Tyra Banks "Sorry" for Top Model Promo With Stick-Thin Model
Tyra Banks is apologizing for a controversial new America’s Next Top Model promo featuring a 6'2" model with a shockingly thin waist.
"On behalf of the entire Top Model team, I am truly sorry for the style in which the Top Model promo clip was presented," she writes on Tyra.com. "Like all of my projects, I am extremely involved in America’s Next Top Model from casting the final contestants to conceptualizing the episode challenges, but with all the work and details that go into producing a TV show, I can’t be 100 places at once (although I try), but it’s just impossible for me to see everything that’s created before it’s released to all of you! That being said I can assure you – that cut has been removed from the CW airwaves, and the message conveyed in that video was NOT intentional, and is certainly not Top Model- or Tyra-approved. The Top Model team is extremely talented and truly enjoys creating fun, engaging promos and episodes for you. The team really wants to entertain you, while promoting and embracing multiple forms of beauty. Sometimes in the quest to have fun in a limited amount of time, especially in a 20-second promo, our overarching message can be misconstrued, and in this case it most certainly was."
Banks, 36, has dealt with her own scrutiny over her weight. In 2007, a tabloid ran a photo of her in swimsuit under the headline "America's Next Top Waddle." She later devoted an episode of her talk show to body issues and self-esteem.
That's why Banks says she feels particularly bad about the Top Model clip, which features Banks exclaiming "You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at that waist!" upon seeing the model. Later, Banks says, "There's something about her I quite like."
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"To the people who see me as a representation of upholding the fact that beauty comes in all sizes, I personally apologize," Banks writes.
Growing up, Banks says she was heckled for "NOT being able to gain weight. Being so incredibly thin, I was the receiver of countless stares; feeling helpless. I've also been (VERY) publicly attacked for being bigger. Being on the receiving end of both sides of that pain has really shaped my perspective."
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As for Ann (the model featured in the trailer), Bank says the blonde, 19-year-old Dallas native experienced "her own internal struggles with her body, and the cruelty she faces on a daily basis directly related to the way she looks (stemming from her 6'2" height), some of which is revealed in the upcoming season. I offered her the same level of support and encouragement I’ve extended to all younger women that have opened up to me."
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Before signing off, Banks wrote, "I want the media and viewers to continue to challenge perceptions of beauty, but to understand that BEAUTY comes in all shapes, sizes and proportions. I have always celebrated uniqueness, and encourage women, myself included, to accept and embrace their own bodies – flaws and all! Whether it’s exaggerated curves (or lack thereof), bee sting boobies, a juicy booty or a big ole’ forehead (eh-hem) – it’s about rocking what we’ve got."
The 15th season of Top Model premieres Sept. 8.
Tell Us What You Think
57Never mind the fact that judge is a man and men generally do not have small hands. Lord knows she's naturally thin and probably sucked in her stomach, too. I'm 5'7" with a 26" waist (a waist size many actresses and models have), and my 6'6" boyfriend can fit his hands around my waist.
Congrats to her, really. If you're going to rag on her for being skinny you should rag on yourself for whatever unhealty habits you have first. I don't care how many skinny people they have plastered everywhere or how many are on TV. I'm curvy and a bit "plushy", I eat healthy and exercise and yet I'm not a skinny person, I didn't even get skinny when i did let the media get to me and was anorexic. I hope she keeps her head held high and lets comments by jerks like you just bounce off her. No matter what you look like, confidence and self respect matter more than any thing else. Congrats to her for winning something that you have to have some talent for, most of us would tumble or look like a robot needing oil as soon as strut our stuff well down a cat walk and manage to look elegant. If you're not happy with what you look like, change it or get over it and don't blame it on any one else. No One can make you think badly about yourself if you won't let them.
I find it interesting that comment after comment there are no references to the fact that she has been thin all her life. My sister has been very thin as well, ALL HER LIFE, and eats like a horse. No! She doesn't throw up her food. She really has a fast metabolism. I, on the other hand, have to be careful about what I eat or it goes straight to my waist. Everyone's body is different. On the other hand, I agree that the image this is spreading will cause more detriment to young girls and us older girls as well. I do not blame Ann Ward; I blame those choosing who will be ANTM. I am concerned about the criterion that was created to allow such an image to make it through. So many changes have been made in the modeling industry to avoid such thin wafer images. Yet, this model portrays the wrong message and image to women around the world. Brandy Lee: You are correct in saying "...if you are not eating then our metabolism slows down which actually causes you to gain weight." However, don't forget that if you continually not eat, you do lose your muscle and fat. Then you become wafer thin and sickly.
She looks like she's severely underweight for her age. I mean I think people should embrace ALL shapes especially the naturally thin ones but this girl is hard to look at. As the winner of that season, I also think she is sending the wrong message to people being SO thin especially young girls. I mean if they wanted a rail thin person to win ANTM, they could have easily grabbed someone in a third world country who is literally starving for food, malnourished and extremely thin.
She looks like she's severely underweight for her age. I mean I think people should embrace ALL shapes especially the naturally thin ones but this girl is hard to look at. As the winner of that season, I also think she is sending the wrong message to people being SO thin especially young girls. I mean if they wanted a rail thin person to win ANTM, they could have easily grabbed someone in a third world country who is literally starving for food, malnourished and extremely thin.
Regardless if this is natural or not for this young woman, I don't want girls/women thinking this is what beauty looks like. For the VAST majority of female human beings, this is an unnatural body size and should not be touted as the ideal; that is what we are doing by putting it the cover of a magazine. Many many females will make themselves sick trying to be like this. The feminine form comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. Let's respect and celebrate them all. Why live in a world of vanilla when we can revel in a world of infinite tastes? (ps, that US makes you log into facebook to make a comment sucks and puts me off your zine.).
I am a bigger girl, and I am 16 years old. I know ALOT of the people that bas there lives on these types of mags but when it comes down to a women and your can put BOTH HANDS AND TOUCH AROUND HER WAIST AND LET HER WIN... I find very offesive. I know that one of my friends is battling anerxia, and it pains me to see her not getting better because she sees these girl and thinks, i need to be like them to be attractive. I have tought it too. But I doesn't work for me, so I get angry with my self and call myself ugly, b/c that is what I find I am percived as. Its not right to have the new age models be taller and like tooth picks, I never figured out exactly what I learned over the years about models and stuff. But I have seen that next top model like a year or two ago, I don't really remember when I think it was when the bigger and really pretty girl was there. Anyway,I finally find that Media, Stars, News bring out the worst in people, and the scary things. Really think about it do you want your fans, go around and call people ugly b/c of what they are Wearing, Size (Tall/Short),Figure, Learning difference; I didn't think so. Everyone in "Entertiment", more so the Fashion People need to rethink how they do thinks, IT HURTS PEOPLE NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY AS WELL!!! All I can really say right now is that I am really ashamed to live in a State with one of the most highest fashion places/things. It's just not healthy, you can die. Think about it.
Im sorry but that is not "healthy" skinny. I have a sister who is skinny and friends and they look at her and say thats just wrong. Im not saying she is blowing chunks or starving herself on purpose. Possibly with all the stress the show would have it makes her rail thin. My aunt has that issue. But seriously, she's NOT healthy skinny.
She looks anorexic. How is that pretty and sexy? This girl looks like she is all skin and bones. This is not a healthy look for any reason!!
people are never satisfied with how girls look. your to fat your to skinny. its all $h!t
I'm not much for the high fasion scene . I truly fail to see the attraction for these rail thin models. I find Kim Kardasien hot , Paris Hilton not .
First off her being skinny like this is not because she doesn't eat as much, because if you are not eating then our metabolism slows down which actually causes you to gain weight. So how about everyone who is curvey stop worrying about how tiny her waist is and worry about yourself and I highly doubt she will die in a month, get real! people die of over weight issues not because they are healthy and have a fast metabloism.
My daughter is 5'9" and didn't start gaining serious pounds until her mid 20's. People made her feel bad about herself, and now realizes they alot of them were just jelous, and some just don't understand:(
I'm naturally skinny and I have been all my life, why should I have to apogolise for it? If you can embrace your curves then I can embrace being skinny. People often say that people come in ALL sizes, but then tear skinny girls down to make themselves feel better. Saying a girl has an eating disorder just because she's naturally skinny is an insult.
THAT'S SO SAD TO SEE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD RISK THEIR OWN LIFE TO BE STICK THIN. I KNOW I AM NOT SKINNY LIKE A SUPER MODEL BUT I AM TRUE TO MYSELF AND PEOPLE SHOULD DO THE SAME ,PEOPLE SHOULDN'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY IF YOU ARE HAPPY THE WAY YOU ARE THERE'S NO NEED FOR A HUNGER DIET. I AM NOT AGAINST LOSING WEIGHT IF YOU NEED IT BUT DON'T OVER DO IT. GOD LOVES EVERY ONE EVEN IF WE DON'T LOOK LIKE A MODEL.
This is definitely NOT beauty! That girl is going to die in one month.
I admire Tyra for defining her mistake in writing. Yes, beauty does come in all different packages, we should embrace what God has given us, however accepting of same is not always socially correct. Having dealt with weight issues all my life acceptance by one's peers can be difficult and at times verbally abusive. One can be insulted when searching for an appropriate formal gown to wearing comfortable clothing...some department store staff can be downright nasty. Although I've longed to be slim, I would never forfeit my inner beauty, because that's truly what defines us as humans.
y in the hell is saying sorry ? if the gurl's waist is weirdly tiny than it's weirdly tiny .
IT TAKES ONE ANOREXIC TO KNOW ONE RIGHT TYRA!?
Really? We're making a big deal over this? When I saw this promo it didn't bother me at all. So what if she has a skinny waist...people have tried for centuries to have skinny waists hence corsets being a fashion trend. It just happens that she has a really small waist and is skinny. It doesn't mean she has an eating disorder. In fact I've seen girls on this show that have looked skinnier and bonier than her and who look unhealthy and no one said crap about that. People need to get over it and stop always blaming the media for body image problems because they are only half of the problem. The other half is you because if people were comfortable with themselves than whatever the media says would be irrelevant.