Tyra's Big Rant
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| Sat, 01-27-2007 - 1:07pm |
I have been reading all about how Tyra Banks was photographed looking heavy and how she has hit back at her critics.
I am on the fence on this one, for starter, yes 161pds at 5.10 is a healthy weight, but I am not so sure I feel sorry for her. I mean this is a women who has made millions of dollars by perpetuating an ideal that is not realistic for most women. I have seen her on America's Next Top Model telling women they need to be a certain body type etc in order to succeed in the industry. An industry which has gone out of it's way to create and communicate to millions of women that we need to be thin in order to be beautiful. Granted she herself did not create this image, but she sure as heck did help to perpetuate it. Apart of me think's it's justice that she is getting this backlash; she did help to create the audience and how ironic that they are essentially judging her against the same ideal that she herself help to create.
On the other hand, she has also said that now that she is not a model she can eat like a normal person, which goes to show that these tiny models are not living life as the average women, that they are going outside the norm to create their bodies.
What do you all think?


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This is just MHO. I think on ANTM you guys have to remember one thing. The model that they are looking for are RUNWAY models. Those are different than ad models, or even tv models, etc. Runway models have to have a certian look, certain height, body type, etc.
So, is she being hypocritical? yes and no. Yes, because she is booting off "fat" ppl, but in essence, she also said she was weighing in at 130 when she modeled. For 5'10" and her body type, that's really small. No, because she's no longer modelling, and therefore, really doesn't need to keep that body type.
It reminds me of American Idol. Is Simon a hypocrite because he doesn't have a hit cd? Are any judges in any competitions hypocrites because they may not look like the ppl they are judging, or don't have the same talents? no.
So, personally, I think I like Tyra's rant. Why? Because I am sooooooooooo sick of seeing photos that say how so and so gained weight. And if you look at them, they BARELY look "normal". or how they said the "pg bump" is the new thing or something, because so many women sport a tummy bump and aren't pg. wtf!
I've always been a supporter of her. And well, it has more to do with her being successful in an industry where she was probably always "fat" and always will be "fat" compared to most models. AND she wasn't a plus-size model. I do'nt care if she binged and purged. she looked "normal". and to me, that's more important than being 5'10" having no boobs, no hips, but fitting in that size 4. btw. i think she looks great.
that's just me.
Smile,
Deirdre
I agree with what most of you have said. I don't feel sorry for Tyra. Tyra left the modeling world behind to focus on her talk show, and to help model hopefuls get into the business. However, it seems like her talk show and America's Next Top Model often contradict each other. She has done several topics on her talk show about unrealistic standards of beauty placed on women in Western society. She seems to be such an advocate on the "real" woman, and how "real" bodies aren't a size 0 (or less). Then, on Top Model, she'll have a token "full-figured" model (read: "a woman of average weight"), who will almost certainly be voted off after a couple of episodes because Tyra and her "panel of experts" agree that the woman is just too big to be a high fashion model because designers will have a hard time dressing her...or some crap like that!
Now that Tyra's the one under the microscope, she's ready to speak out against societal standards of beauty, the standards that she perpetuated when she did model, and the same standards that she continues to perpetuate on her show, Top Model! Now, it doesn't feel so good being the brunt of fat jokes....I certainly have nothing against Tyra...her talk show is usually quite informative. I do think this is something that has hit home with her, and that a lot of her "rant" was more about personal hurt than trying to "speak for the average American woman." Basically, she got her feelings hurt, as have average, everyday women do when we're faced with these unrealistic standards of beauty. I might add that I'm 5'9" and 165, pretty close to Tyra's stats. So, when I saw the headlines that referred to Tyra as "fat" or "Tyra Porkchop", they were talking about me, too! I feel the hurt and Tyra's human, so she felt it too. That's why she's lashing out. Now, she knows what it feels like....she doesn't have to wonder what some of the past guests on her show have experienced. I think it's good for her!
Who knows?? Maybe one day, an average sized woman will win Top Model.....maybe.
Edited 2/1/2007 3:21 pm ET by rivegauche25
You said that Tyra was quoted as saying, " ....a certain body type to be successful INTHE INDUSTRY..." While it is unfortunate that the "industry" has helped fuel the body type problems that young (and old :)) women face, I dont think it is fair to criticize her for being honest with the girls who are trying to fit into a certain industry...
I see it as something similar to this...
Fitness tests for the military or police force...
or...
board testing or size requirements for nurses or athletes... (respectively)
Actually, I don't think ANTM really knows WHAT it's
All I can say is, I'm not a big fan of reality tv, and I don't feel sorry for any person who chooses that route of "stardom". They know the stakes, they know ppl are watching them around the world, they know they could be openly humiliated on tv. And they choose that route. Yup, I agree, it's mean to boot off the token "fat" girl, but should we scream and holler at AI for making us watch the sucky ppl? From what it seems, people LIKE to see ppl fail/get hurt/get burned/act stupid/etc. And that's, unfortunately, what keeps reality tv going.
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