Tyra Banks, super model and talk show extraordinaire, has always been a huge proponent of woman accepting themselves and their bodies as they are. Tyra herself has come under much fire for her weight gain, and she answered critics by telling them to “kiss her fat ass.”
Tyra now takes on accessories, by naming September 8th, National Real Hair Day. Tyra encourages women, and men with toupees, too, I suppose, to shed their wigs and weaves to embrace their god given hair. Kinky, greasy, short, curly or straight, Tyra wants women to learn to love their locks.
Tyra will don her own real hair on the premier of the 5th season of The Tyra Show as part of her self-esteem campaign.
“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! For the Season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that – no fake hair. I’m rocking my REAL hair. This will all be going down on September 8, 2009, which we’re declaring National Real Hair Day! We welcome everyone to go natural with me!” Tyra said.
Some say Tyra’s messages of self acceptance fall flat because she herself is a gorgeous supermodel who’s fame is because of her good looks. I say her willingness to speak so candidly of the tricks of the modelling industry to produce flawless pictures brings more legitimacy to her cause- even if she is infuriatingly beautiful. While most models won’t cop to the additional help they receive to keep the illusion of perfection their career depends on, Tyra has no problem revealing the inside scoop, with everything from her face sans make up on national television to why models apply white eyeliner for the run way (which, FYI, is to make the whites of their eyes pop from a distance.)
I, for one, will tune in out of sheer curiosity. Of all the weaves I’ve seen that woman wear, I can’t imagine she has any hair left, but wouldn’t be surprised if she’s got gorgeous flowing locks. If that’s the case, the universe has a really sick sense of humor.
