are retarded. Considering this is America, the man/woman/thing that called her 'Tyra Pork Chop' was probably a bit of a pot roast himself. Again with the hypocrisy. Tyra looks great for her age. Her weight is perfect for her height and she should continue what she's doing for her show. Don't like it? Don't watch it. It's that simple.
Tyra, just remember what I said, there is no sexy there is no perfect but what there is is theres unique
There is something sexy in almost every woman no matter what size.
P.S. Jennifer quit trying to make that 'is is theres unique' thing happen.
What if i dont want to? Actually my old friend gave that line to me. But yes, i think maybe there is a sexy. but people are sexy, as you said, in different sizes. i give my respects to tyra, but am also saying that being you and having a personality, and of course unique, plays the part in being sexy
Tyra your pretty,funny,and a n intellectual person.. don't leet the media get to you. i am skinny but i want to be slime....for me i have ppl tell me that i eat like a fat gurl but i don't care that's me and they have to get used to it.....
luv u alwayz tyra,
Ami ama eyecandie
Some people may not be interested in how much Tyra weighs, but I think it is obvious that she was not revealing this fact on an 'fyi' basis. It was as a way to help young girls and women feel more secure about their weight, since very few people have a realistic idea of this due to the twisted distrortion and caricaturism of the femle body in the media.
Also, her show and work is all about helping women feel more secure, so even if she is discussing something like farting, it is only her way of encouraging women to take she and other models off those ridiculously high pedestals most women have them on. Personally, I don't feel it is any reflection of her intelligence.
I don't agree with all of her opinions by any means but I think that what she does is extremely important. Female relationships these days are so competitive rather than supportive, and Tyra sets a good example of how women should upport one another. A strong, secure, realistic female role model in the media was long overdue.
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GinaJan 30th, 2007 - 22:48:40
I couldn't care less what Tyra weighs.........she is really into herself at any rate I feel, and I was really turned off when I watched her talk show when she was discussing 'farting'!! Really entertaining - she dropped way down in my estimation as far as intelligence is concerned.
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