tyra banks, yolanda hadid

Image by Digitas Photos, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons and the real housewives of beverly hills

SUMMARY

  • Tyra Banks returned to the ramp after 20 years, and walked for the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
  • The former TV host recalled her mother's support when she was being forced to lose weight by her older agency.
  • On the contrary, Yolanda Hadid had repeatedly enraged fans on instances she controlled her daughter's food habits.

Tyra Banks’ success in the modeling industry is news to no one, the former America’s Next Top Model host became one of the handful of Black models to achieve the status of a Supermodel. Recently, she created headlines by reappearing on the ramp for the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Fans were awed at her mother, Carolyn London’s stern response to her daughter’s agency when they advised her to lose weight. Recalling her mother’s support throughout her fashion model journey, Banks praised her presence of mind and body-positive mindset. This is quite in contrast to Yolanda Hadid, who came under fire for her toxic attention to Gigi Hadid’s diet.

An icon of body positivity: Tyra Banks’s unrelenting supporter

The modeling industry is infamous for its toxic and often unrealistic beauty standards for models. This subject often brought big names under the radar, especially Victoria’s Secret who had been accused of mistreating and projecting malnutrition to their ‘Angels’.

However, Supermodel and former Victoria’s Secret Angel Tyra Banks had strong support when it came to weight demands. In an interview with TODAY style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi, the model recalled the time when an agent crossed the line.

My agency in Italy called my mother and she was like, “You have to tell her to lose weight ’cause it’s all gonna go away.”
She said, ” Stop…we’re going to go eat Pizza.”

Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model. Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model | Credits: UPN, The CW, VH1

When her previous agency demanded her to reduce her weight, the model reluctantly vowed to skip meals. But it was her mother Carolyn London who put a stop to that plan and rebuked the ill-spoken suggestion.

I’ll be dam*ed if my baby starves for these bit*es’ business. Do what never has been done before.

The former America’s Next Top Model host recalled how her mother stood for her when her weight increased in certain places. She instead told her daughter to take inspiration from models who didn’t have the so-called stick-thin figure and create her path.

The negative side of a mother’s influence

On the other hand, another celebrated model’s mother constantly came under fire for her opinion in regards to her daughter’s weight. Yolanda Hadid was disliked by fans since she allegedly controlled her daughter’s food habits and even prohibited her from eating on many occasions.

Yolanda Hadid on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Yolanda Hadid on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Credits; Bravo

One viral video showcased her asking Gigi Hadid if she was excited for her birthday, to which the model replied she was looking forward to the food. However, her mother’s comment enraged fans when she swiftly responded to get back on her diet as soon as the night was over.

“I’m so excited for the food.”
“You can have one night of being bad and then you’ve got to get back on your diet though.”

“You know what Gigi I think that’s it, I’ll do this.”

Gigi Hadid in How Deep Is Your Love MV. Gigi Hadid in How Deep Is Your Love MV | Credits: @CalvinHarris

Further on after the Supermodel cut her cake, her mother went on to obnoxiously restrict her and offered her a tiny bite instead. The video included several other instances when the former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star forced her dietary opinions on her daughter.

This is taken so far out [of context]. This was a small little clip from Housewives. Gigi was calling because she wasn’t feeling good and I apparently said, half asleep, ‘Have two almonds.’ I don’t even remember why two or what.

Another scandal erupted when a video of the former reality star telling her daughter to chew on almonds when she complained of feeling weak, resurfaced. To refute the rumors Hadid defended her actions in an interview with PEOPLE.

The former model revealed that the clip was from the time she was recovering from a medical procedure, and she thought the incident was blown out of proportion. Though she had been seen publicly commenting on her daughter’s appearance and eating habits, she denied being critical of their diets.

Gigi HadidTyra Banks

Shruti Pathak

Written by Shruti Pathak

Articles Published: 191

An entertainment writer with a passion for storytelling that transcends genres, Shruti Pathak is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also a devoted poetry enthusiast, exploring the beauty of language and emotion through verse. Obsessed with the show Friends, a self-proclaimed swiftie, and inspired by classical literature these are just some characteristics that describe the novice writer. Newly joining FandomWire as an intern writer, she hopes to share her thoughts while sharpening her writing skills on various entertainment topics.