Tyra Banks is taking aim at the modeling industry!
In her Throwback Thursday post on Instagram, the 41-year-old supermodel doesn't hold back about the new pressures of being a model these days.
"Models have so much pressure today," she writes. "They have to look good on AND off the set. They have to arrive backstage at fashion shows looking and dressed as if they are already ON a runway. They have to be slimmer than slim. Skinnier than skinny."
"They have to compete with actresses, recording artists and reality stars for magazine covers and ad campaigns," she continues. "They have to have tons of followers on social media to book top notch jobs. And they have to do selfies that make them look relatable, but not TOO relatable, because then people may comment that they don't understand, 'Why the heck is THAT girl a friggin' model??!!!!'"
The "America's Next Top Model" host has a point!
Banks also declares the new "It Girls" -- models like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid -- are thinner than ever.
"When I was a young model, yeah, we had to think about our weight, but not like today," she points out, along with a behind-the-scenes shot from one of her old-school shoots. "I think I was size 6, not a size 0."
"And backstage at fashion shows, I looked like this photo you're looking at," she explains. "Yep, that's teenaged me right before a YSL show was about to start in sneakers, plaid flannel and bad jeans. Mr. Yves Saint Laurent could care how I looked when I arrived to his show. But when I hit his stage, he expected excellence. And I made sure I delivered that every time I was chosen to walk his amazing runway."
"I'm sending love and hugs to all working, aspiring and super models worldwide. You all have lots to live up to," Banks tells her 3 million Instagram followers. "And I'm here cheering for you every single day. Stay strong girls."
Well said, Tyra.
