Do You Agree? Tyra Banks Thinks Skinny Women Aren’t ‘Real’ Women

Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

We’re sure Tyra Banks’ heart is in the right place when she attempts to put curvy women on thrones in her interviews, but at the same time she’s also catching some backlash for it too because in the same breath she’s slamming skinny women in the process.

The modeling industry is known for booking extremely thin women over curvier models, and it’s something that has caused lots of debate in the fashion industry.

Tyra has decided to become a spokesperson and attempt to fight for change on the runways as an advocate for curvier women, but her recent comments make it seem as if she doesn’t think skinny women are real women.

She tells the Huffington Post:

“I don’t like the label ‘plus-size’ — I call it ‘fiercely real.’ On ‘Top Model,’ we call it fiercely real. I don’t want to use the term ‘plus-size,’ because, to me, what the hell is that? It just doesn’t have a positive connotation to it. I tend to not use it.”

 

We are an advocate for all women of all body types loving themselves, so we can understand why thinner women feel this is a slight towards them. But what do you think about Tyra’s comments? Is it fair to say curvier women are more real than their skinny counterparts? Or is Tyra’s view of authenticity a little too superficial?

Speak on it below.

24 comments

  1. Fiercely real? What? So women have fought all these years for women with curves to get respect, and now that we are here we’re just going to put skinny women through what the same crap curvy women were going through? How stupid.

  2. I love Tyra, but she’s always been an airhead. A woman’s realness should not be measured by the number of curves she has. Women need to get over this distraction. The most important thing is to learn to love ourselves no matter our size.

  3. Dumbest comment I’ve heard from her in a long time. A real woman is one who embraces herself and other women. Clearly Tyra has some work to do. How can she be out here trying to promote the acceptance of curvy women in fashion but encouraging the neglect of skinny women? Makes no sense.

  4. Sigh…really Tyra? Why do some women keep trying to equate realness to weight? That’s so superficial and stupid to me.

  5. Tyra is a walking contradiction. She wants to empower women but she’s cutting down a whole population of women to uplift another. That’s not fair.

  6. Tyra has always had diarrhea of the mouth. So I’m not surprised she said this. I’m a curvy woman, but I don’t get involved in the skinny vs. thick debate. It’s dumb. And to hate on someone else because they have a different body type just seems insecure to me. So Tyra needs to get it together. Some women are naturally thin. Others are naturally curvy. Who cares?

  7. Oh Tyra please. It’s not that serious. Real women come in all shapes and sizes and we don’t get insecure because other women are thinner.

  8. This is why her talk show isn’t on tv today. The few times I did watch her show I would cringe when she would say things like this. This makes absolutely no sense.

  9. Tyraaaaa. Sometimes I feel she is the exact definition of a ditzy model. She tries really hard to say smart things, but they come out so poorly. It really sucks because she is such a beautiful, rich, black woman. But she is a poor representation.

  10. I think what Tyra is trying to say is that female attractiveness is often depicted in the media as slim, or having the “perfect body weight” which we see everyday in ads, tv, magazines, etc. There has been countless studies on this, when in reality the average woman weighs more than these women who are often shown. As a matter of fact some women arent actually real they are photshop (i.e. the dove evolution commercial) and men and most little girls think they can actually look like them one day. Im guessing Tyra’s comment is closely related to this issue. No need for bashing her .. Just think outside the box and know what is happening around us and we wont be quick to criticize and judge her like she is supposedly doing to skinny women as the media claims.

  11. Her comments are stupid and go against real feminism and self empowerment/self love. No body type is more real than the other. I don’t care if models are skinny or photoshopped. To make this comment was irresponsible and I’m tired of “curvy” women thinking it’s ok to bash skinny women and assume that having curves makes them more real. Face it. The modeling industry isn’t real, but what I have seen with my own eyes is big girls bashing skinny girls and saying dumb things like “real women have curves!” That’s not self-esteem, that’s hate and ignorance. Real women love themselves and don’t feel the need to put down other women. Some women are born thin! How are they not real?! I will not defend this woman just because she’s Tyra Banks. You can’t uplift curvy women and then put down skinny women in the same breath. That makes the message extremely hypocritical.

  12. Its not that deep you guys they acting like she said f skinny women smh. Dang women find anything to b!tch n gripe about stop hating dang ugh!

    1. Chile bye. Tell Tyra’s airhead behind to stop hating on skinny women. This isn’t the first time she has thrown shade to smaller women while trying to put thick women on a pedestal. It’s funny that she didn’t say all of this until she gained weight and admitted she was having a hard time losing it. She’s the real hater and this comment proves it. Now let her have said something about big women. Then all hell would break lose and it would be all over the news. But because she was shading skinny women it’s not a big deal, right? Smh.

      Anyway, I agree with the majority of the comments on here. Women need to do better. One size isn’t better or more real than the other.

        1. Yet you’re the one who typed: “Dang women find anything to b!tch n gripe about”

          You’re the angry one and you’re also terrible at expressing your opinions. Expand your vocabulary so you can properly debate on here and not have to resort to childish words like “hater.” I get that you don’t agree with me, but you’re too grown for these immature responses. You and Tyra can have several seats. The way you both express yourselves is laughable and lacks intelligence. Step it up.

          1. LOL. Not even. But you have a good night and a Merry Christmas. I won’t even stoop down to your level sis. I’m better than that. 🙂

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