Tyra Banks has responded to backlash aimed at Kim Kardashian, that the 50-year-old model was photoshopped for the reality television star’s recent SKIMS campaign.
Banks has often flaunted her curves, which some deem as too plentiful for the fashion industry. However, supporters lashed out at Kardashian when Banks appeared much smaller in the pictures.
“This is something I’ve been talking about for decades,” Banks said in an interview with “Today.” She continued, “So, me curvier, me damn near almost 50 years old in this campaign — I think it is pretty empowering.”
Banks recalled the moment Kardashian reached out to her to take part in the campaign:
“[Kim] said when I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she hadn’t seen boobs that were real and big,” she says. “She said that that gave her self-esteem for her body. So we had, like, a serious conversation, and I finally said, ‘Let’s do this!'”
Kardashian also weighed in on the controversial shoot.
“We just had an honest heart-to-heart conversation, and she got to hear what the brand stands for, why I started the brand — and I’m just all about supporting women.”
Last year, Banks spoke to PEOPLE about the evolution of body positivity.
“It’s so funny because 20 something years ago, I was one of the leaders in this. In beauty diversity, and body image. However, I think what [body positivity activists] are doing today is even more bold,” she said. “There’s evolution,” Banks continued.
Kardashian cannot seem to catch a break after remarks she made about women and business.
Get your f—king a— up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days,” she said. “You have to surround yourself with people that want to work,” she continued. “Have a good work environment where everyone loves what they do because you have one life. No toxic work environments… show up and do the work,” she concluded.
