Um, Tyra Banks is not fat (and even if she were.... SO WHAT)

Have y'all been following this pop culture thread?  Photos of Tyra at the beach (see left) came out last week... and lots of celeb blogs posted them with headlines like "Tyra Banks is Fat"  and comments like:

"Tyra Banks has always said that her role model in life is Oprah Winfrey, and after being really rich, and having a talk show, you can add being pretty fat to her list of accomplishments.

Now, I know some of you are probably going to get mad at me for saying Tyra Banks is fat, but could anyone out there really see her walking down the catwalk looking like that? I didn't think so."

(You suck for posting this, btw, Egotastic.com)

 

In response, there have been news reports (yes, news reports, about whether or not Tyra is fat) where she's been quoted saying

"It was such a strange meanness and rejoicing that people had when thinking that was what my body looked like. It was really hurtful to me" 

and then pulling a Jennifer Garner (who, last month, was all "My post-baby body is a disaster!  My trainer has given up on me!"  instead of embracing her new body...or at least not making any comments in public about when people would kill to look like her post-baby or not...)

"I don't want to sit in front of you and be soap-boxy and fake and say, `I love myself, I'm beautiful, it's great,'" says Banks, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall. "I still feel hot, but every day is different. It's when I put on the jeans that used to fit a year ago and don't fit now and give me the muffin top, that's when I say, `Damn!'"

and

"I'm not the healthiest eater" and isn't required to "live up to that model standard anymore."

Grrr.  I HATE HATE HATE it when women feel like they need to publicly defend why they don't look "better" ie "It's all water weight!"  "I've still got five pounds to go from the baby!"  etc.  It reveals just how much the "model standard" (or celeb look, or whatever you want to call it) touches all of us and how few of us escape comparing ourselves to it.

Comments

Tyra Banks is certainly not what I would call "fat". I think she is very attractive at her current weight. She may not be a "top runway model" any longer but so what? She is retired from that. She is still a very beautiful woman. More importantly she is a intelligent, articulate,charming, witty and seems to be a very nice person as well. (I wish she was my neighbor). Id love that for sure. (forgive me for I am but a man).

[Audrey]

And you know what else? I then read yesterday that Tyra is doing a show on how the photographers caught her at a bad angle. Making her look "worse" than she does in reality.

That kind of disappoints me. I mean, I'd rather she just say "Screw it! This is me and I'm still Tyra Banks with my own shows etc. So step off."

Hmmm... Have to see where this goes.

[candi]

This is the most insane crap I have ever heard. Tyra is BEAUTIFUL and should not feel like she has to meet this ignorant standard some self-righteous idiot has come up with. There is nothing wrong with her now, in that picture, ten years ago, or will there be! She is smart, beautiful and very successful and hopefully above this stupidity!

[Mr G]

I'm not a blogger but I have to speak to the masses that obviously do not know the difference between an actual photo and a digitally enhanced one. All those worthless tabloid magazines (they know who they are) cannot sell their crap unless it's a negative story. In case you weren't really aware, Tyra Banks is not fat. She is one of the most beautiful, talented, and elegant black women of this decade. Look at her career accomplishments against the odds and all the successes she has attained. As she so eloquently stated on Larry King ... even if the picture was really her ... so what! ... she is very secure in who she is as a woman ... BTW ... 161 pounds at her height is absolutely sexy ... stop the madness ... the truth never sells ...

[Audrey]

I totally applaud the emotion in her speech here (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20010424,00.html) and her pluck.

BUT, her whole "women who look like me" angle is still a bit hard to swallow. Lest we forget, she is still an A list supermodel with two TV shows and an army of image-helpers/stylists etc.

That doesn't exactly make her one of the gals...know what I'm saying?

But Rock on, Tyra.

[Brittany]

Tyra is NOT FAT! She is just G*O*R*G*O*U*S. It is natural to be 5"10 and 161 pounds people.The media is so obsessed with celeb's gaining and losing weight. They always have to write a story about that topic. Tyra Banks is such an insperation to me and many other people. She is so down to earth. What I loved about her is that she is honest. She always tells you the truth. I love you Tyra! I will always be ther for you. Much Love<3oxo .. check out my sitee deciated to Tyra.. http://www.tyrabanks15.piczo.com/(you may need to type it in)

Brittany

[Tyra]

I think Tyra Banks is still beautiful not just the fact she has the name exactly like mine but its that she is my role model.To meet a person like Tyra Banks would be awesome.I think society needs to shut up and get used to seeing her like that

[hihi]

I think Tyra's gr8 defending herself...I read that she didn't care what they say and since she's a role model 2 many I find that good...at least she doesn't talk about training...and how she's blown up and hates it, so...

[hihi]

New post :)! Sorry but I just read TIME magazine(I LOVE time magazine)! and guess what it had in it; PEOPLE SECTION, TIME MAGAZINE
It says that Tyra Banks weighs two thirds of doctor Phil and this we know from her public appearances on "PEOPLE magazine, CNN's Larry King Live and her eponymous syndicated talk show."-TIMES
Then in the bottom she quotes: "So many young girls are looking at that, I need to let them know that's not ugly."
-Sorry but I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, someone please tell me 'cause she is...oh I've confused myself!

[Vanessa]

Tyra is NOT fat!! She DOESN'T model anymore so why should she have to worry about how much she weighs anymore...she has no one to impress anyone anymore so she's eatin what she wants...so what if she gained a few pounds she still looks damn good to me....and if ppl call her fat i must be HUGH!!!! like whale hugh...hippo huge...ppl are over dramatic

[Brittany]

Heyy Everyone!!I am back again... Well Tyra says it is far from over.I think she is right. Now the headlines are saying Tyra should be Applauded.Tyra Banks is such a wonderful insperation to me and as well as many other young teens.She always has a touching show that means so much. She trys to help young girls with self esteem issues.She founded the Tzone foundation in 1999, which is a non-profit organization that helps young disadvantaged girls.She spends about 1 week with them in the summer in California.She says to these young girls that " What I tell the girls is that all the insecruities we have, we can't let those defeat us.We've got to keep on keepin' on". Tyra is such a great role model to me, and many other differen't types of people. She trys to reach out to people and tell them it is o.k just the way you are.Don't change yourself just because others want you to. What I love about Tyra is that she is so honest. I think you all remember the time when people were calling Tyra"Tyra porkchops",and "America's Next Top Model",??She had the guts to come out on national television and tell the truth about her weight.One thing Tyra if you even get this you are NOT FAT! You are so gorgeous.Many people would die to have that body.It is perfectly natural to be 161 pounds and 5"10.Don't listen to the media.Tyra says to people magazine that"With all the self-esteem my mom instilled in me,[The Criticism] still hurts". Tyra has so many people that love her and espically her fans.We will all love you for who you are and not what you look like.What I see is a wonderful caring person, and who is beautiful in the inside and out.Tyra also says that the media is so obsessed with celebrities gaining and losing weight.She trys to encourage women that you do not have to be stick thin to be pretty or model. Tyra has a huge show that has expanded in the popularity of teens called "America's Next Top Model". For this season of cycle 8 she has decided to have two plus size models on the show. I think this is so great of Tyra.She is trying to address the issue with models who think they are healthy but really they are putting their life in danger and almost dying.Tyra also has a show called "The Tyra Banks Show" and her goal is to empower women all over the world.I think Tyra is certainly making a differnce. She always is so caring towards people, and she makes peoples dreams come true even if they thought it was impossible the reach. CHECK OUT MY SITEE I RE-DID IT .. http:///www.tyrabanks15.piczo.com/.... and leave a comment for Tyra!!! Love you TYRA<3bye

[Mandy]

She looks great! I am also fed up of the size zero "hot" you look sick if ya are a size zero!!! We are not made to be that then, women died in the victorian times trying to be between 19-25 inches!! Why wont we learn that a size ten (american 6) or 12 (american 8) is not fat at all! Its healthy. I am so glad Tyra says this too!

[sammy]

i am getting really mad at the people who are saying tyra is fat! she's my role model! and i hate you people who say mean things about her!

[nikki]

i don't think she's fat and hello...fat is beautiful two thumbs up for tyra.. u have my support.

[Kelly]

OMG OMG OMG!! TYRA IS NOT FAT BUT SHE MAKES ME MAD..

APPARANTLY TYRA MADE A SEX TAPE WITH THIS ITALIAN BASKETBALL PLAYER IN 2005-2006?? I CANNOT BELEIVE THIS!!

SHE MAKES GIRLS POSE NUDE ON TOP MODEL AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN. HER MOM WOULDN'T LET HER BUT THE GIRLS SAID THEIR PARENTS WOULDN;T LIKE IT AND THEY GET ELMINATED.!! THAT'S NOT FAIR!

I DO NOT LIKE TYRA ANYMORE

HOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE??

SHE LIKE MADE A SEX TAPE?? DO I STILL LOOK UP TO HER??

CHECK OUT t-banks.com for TYRA UPDATES ITS A FAN SITE WHERE YOU CAN BLOG TOO

[jackson kinara]

i think that tyra banks is an excellent woman due to the fact that she actually brings out the best out of every situation and more especially women who think mostly that they are fat or otherwise you doing a good job and you actually saved my friend once she thought that she was fat of which she was not, keep it up gal jah bless

[krystal]

Tyra banks has been a big influence to me,it upsets to me to see such words as I don't like her anymore or harsh words suchs as hate.Tyra has touch so many peoples life and helped so many, so I dont understand why ther are people trying to bring her down.IF YOU DONT LIKE TRYA SO WHAT keep it to yourself.

[casey]

Tyra is the best!! she makes everything, and everyone look gorgeous!:}

[Linda Hillton]

I luv Tyra She is awsome and Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alice marie amos]

hi tyra,i love your show,you are not runway modelling anymore,i know you are an innovative person,why not showcase models who are not what is traditionally throught of as runway models walking the runway in high fashion,break all the rules,real women, who really support the clothing industry deserve some respect,by the way,i just can't relate to the comment that you are fat,go figure

[Arlene]

Well said.

[Ashley]

tyra u empower me all the time i love u and think u rock keep helping girls because u centitly helped me -Ashley♥