Thursday, 1 February 2007

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Tyra Banks talks back

Former model stands up to critics of her weight

Tyra Banks has a message for the critics who have recently poked fun at her figure: "Kiss my fat a--."

In front of the studio audience at The Tyra Banks Show, she struts her stuff – wearing the same bathing suit that prompted tabloids to write headlines like "Tyra Porkchop" – and demonstrates how the wrong camera angle or a shift in body stance can "add weight" in a photo.

"Luckily, I'm strong enough and I have a good enough support system," Banks, 33, says. "I love my Mama, and she has helped me to be a strong woman so I can overcome these kinds of attacks, but if I had a lower self-esteem, I would probably be starving myself right now. That's exactly what is happening to other women all over this country."

Growing increasingly emotional, she addresses those who "have something nasty to say about women who are built like me ... women who have been picked on, women whose husbands put them down, women at work or girls at school – I have one thing to say to you: Kiss my fat a--." (See the above clip for a portion of Banks's big speech. Producers provided the entire monologue except for Tyra's final message to her critics.)

Earlier this month, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the America's Next Top Model host admitted she'd gained about 30 lbs. since her runway days, but said: "I still feel hot."