Tyra Banks is pretty crazy, right? I used to feel bad about saying that or thinking that, but as the years have passed, I think most of us can admit that Tyra is pretty crazy. Anyway, people weren’t paying enough attention to Tyra, so she decided to do a photography exhibit (it will be in a real art gallery and everything) in which she poses AS 15 different “iconic” models. Icons like… Kate Moss (sure), Cindy Crawford (sure), Cara Delevingne (ugh, really?), Karlie Kloss (boring piece of toast) and Kate Upton (um). If you’re noticing a theme, ding ding ding! Tyra is only homage-ing white models from what I can see.
The header photo is Ty-Ty attempting her Kate Moss look. Tyra tweeted the image with this message: “Hid my booty & boobies like a pro, for a pro – all to look & pose just like #SuperModel Kate Moss!” Oh, and I forgot to mention – Tyra claims that there is no Photoshop trickery used to make her look like all of these “icons”. Just hair and makeup and fierce posing. Obviously, she looks absolutely NOTHING like any of these models.
Now, I’ve talked about the stupidity of various magazine editorials who try to make “blackface” some kind of fashion statement, so is Tyra’s… um… makeup-driven paleness equally offensive? Eh. I mean, I think it’s weird that she seems to have only chosen to represent white models, but overall, I just think this whole photoshoot/editorial/photo exhibit idea is really out of whack. This isn’t about race – it’s just about it being a stupid concept and a really budget execution.
Here’s Tyra’s Cindy Crawford attempt. Um… she looks nothing like Cindy. At all. She’s just Tyra with a mole.
And here’s Tyra’s attempt at Cara Delevingne (there’s some David Alan Grier happening, right?):
Photos courtesy of Tyra’s Twitter.
I wish I could unsee this.
ha! she looks slightly man-ish in that last photo.
She looks like she should be the third sister in White Chicks.
My toes curled when I realised what I was seeing. What bothers me is that she’s the host of a show about making a supermodel but no one has every considered her a supermodel either- she was definitely on the fringe…
Tyra was a guys super model. See, we dont give a damn about who has more Vogue covers, we just know that Tyras SI shoot got a generation through high school. If that isnt a super model, I dont know what is.
Haha! Yeah, guilty as charged. I count vogue covers!
I’m getting The Wayans brothers White Chick movie vibe from these pics.
Ooh, now I can’t see it any other way.
HA HA!!
Looks like MJ in the last pic.
Looks like the guy who spoofed MJ on Mad TV!
I was thinking she looks like Laytoya trying to look like MJ…
Creepy
And desperate for attention.
Yeah, this is what nightmares are made of. Not a good look.
She is odd.
I guess Im the only person that love her. People are so uptight now I find he refreshing if you see her Instagram acc she is always making fun of herself. And the only one that is perfect is her Cara Delevingne imitation
You’re not alone. I love her. Not sure why but I do. I think it’s the crazy that pulls me in.
I like her too. She’s harmless crazy.
I detest all these singing, modelling, tailoring show competitions. I mean so much junk on my TV these days.
That notwithstanding Tyra is amazing. She could have married into money like her contemporaries or spent her remaining days nose deep on coke, instead she transformed herself into an entertainment mogul. That my people, is what a queen looks like.
I like these, I think it is interesting. And I certainly knew who each person represented without having to look at the caption, I think she did a great job!
I think she did a pretty decent job too, especially for Kate Moss’s iconic look. However, some of this just has to be photoshopped…
LOL!
She is so entertaining.
I like Tyra. Shes the right level of crazy, fun not dangerous. And I love the clean living and the empire building. Respect.
Me, too. She handled her fame with a lot of intelligence and a good business sense. I also admit to watching ANTM marathons when I’m sick or stressed, and she seems nice. Talks about herself a lot, but still nice.
These are about as convincing as the fat suit she wore on her talk show.
is white face equal to black face? no. but is it still incredibly stupid? yes.
I was wondering this myself. Can someone please explain to me why this is not racist?
Because, to be racist, the group being represented needs to be disenfranchised in some way. The reason that it’s racist when white people do it is because they’re coming from a place of advantage and using that position on people who are coming from a position of disadvantage. It’s about the power balance, and it doesn’t work both ways.
I’m happy to explain it to you. “black face” is not offensive because a white person puts on make up to look black. Nobody cares about that. The issue is the historical context of black face. The black face actors weren’t actually made up to look like black people. They were made up to look like freakish cartoons of black people. And then they were given degrading names and paraded about like minstrel buffoons. a practice that went on for over a century, and that’s not including the incredibly racist black face cartoons produced by Disney well into the 60’s and aired at movie theaters prior to every movie.
Tyra is an idiot, but let’s not trivialize a serious issue b/c of a vapid supermodel.
Because of the historical significance of blackface. There is no such thing as derogatory whiteface.
@Anna, what a stupid comment. Racism can go both ways. Racism against white people is all over the place too, and I’m sick of acting like because I’m white, it’s okay for people to discriminate against me. It’s never okay in any context.
Do not feed the sad troll going by the name Jay.
@WTF
+100
Also, I don’t believe blacks folks were protesting RDJ in “Tropical Thunder”.
I don’t like these photos because quite frankly, Tyra looks stupid and doesn’t resemble any of these models.
I believe she did Iman too. Kate Upton, Karli and Cara over Naomi Campbell?? Oh Pleasz. I guess she and Naomi are still feuding.
I really wanted to formulate an intelligent comment on this post, but honestly, all I keep thinking is: “what the….why??” Celebs do some wacky things for attention, but I am completely baffled by this.
These photos are sad.
^This^
She is soooo over. I wish she and her horrible show would go away. How many young women have had successful modeling careers after appearing on her who? Only three come to mind: Yaya, Eva and the 3rd is a Somali girl who does really model.
I think Yohanna did well for a bit, but then mucked up her face with fillers and the like.
I stopped watching after the season – I think it was CariDee? – where they did a photo shoot in a freezing cold pool and Tyra screamed at everyone to stop whining because (as always) she survived a much worse assignment than this little exercise. Then she screamed at the model who ended up with hyperthermia for not alerting the crew she was becoming ill from exposure.
All things considered, the current season (with guys) is pretty good. The guys are hot and it’s entertaining. Other than that, only 3 girls and 1 guy have legit potential in HF.
You missed the best part! She also pays homage to herself at 15. I mean really? She is a textbook narcissist.
Creepy. tyra is exhausting to me, and her ego is right up there with goop.
+1
THIS. It’s the ego that makes her insufferable.
She’s doing white models because MOST of the iconic models are white.
Well, she actually did include Naomi and Iman in her series (allegedly), so she didn’t only do white models!
She didn’t do Naomi! I’m pretty sure they still can’t stand each other. Although in all fairness, I think that feud was NC’s fault, not Tyra’s.
I don’t think they’re all bad… I admire her persistence? She’s made a fortune with that face & body. You never hear anything untoward about her. I just like her.
I like 2 of the pics
She look like Pete Burns in the first pic (‘Kate Moss’).
Ha! So true.
This is so ridiculous lol… but soooo very Tyra of her. At least she’s consistent!
could they not photoshop out the bruise on her hip? so weird.
Holy mother of god.. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.
Her Cara is a little White Chicks looking.
Why exactly did she do this, other than for attention?
She looks like she is in drag.
Is this supposed to be high “art” too? I don’t like any of these pictures. Yuk.
She’s a nutjob and a complete and total narcissist. I don’t know how anyone could stand to watch her talk show. She would have guests on who have had real struggle and turmoil and turn around the focus on herself. I don’t have time for a person like that…glad that she’s faded away.
I think Carla delavigne is the best one…and the real one looks mannish too! Take a look at this gif:
http://giphy.com/gifs/103HJZ0KmjvW0w
Terrible! What a horrible idea
Her Kate Moss is ok but her Cindy Crawford looked like La Toya and Cara Delevigne looked like Brett Michaels.
Tyra as white girl reminds me of black model with albinism, Diandra Forrest.
I think the Cara Delvigne one is pretty spot on. She kind of looks a little bit like Kate Moss. I like the idea, I suppose. But w/e. I wonder how the others turned out…
She would be kicked off ANTM for that shoot. Dreadful.
Too true. I don’t see any “smizing”.
Something nice. That one cheek bone on the Kate Moss one isn’t bad.
Tyra is so wacky and I luvs it!
These are sort of weird. She’s a narcissist. Aren’t they all?
What is with the powder white make up though? Cindy Crawford is actually pretty tan.
This would be better without it, because she’s channeling their facial expressions really well alone.
LOL at the comments, priceless !
But seriously, she could have at least homaged Naomi and Iman, they are far more iconic than Cara, Kate or Karlie!
I like the pics. And she is still supposed to look like Tyra, its amazing that you think she could morph into them just like that. And if the pics were photoshopped to make her look like them, what a headline that wold have been. Its a fun shoot, she’s paying homage.
Is “whiteface” offensive? Im asking cos Im not really bothered by blackface. Im black btw
I don’t think, and someone please correct me if I’m wrong, that it’s seen as racially offensive. I think that everyone can agree that it is completely stupid.
It is definetly stupid. Tyra should stop now. Her best modeling days are behind her
Ugh, how embarrassing. I think the people around her are afraid to tell her the truth because she’ll fly of the handle. 2 thumbs way down, bitch. . .
Gross is the only word I can come up with.
Gosh I actually think she is nailing the Cara V look . . .
I will always love me some Tyra. I am OLD! I also will always love that she has a camp for girls.
Oh my gosh! No, Tyra. NO.
Yup, she looks absolutely like her.
She is completely full of herself. Sheesh!
Meh…Next story please.
I want this woman to go away. She had five minutes of true fame back in the day. She is a complete narcissist who has her head so far up her own ass that she won’t listen to anyone else’s opinions. We don’t want to see you in white face or any face. We don’t want you picking out another unsuccessful model. We don’t want to hear you telling us about how your life was so hard. Sorry. Just go away. And take Lady Gaga with you while you’re at it!
No, it’s not equally offensive. There is a historical background and significance to the use of blackface (cartoons, stage shows, movies in which blacks were portrayed clownishly and cartoonishly– and as another poster said– like buffoons). There is no such history behind “whiteface”.
That said, I think her Cara Delevingne is spot-on. Especially with that silly facial expression.
I kind of like these actually. However I want to submit this picture of young Tyra:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr2ckjtBfh1r06q46o1_500.jpg
I may be alone in this, but in this picture she really has this Kate Moss vibe going on. If nothing else they were unusual looking models for their time.
Don’t like her. I can’t with her narcissism but I don’t think she did too badly in the attempt. With the first picture, the eyebrows and cheekbones gives a slight resemblance to Kate Moss and in the Cindy Crawford pic, if you cover the top half of her face you can kind of see it. As for the last one, I think she nailed it.
me da miedo
I think what Tyra did was harmless and she was paying homage to some of her popular and contemporary peers. I don’t see any malice in her intentions which is the exact opposite of traditional blackface which involves humiliating an entire group of people. Tyra is not degrading anyone in these pics.
Which I think brings up the question, “is blackface ever going to be ok provided there is no cruel intention behind it?” (e.g. Tropic Thunder- I think that’s the wright movie RDJ as a black man, I could be wrong, but you get my point)
As for your question-no.
As for Tyra-why???
You make it sound like she has to BE all these models, when all she’s doing is try to mimic them. She’s all right.
So f&^%King ridiculous! Is this what a Harvard degree….oops I mean certificate program gets you? LOL
brilliant photo essay shush the haters
the white face is creepy, like the movie soul man