pet rock
Tyra Banks was out on the streets of NYC yesterday, with an entourage of top African-American models taping a show celebrating black models. Joining Banks was one of the women who paved the way for black models in the industry, Beverly Johnson, as well as some more recent catwalk sensations like Chanel Iman and Noemie Lenoir.
The show comes on the heels of the "Black is Beautiful" issue of Italian Vogue in July. All the models featured in the photo spreads are black, but, as some in the industry pointed out, most of the ads for major fashion houses showed white models. That sparked renewed controversy about just how diverse the fashion industry really is, a cause Banks is calling attention to with her show.
Tyra Banks photos
Banks is no stranger to courting controversy herself. Currently featured on the cover of Sept.'s issue of Harper's Bazaar, she poses as Michelle Obama, with a Barack look-alike. Showing her cheeky sense of humor, Banks said if she was first lady, her Secret Service 'code name' would be "KMFA," an acronym for "Kiss My Fat ---," which she uttered after tabloids trashed her over paparazzi shots of her sporting a bathing suit. The "Tyra Banks Show" episode on black models is set to air Sept. 11 during Fashion Week. P.S.: Banks's "American's Next Top Model" holds auditions for the next season of the reality show this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Park Central New York hotel in Manhattan. Among the requirements: Applicants must be between 18 to 27 and "of diverse backgrounds, shapes and sizes." Tyra practices what she preaches.