Tyra nabbed the cover article of this week’s New York Times Magazine mainly to talk about how she’s the next Oprah.
According to the New York Times, the article “goes inside the world of Tyra Banks — ex-cover girl, ex-Victoria’s Secret model and the reigning star of two popular TV shows, ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and ‘The Tyra Banks Show’ — learn how the 34-year old entrepreneur turned herself into a brand.”
“I think I was put on this earth to instill self-esteem in young girls,” says Tyra.
Reeeeeeeally.
Let’s for a minute ignore the fact this is an absurd statement given her hosting duties on ANTM, where every week there’s some commentary on how contestants are too fat/too thin/too drag-queeny/too short/too ethnic/not ethnic enough/too edgy/too commercial.
But Cele|bitchy did some investigative reporting a few weeks ago after the German mother of an 11-year-old girl came forward with claims that Tyra misled her before they came on The Tyra Banks Show.
The daughter, Linda, wishes to pursue a modeling career and went on the show thinking she would receive career advice from the former Victoria Secret queen bee. Not really how it went down, though.
To summarize: Linda had taken some photos patterned after poses she had seen on America’s Next Top Model. Tyra viewed these photos as inappropriate, calling them “bait” for pedophiles, and that’s when the berating began:
Claudia asked Tyra for modeling advice for her daughter and she said she wouldn’t help her due to those photos. Then Claudia and Linda got shooed off stage as people were booing and were put in a car to go home. They were not allowed to meet with Tyra before or after the show for a photo and Linda didn’t even get an autograph to take home. Linda cried all the way home.
Nice, right? I’m sure Linda feels really, really good about herself now.
Yikes that is mean.
Way to go, Tyra. *eyeroll*
Don’t you guys know -Holly does- that is how young girls build self esteem. Other girls (and boys) bash us, pick on us, treat us like sh*t. Until one day we realize “who the hell are they!” and thats when it happens. Boom! Self esteem. Its tradition.
Although it’s supposed to be from peers, not grown women.
Sing it, sister.
Not so mean, IMO. Did you read the Cele|bitchy article? Here’s a brief excerpt:
*Her daughter, Linda, idolized Tyra and wanted to reach out to her for help after their family faced an investigation by Child Protective Services. 11 year-old Linda took modeling-type pictures that were posted on the Internet, but were not personally identifiable and did not include her name or whereabouts. Some featured the girl in a bikini imitating model stances she’s seen on television like biting her finger and laying with her hand on her stomach. Her mother honestly believed they were innocent pictures and would help her daughter find work in catalogs and advertisements.*
In other words, mom posted questionable photos of her 11 year old daughter posing provocatively while skimpily clad. And how did CPS start an investigation if this kid wasn’t ‘personally identifiable’? Tyra probably could’ve handled this a little more politically, but she obviously feels very strongly about this sort of thing, which is a worldwide problem. Christ, what a stupid mother!
While you are right about the mom’s actions, snapnhiss, the Cele|bitchy article goes on to support her:
I’m willing to give the mom the benefit of the doubt and look at it as a cultural difference. And CPS never sought charges in the course of their investigation.
those pictures are completely inappropiate for 11 year old girls
Self esteem. Tyra, is that why you have masses of fake hair and a heavily Photoshopped body in your cover shot?
Not a fan of Tyra, but in the same breath, those pictures are unbelievably inappropriate for an 11 year old.
Those photos were very inappropriate. Hey, the young girl learned the poses on ANTM, so why not make a series when models do some teaching or something for the youth on how to appropriately model for the camera? Some support and better self-esteem may show. Tyra, perhaps some parenting words could’ve helped the girl.
Tyra will do anything to get some ratings on that crappy TV show if hers…but I find those pictures kind of hilarious.
Um, did you people see some photos I didn’t? I saw a young girl trying to look like her idol. How hypocritical to say they’re inappropriate when they are simply gleaned from what’s present on television all the time. She certainly was exploited, however; nicely done Tyra.
I think your all about bunch of jealous haters ..it’s always like this when a black woman makes it big. No matter if it’s oprah, tyra, or even raven simone, racists whites and jealous minded blacks will always find something to bitch about. Oprah can find a cure for cancer and there still will be haters finding something to bitch about. Who really cares what you think? At the end of the day, Tyra’s bank account is stacked to the ceiling her charities and youth development projects are helping thousands of young girls, and she is living the life you bottom feeders wished you had.
It sounds like bitterness and jealously here. Don’t hate Tyra because your unattractive, broke, and about to have your house foreclosed.
Don’t you realize that just like tabloids, these blogs are throwing meat at you so you can make them money with advertisers? Your just an idiot who fell for the scam, your dissing Tyra for free, and this site is rolling in the dough because they are counting on the jealous minded nature of people like you guys to make them crazy amounts of money! Pathetic! SUCKERS!!
Who’s Raven Simone?
Tyra Banks is an *sshole!
I can’t even put into words how sorry I feel for that woman. Tyra Banks is unbelievable(and I would still say this even if she was white.) These photos can be construed as inapropriate, but I am sure her mother never meant for them to be. I mean she seems like a good mother, and any good mother would not think of her own daughter as a sex object especially at such a young age. And it’s not like constructive-criticism wouldn’t have worked, Tyra definetly should not have be such a berating know-it-all bitch. I can’t stand that woman! I hope she dies very painfully.
Isabella Gucci actually posted a comment that made me laugh. I pictured Oprah working on a cure for cancer. Lab coat, microscopes, Maya Angelou, and Tina Turner by her side, Cher calling in with test results. Boy I’d hate to be the male lab assistant in that place. Just imagine the noise.
Pasta! Are you insinuating that just because it would be FEMALES in a lab that automatically the conversations would turn to LOUD, MEANINGLESS CHATTER?!
I should throw a hate-filled, though rather (completely) senseless rant at you that is riddled with 3rd grade level spelling errors that assume that you are clearly a woman-hater. Because we all know everyone’s race and gender here, we can tell these things by our names.
Oh, that’s right. I’m not a feminist. I know how to actually laugh at things.
“Are you insinuating that just because it would be FEMALES in a lab that automatically the conversations would turn to LOUD, MEANINGLESS CHATTER?!”
Yeah pretty much. I know some girls. And I sometimes think the “Lockhorns” are funny. I’m just kidding. NO ONE thinks the “Lockhorns” are funny.
let’s not forget how, to her, size 8 is “plus size”!!!
I. DESPISE. HER.
First of all, Tyra is an AMAZING, successful black woman. She has done so many things for women, it’s not even funny. She is the next Oprah. She’s moving even more quickly then Oprah did, with already 2 Shows under her in her first two years. But just like Oprah, there are going to be a few haters. Ya’ll need to give respect where respect is do! Those pictures were horrible and HELL NAW I wouldn’t help a mother exploit her child. People are only looking at the now, and not at “the could be”. If Tyra had given this girl advice on how to pose better, or to be a better model, this young girl might have run the risk of being exposed or exploited in the wrong way at such a young age. Tyra IS a professional model! You wouldn’t disagree with a heart surgeon’s advice on how to do a procedure. You assume that he’s given you the best advice he could, correct? Okay then. Tyra did just that. So leave her the hell alone!!
Due we?
Al mis banks haters ar wack. Go get sumthng beter to do than concentrate on her lyf. She is amaizin, strong, beautiful and intelligent. Those who say mis banks is an asshole it reflects 10tyms stronger
I think Tyra is one of the most despicable humans to ever walk the face of the earth just look at top model she takes all these girls with big dreams and then riggs the competition to have the winner who will bring the most ratings she exploits young women only show one side of them most girls have no career after and does she ever help these girls that have made her millions of dollars NO she turs around grabs another 13 or so gilrs and does it all over again oh and the “selfesteem” ya right she constanly telling the girls how fat or wierd or to skinny or whatever she even told a 20yr old girl she looked OLD talk about giving someone a complex she is selfish and money hungry if she really cared about anyone that went on her shows she should help them at least give them an autograph B*TCH she may have a dark skin color but her greed and the way she uses people and walks over them is as white as you can get!