Tyra Banks clapped back at body shamers in an unforgettable moment 18 years ago
The model had no patience for the criticism of her body.
Tyra Banks shut down body shamers in the best way she knew how.
In February of 2007, Banks did a segment on her eponymous talk show slamming tabloids that ran a photo of her between takes at a beach photo shoot and criticized her body. Various outlets claimed the model and talk show host had gained more than 40 lbs. in just over two months.
“I want all of you to take a look at this recent photo of me. Does it look familiar? Well it should considering that this photo was splashed all over the world. It’s been in magazines and tabloids and featured on nearly every single celebrity gossip website,” she began, as she wore the suit in question.
She illustrated how different poses would make her body look different, as would paparazzi lenses that capture photos from a distance.
“You guys you cannot believe everything you read in the papers and on the Internet,” Banks urged. “I felt like this picture is so outrageous that I wanted to do something equally as outrageous by standing here, extremely vulnerable in the same swimsuit, next to this photo. And I feel it is so sad that I have to go to this extreme but I’m doing it to prove a point.”
