supermodel envy

[Sharissa]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/swimsuit/tyra/large/06.jpg Ladies... Do the images of women in magazines and on screens such as music videos ever get into your head? Men... Is Tyra Banks the image you have in your mind for beautiful black and sexy? Get @ me!!!

[ 02-26-2002: Message edited by: Sharissa ]

[lifeaschuck]

wussup, personally,Tyra is not the image of the everday black woman to me, not how they portray her anyway, I think Nia Long, or Vivica Fox work a little better to me, they seem more real, black women come in too many shapes, sizes and shades to have a "image" you have to appreciate them as women first, then you can get down on where their beauty lies

[R DUNN]

I'm not a hater either way, but my personal preference is not for the Tyra Banks look that is more catered to mainstream images of beauty. Girls in the videos? Yeah many of them are fine....some even are chosen to be on this site (LOL). Those usually are the thicker types with bigger hips, butt and thighs. I prefer that to the 'white girl' look. But hey, there are a lot of black girls who are built petite like that too. Like Halle Berry (my vote for finest woman on planet Earth) is built more like a white girl that the average black woman. But still beautiful.

I personally think black guys are far more forgiving to the body type/size of a black female than white guys to a white girl. White girls have impossible images of beauty thrown at them to aspire towards. And many turn anorexic or whatever trying to acheive it. We have accepted big, small and everywhere in between, so it's all to tha g. ;)

[BLACKICE X]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[MsZambia]

I ran into Tyra Banks once when she was in Vancouver shooting a movie. I won't despute that she is attractive, but I think a lot of people would be surprised at what she actually looks like.
Her body is not "perfect" by fashion modeling standards. Make-up, digital editing and styling can go a long way.
I'm not trying to hate on her. Like I said she is attractive, just on a different level than the photographs portray.

My picks for most beautiful Thandie Newton,Shakara and Halle Berry.

http://www.cattdaddy.com/thandie.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2001/swimsuit/gallery/shakara/shakara_7.jpg

http://pageowomen.thethreshold.com/halle_berry-17.jpg


Oh and me ofcourse... ha ha just kidding http://members.blackplanet.com/MsZambia/ole2.jpg

[J]

Tyra Bank is definitely not my image of 'a great black beauty'! I see every day women in the ATL on a daily basis that she could not compare with. She even said herself in an interview years ago that she can't compete with some of the ladies she see on the street in a daily basis. Give me a lady like Sonya Lathaan, Lark Voorhies, Vicki (girl I knew in college) any day, cute, sexy, thick, smart, ooh weee!! <LOL>

Today's media twist things way of proportion these days and screws with young girls heads bigg time!! It's a damn travesty. Most of these big models these days are not cute nor sexy. Skinny as hell, but that's about it!!

Just my thoughts!

One! :D

[MsZambia]

I can't tell you how many modeling agencies have rejected me because I was too fat at a size 6-8!!!
I don't want to be a size 2-4, I like having a booty.
I think the mainstream modeling industry is messed up.
I'm glad I have a look that suits the urban market. I can model and eat, I don't have to starve myself.
I understand why models have to be thin (it's all about the sample clothes), but really is this healthy?

[Sharissa]

Tyra Banks has a body of a white girl with the exception of her butt. I don't mean her thinness; I'm talking about the actual shape of her body. Her body type isn't typical of the Afro-American/Canadian women, yet I see so many black women striving to look like her and black men adoring her for it. But of course, the black mentality has been disgustingly out-numbered by the white mentality, and many of us have foolishly come to accept a look not oriented towards black people. Okay fine... maybe I shouldn't have brought up such a topic seeing that this is coming from a chicks point of view, standing at the height of 6’0, weighing of about 132lbs, size 3/4 - 5/6 but does that really matter?

What people have to realize is that, models are made not born. Modeling is a very funny business/industry that has its ups and downs. Its the industry's duty to make sure that we as the consumers desire to measure up to a supermodels standards so that companies can make their money. [Models are usually hired to sell a product and in some cases they become the products]. Maybe I'll admit that not all of us have the so-called physical features to become a supermodel/model. But in reality under all that make-up, proper lighting and sexy name brand designer clothing models are just like ordinary girls feel me?

I mean come on now let's get realistic. Anyone can probably find just an average looking girl out there roaming around on the streets of downtown Toronto/NY, and bring her to a profession make-up artist studio and make her over. With the help of some professional staff and a photographer you would have her looking A LOT better than some of the models out-there on set am I not correct?

Now you see a lot of us fail to recognize just how much of a difference make-up [fake-up/cover-up] seems to have. I mean I'm pretty sure of it that there are millions of naturally beautiful black women out there. [real hair, nails, no make up and etc] that are just not being noticed. True beauty is confidence not conceit, class not cleavage and how much skin you can show, style and personality, intelligence not fame... To sum it all up it's the way you carry yourself whether it be in an appropriate and more professional/respectful manner that's what counts.

- I'm Out

[ 02-26-2002: Message edited by: Sharissa ]

[MsZambia]

Sharissa are you in TO. I'm thinking of coming out there in the spring/summer. Do you know what agencies are booking girls for music videos etc? Do you know some good photographers?
I have lots of experience, I'm just wanting to try a new market.

[Sharissa]

Do i know of any agencies out here in Toronto that are looking for music video chicks? *smiles* Honestly... I'm not really to fond of the agencies out here in Toronto but i do have a friend that's currently modeling for Max Models which is located in the downtown Toronto area, she does music videos and such also. Although i've been told a numerous of times to attend an open call at Elite and/or Ford Model Management. [known as the top modeling agencies in Toronto]. I haven't made a move yet. *lol* But-- You can try them out if you'd like. How ever there is a new agency by the name of Shades out... Peep their site at http://www.7-shades.com . . . But i don't know if their legit.

[ 03-08-2002: Message edited by: Sharissa ]

[MsZambia]

Thank you for the tip.

[ISOFLY]

Personally I think Tyra Banks is FFFIIINNNEEE!! I also think I also think most of the women on this dotcom are FFFIIINNNEEE!! But I don't think Tyra represents the image of Black Beauty. Neither does any model of her status represent the beauty of their race. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes especially amongst our black women. The media has defined what they call beautiful and for the most part only selects women who meet that definition. A majority of the media is white. I think by now we all understand the game and how it's played. That's why we must give props to brothers like RDUNN putting these types of projects together. We , as people, can set our own standards. Thanks R

[Ice-out]

Me personally, i prefer a woman that looks as if she appreciate her body. I see some women in strip clubs that probably had a bangin body in the tenth or eleventh grade, and just tried to ride it out. NOw the have stretch marks. and have a little too much jiggle. I don't like that shit. not attractive. i like a tamala jones type or a halle berry. What some would consider the "swimsuit" type. On my days off, i go to the beach, and i see it all. From all over the world. But the best looking are the ones that surf. they appreciate thier bodies. As for Tyra, she has the body, but the forehead. i have to pass on that. It's just too damn large.

[LaGrange_Brotha]

Give me Sanaa Lathan or that chick that plays Bernie Mac's wife on his show anyday...and i'll be happy. :D

[Sharissa]

has anyone heard the new joint by RL w/ Erick Sermon [Got Me A Model] yet? that ish it hott [yes hot with two t's] *lol*

[ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: Sharissa ]

[taliah245]

The concept of a "beautiful Black woman"having long hair and being light skin or brown skin constantly being portrayed is very upsetting. This is not suprising when done by White people because they will continue to see us as field and house slaves, but when we classify ourselves this way it is disgusting. Black people have to realize that we are all beautiful and that is because of the different shades, body sizes and hair lenghts that we are.

[MsZambia]

To quote Q-tip, "Black is black"

I'm not going to deny that dark skinned girls get very little love in the industry.However, I think it is just as hurtful to imply that lighter skinned girls are not as authentic as there darker skinned sisters.

One big problem is that there are not enough dark skinned girls that qualify as household names. That is a big factor in why none were named in this thread.

The high fashion world "honors" very few darkskinned girls.Often they are fetishized as African bush princesses.That bothers me, a lot.

I'd like to see more variety in everything: height, shape, weight, ethnicity.


Lets not divide ourselves any further.

[MsZambia]

Here is a link that I just found regarding this subject...

http://societypolitics.chickclick.com/articles/33308p1.html

[Sharissa]

http://www.urbangoat.com/issue13/feat03_13.html

[Mister_Bey]

As a photographer, beauty to me can't be defined by an image standard or the image of one person. It's too broad in nature to do so. there are WAY too many beautiful things and people to say "ok, this is the standard of beauty."

(Imitating Forrest Gump)
And that's all I have to say about that.