Bravo Tyra Banks – a real role model….
September 9, 2009
by Amy Siskind
|Finally a role model for our daughters!
Yesterday, Tyra Banks let it all hang down – that is, her “real” hair. Tyra opened her show saying:
This season on ‘The Tyra Show, we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud!
Amen Tyra. We are so lucky to have you speaking out. Here’s what Tyra said on her show:
What an important life lesson for all our daughters. Be proud of what you are IN and out!
Here’s what Tyra had to say:
I feel like it’s my responsibility to redefine true beauty, so I’ve shown myself with no makeup and now I’m showing my real hair — and it’s all because I want more women to be proud of who they are…inside and out.
I, for one, am playing Tyra’s video clip for my children tonight. What an important life lessons for our children. It’s about time that more of our public figures teach about life’s positive and important messages.
Tyra Banks – YOU GO GIRL!!!
I wanted to see this episode.
Please! If you didn’t see the eye makeup on the woman’s face, you are blind!!!! I appreciate the sentiment, but lets be real. She DID NOT STEP OUT OF THE SHOWER ONTO THE STAGE. She was worked on regarding her face make-up for at least an hour!
This is little more than another cruel joke on American women and what we should look like, even when we haven’t spent $300 on our hair today!!!
NO GO AMY!!! THIS ONE WAS A BAD SHOW!!!
Sorry Tyra is no role model for women or girls. She is a lingerie model who has spent her life conforming to and furthering unreal standards of beauty for women only. She seeks male approval to feel self worth and validate her sexuality. How is it that you have a problem with Twilight which allows girls to ignore how they look and enjoy checking out the hunk fest but embrace Tyra? She is part of the machine that makes women feel bad when they read corporate “women’s content”. I generally admire what you have done with The New Agenda but this call is way off.
I like this singular action by Tyra and I’ve seen Tyra speak in empowering ways for women and girls before. But overall, as the woman behind “America’s Top Model” which encourages all those horrid cat fights, I would never think of her as a role model for girls.
Tyra is like the Great Robber Baron’s of the 1920′s,
She has made all of her money being a pretty face. The substance on her show is even lacking. Now that she is well to do, respected, and getting older, she is trying to spin off her legacy into some form of female empowerment. Aside from this, she also pulled that one stunt where she walked around in a fat suit all day. I don’t buy it and it looks like most of the commenters don’t either. That being said though, many women do need to be confident about themselves. It’s lack of confidence that finds woman in bad relationships without the courage to leave, and ironically it’s societies most beautiful girls who feel the worst. In this sense, Tyra may be a better person to reach out.
If your into charity, Andrew Carnegie despite paying his workers shit did give back to some extent, and while hypocritical, it did make a difference. I think this is the situation here. Tyra shouldn’t get a pass on this, but the message is one that should be heard and if it makes just one girl fee; better about herself then where is the harm?
Yes, I agree. Many of us, and especially those in the media, are not perfect examples of feminism. Tyra had to work in a patriarchal system and she found success. Perhaps now that she is a bit older and more powerful she is looking to do it “her way”. I think she is likely interested in feminism on some level, judging from some of her actions and some of the things she has said. Let her figure it out, and yes, if this one action in regard to showing her real hair, inspires a little girl, then great! We can certainly reflect on what’s not empowering about Top Model but let’s give credit where credit is due and reflect on this as well.
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