Hi Tyra I am Rasheeda.I love your show and it is absolutely fantastic. You are great and I know you will be a great mom one day. I am 17 and from Ghana and i wanna let you know that you have inspired me a lot.I love your programme and I sometimes even dream and wish Beyonce was your sister cuz she is just like you. She is my favorite singer and my wildest dream is to meet you two.
I love you Tyra and continue your good and beautiful work.You are such an inspiration.

Hi Tyra
I'm a young girl from south africa and I have just seen your show with regards to the swimsuit edition you graced 10 years ago. I don't want to be a model but I wanna be just as successful as you. I've been let down by so many people even if they don't say it, I still feel some of the stigma attached to black people and what they aren't capable of acheiving. However,everytime they put me down, the more I just wanna get up and prove to them how wrong they are. Even though you may never see this comment just know that I appreciate what you do every single day and for being you. I read the book "the Secret" and I know for sure that my thoughts create my reality just wanna let you know that I believe I'll meet you some day and this comment will be shown on your show,that I believe will happen. Till then keep inspiring me to get there

Love your biggest south african fan!

Hi,I have always wanted to be on the Tyra Show.I have a hair crisis,i have really short hair Halle Barry used to have,I am African American girl that is 12 years old and needs a hair makeover,please help,Tyra if you read this I applied to the Tyras Biggest Fan Because I believe I am,and not yet have I applied to the Makeover from you.
I love you Tyra you have inspired me.

hi this is taylor i am 14teen and i am so proud of you beyonce you are my frv singer and i love you i love your show tyra you are like my friend. beyonce you are like my mom

What the hell,
This episode made me laugh extremely hard. It's one thing for someone else to call you "history-making" but to say it yourself, WOW you're humble Tyra. Yes, you were the first black woman blah, blah. But, let someone else ramble on about how amazing and ground-breaking it was. You'll seem less conceited. And you shouldn't compare yourself to other "african-americans who acheived greatness." Those people were political leaders or changed the way we think, you just stood in some water on a beach and had it put on the front of a stack of paper put together. YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THE WORLD. So stop acting like you did.

Thank you Tyra,
Women need to love what their moma gave them. Hopefully, So What! will help. Air it again and again, PLEASE.
I'd also like to know why is it so hard to fine a swim suit that covers my thighs and is loose on my belly. I use speedo to the knee bottoms and a top that come to my waist but it won't stay down. I sewed it.
Please Tyra come up with an affordable suit that us normal woman can wear to the beach. LOV YOU

hi tyra
i just wanted to know why don't u make a top model show for younger children
from,yashmira a 12 year old girl

Dear Tyra,
hey! My name's Laura and I am a 17 year old girl who believes in what you say. I'm about average hight and size but there have been times that I thought I was fat because of what I have been compaired to. But in reality I am just me, no more and no less. Thank you for standing up for the girls who are simply ourselves because so many people miss the beauty in the simplicity of each person looking and feeling like themselves. Good luck in your fight, infact start a war because short, tall, skinny, fat, black, white, radiant, and average,I'd like to think there's beauty in everyone.
Love Always, Laura

Tyra,
I saw the 10-yr SI swimsuit episode on March 5th and I applaud you for many accomplishements. I would like to share my 10-yr milestones with you and your fans.
In March of 1997, I was the first in my family to earn an engineering degree. What's more, this degree was earned at a historically white university in Alabama. This is unique because my mother raised me with very little financially, and I had to work my backside off to earn this degree. However, I earned it to make my mother and family proud. I went on to become the first African- American female to lead a quality control department at a textile plant in SC. This field has also been traditionally Caucasian/male dominated, which makes this achievement another historical accomplishment. But, as the years went by, I realized that I wasn't doing what truly made me happy. After years of soul-searching and getting to know myself, I found my passion.
In 2003, I found myself tipping the scales at 389 lbs. and at the brink of turning 30, I decided to change my life inside and out - literally. I joined a gym, changed my eating habits, and I have lost 250 pounds to date. I went from a size 24 to a size 6 (without surgery) all natural.Because I have struggled with my weight all my life, I know how it feels to be overweight and wanting to be healthy. This is the main reason why I became a personal fitness trainer in 2006 and currently in graduate school studying Recreation Therapy researching obesity. In conclusion, the accomplishments and changes I have made since 1997 have shaped me into the structured, balanced, and strong black woman I am today and will help me to play a crucial role in saving many lives in fighting the obesity epidemic now and in the future.
PS The complete story of my weight loss success will print as the cover story in the Living section of the USA Today on April 23,2007.I hope it will inspire those who read it and motivate them to make healthier choices in their lives.
Kemichelle Taylor

Hey Tyra,
My initial purpose of entering this comment was to respond to your inquiry regarding the past 10 years of our lives, however, reading some of the comments made toward you, I felt compelled to address them first. It seems to me that no matter how much good someone does, people are always going to find the bad in it. Tyra, from a males standpoint, I commend you for what you achieve daily. That is representing black women in a positive light, proving that there are no obstacles that cannot be overcame, and exhibiting the true essence and thirst to overstand, yes I did say "Overstand", the plight of African Americans. And just for the record, I am not making this comment just because you are who you are, however, I am saying it because of what you do, and criticism comes with the territory. People, just a thought, tend to your own and allow people to live by their own standards, famous or not.
Now back to my 10 year achievement. Tyra, I know on the show you said the year 97, however, my 10 year accomplishment occurred in 96, when I graduated from High School. This might not seem like an accomplishment to most, but it was for me. I was the first of my family to do so, which was the catalyst for pursuing post-secondary education and completing it in 2006. No it didn't take me 10 years to finish college, there were a lot of obstacles, similar to what many Black boys are facing today that I had to go through for me to realize that a comprehensive education was what I needed to excel in life. I graduated with my Bachelors of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which was another high-point in my life due to the fact that I am the ONLY person in my family to do so. Society tells Black men everyday that they cannot achieve through various forms of media and daily life, therefore, I am priveleged to be able to show them different. SORRY FOR THE LONG NOTE!!!

I WAS REALLY HURT TO HERE THE THINGS THAT SOMEONE WROTE ON HERE "USE TO BE TYRA FAN". I THINK IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE WEIGHT ON YOUR BODY, AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE THE PICTURES FIXED JUST A BIT, I THINK MOST OF US WOULD DO IT. TYRA, YOU LOOKED GREAT 10 YRS AGO, AND YOU LOOK EVEN BETEER NOW!!! I AM A TYRA FAN, AND I ALWAYS WILL BE! SO YOU KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, CAUSE YOU HAVE HELPED ME AND I'M SURE ALOT OF OTHERS. I LOVE YOUR SHOW, AND I LOVE YOU!!! LISA, FROM JELLICO, TN.

Tyra i think its wonderful that you re-created the SI cover. To the people who believe that she is wrong for having them air brush her picture. You go take your picture 30 pounds heavier than you were and post it on national television. Dont be mad because she didnt show up on the cover looking like a beach whale. Because she isn't no one can change that yes she gained 20 or 30 pounds but she is still in her weight class and a healthy beautiful women. No one likes to be called fat i dont care who you are. That had to have hurt Tyra's feelings and for her not to immediately run and go on a diet and to remain her weight to give her fans a positive image. Is the most amazing thing to me she truely is an inspiration to women everywhere.

Tyra,

I am really dissapointed in you!! At first, I was thinking how great it is for someone as beautiful as you to stand up and say "The hell with you! I look good 20lbs bigger and I'll prove it!" Then you opened your mouth. You said you shot the '97 cover at 123 lbs, and you were doing this cover 20lbs heavier. Then you said you weigh 161 lbs. HUH???? I'm no math wiz, but 161 - 123 does not equal 20. If you're so proud of your new figure, just say it!!! You gained 38 lbs., not 20!

Also, why all the airbrush and touch-ups to the new picture if you're so proud of your new curves?? Pick a story and stick with it. You have an oppertunity to use your fame and beauty for something real..........

Why all the contradictions??

-Renee
P.S. I know some of you disagree, and if you feel you must........

I think the message of this show was great, however, I was disappointed to see the today picture of Tyra's SI cover from 10 years ago. I think the picture was retouched so much, that it was contradicting the whole message of the show. I also thought that by using light colored hair and eyes, it might be perceived as if she is not truely embracing her race.

hi tyra!,

hi tyra i really love how you are just saying to the press that no matter what you look like from the out side dont judge. i think they should leave you alone about your body image you're fine the way you are i wish i had your confidince. keep up what you are doing
♥
~~mary~~

Hey Tyra. Wow, you want to know what I was doing 10 years ago? I had JUST started to learn how to ride horses! Spring of 1997 I started taking riding lessons. Now Tyra, I train my own horses! I own 9 horses now too! I have won 100s of awards and know more about horses than anyone I know my age. I was in the local 4h horse club for most of those years too. I can't believe that 10 years ago I was a little girl learning to ride horses and now I have so many awards and can jump horses over 4 foot fences. Its been a long, hard 10 years but I would not trade it for the world.

Me and my sister just saw your comments about the bathing suit pictures. We think it's horrible what the tabloids write about people. They condemn you you for being too thin or too fat. You can't win these days. You are such a beautiful woman and a role model for us all. You don't have to be a size 0 to be beautiful and you are proving the fact. Thank you for standing up for the natural women out here!

Thank YOU for making the SHOW REAL.

Weight is not a determination of ones charecter, and life doesnt begin 5 pounds from now. Thank you for giving me an even more incentive to make sure I live a healthy and fit lifestyle no matter what the scale says.(cause even when I was skinny I was still very insecure always thinking that the weight wasnt good enough)

Hi Tyra,
I just wanted you to know that you are truly an inspiration to the world today. You are my HERO and I Thank you for all that you do.
You are not afraid to tackle any subject or to put yourself in anyone's shoes. This is why I truly admire you because it let's the world know that you are a real person with real concerns and issues.
Your show today that had the entire audience in red swim suits had me in tears. I have felt like the beautiful woman whom was suicidal because of how she looked. You let me know that it is ok to be me. It is so hard to hear everyone make those rude comments about my weight. I don't feel like I am huge. I am 5"9 and I weigh about 175 lbs. I have been told my entire life that I am a "big girl." I have always dreamed of being petite because it seems all the men love little women. I have been proud of being tall but don't like being labeled "Big." I have let this label inprison me and make me depressed for years. From this day forward I am going to be happy just "being me." Yes, I have jelly rolls...SO WHAT!!! Thank you Tyra for giving me the courage to love myself "as is."
Keep tackling the world one subject at a time. You are my hero!!
Michelle

HI TYRA,
you have always been my role model
I think that you look great at any size
I hate this whole image that women have to be thin. I'm so glad you did a photo shoot for people mag. and that you address this on your show. I was in a bad relationship for 6 years and the guy that i wish with would always get on my case about being fat and that i wasn't thin enough and that has stayed with me to this day. i just want to thank you for being who you are
we all love you
your best
my wish is to one day get to meet you

tyra!!!
i am a fan of urs.. i am from singapore.. a small dot in the world map actually...
LOVE YOUR SHOW!! if i miss it i wil stay up to watch repeats at 4am!! my mum say is insane!! lol.. but after your show was the sitcom "FRIENDS"!! both show i love it!! i saw ur disagree n agree game u do in your show!! it really make me feel that i am not alone to feel that way too!! hope your show will keep on showing at singapore!! because winfrey show stops!! but lucky yours is stil on!! i actually hope u could ask paris hilton or mariah carey on your show!! that will be cool!! and channing tatum!! oh my god!! he's the man!!
last but not least.. you look so hot n sexy when u take photo!!i hope i can look sexy n hot too!!ha ha.. n when u dance u are so full of energy!! ha ha!
P.E.A.C.E!!! =)

Dear Tyra,

I love how you are so down to earth and don't care about what people think! To me that is so inspirational! To me,I don't care what you look like,as long as you can be yourself than it really doesn't matter!

Tyra,Tyra,
Im so proud to see a positive role model for everyone, my daughter is 9 and she is an amazing girl, im a single mother who devotes all my free time to this girl teaching her to be positive, and when she came to me and asked if she could watch your show top model, at first i wasnt sure, i had to view it first, when i seen your strength and the light you shed on the modeling industry, i had to aprove, you showed the world that modeling isnt just a pretty face, its hard work and strength,now my daughter and i both watch top model, and (i record your daytime show for her) i never have to censor your show, at best i have to explain things, but they ARE important things that we all need to discuss with our girls as they grow.. Thank you for the conversation pieces, you help us both to always comunicate. and who said Tv would rott your brain, hell it brought us closer! THANKS! Tina

I absolutly loved the cover. I think the cover in 2007 looks amazing. Congrats.

I think you are gorgeous tyra, just as every woman, but I must say I did feel a little dissapointed when I noticed how retouched your picture is... I think you should publish the original one, we all have flaws and we should be proud of them as we are of our good things.

Your are great in every way, but you are not setting such a good example with that picture.

I admire you, so please listen to what people says.

dis aint nuttin 2 do wid dis but y do celebs love there selves so much that they cant talk 2 normal people or even give dem a hand its just selfish

Good on you for your accomplishments however I was disappointed that in reliving the strides you made in the modeling world you neglected to mention the beautiful black models that came before you. I mean after all you did mention it was Black History Month but you did not mention anything about other talented models of ethnic backgrounds. The show was just another Tyra love fest.

Hey tyra thanks to you for the wonderful things you have done for women in pluse sizes and even in women who are small. I am tiny but Im learning I don't need to be skinny to be happy I use to waiegh 115lbs and felt really small so I started loving food and now Im a healyth 125lbs. Thanks Tyra
You ROCK!!!

Tyra,
I'm from the UK and I just wanted to say that I totally thought you were fab before you losing all dignity and respect having to prove to USA that you are not fat.
I see you're all in favour of bigger people, which is fine. But the way you blew up, shed tears and generally insisted you wern't fat showed how much that comment effected you alone. This wasn't about a celeb being fat and you sticking up for them - we see celebs being photographed all the time in the wrong way but they don't go off like you. They accept their flaws and we from the public, know that theyre not really that fat and have been caught on the wrong angle.
You're response back has been enough to have people lose all respect for you, swicth off from your shows. I checked it all out on YouTube and it seems you go off alot??! Maybe Naomi C is'nt the meanest celeb/ supermodel around!! She seems like a kitten next to you!! I mean, you shouting at the ANTM girl for not crying!? Are you for real?! The girl was cut up inside but you wanted drama - I guess thats required though isn't it.. being the Queen of Drama an' all.!!
In know this may not appear on your site as its not in your favour. But YouTube is getting very petty and racist with people arguing over you. ( Something no doubt you'll love: centre of attention).
A

than2s f6r the awes60e -h6t6s y64 are a0az5ng

Hi Tyra
I love your show, I was verrrrrry reluctant to watch at first because I stereotyped you from Top Model,but I totally misjudged you and I am sorry keep the good work up and you are giving Oprah a run for her money, in my opinion you are hitting home and you people in your life like Paula White girl you are on your way.

God Bless Girlfriend

Hey Tyra !
I first wanted to say that you look AMAZING they way you are ! I'm one of your biggest fans i love watching your show ! You make girls believe that its okay to have a few extra curves and still look beautiful ! I love you, because of your show i have learned that im beautiful just the way Iam !

Tyra, I think you are a great women and thankyou for reminding us that it doesn't matter what others think about you, what matters is that you feel good about yourself that all that matters.

I have to say Thank You tyra for addressing the problems of weight. I think you look better now then you did 10 years ago,as for the tabloids they shouldn't say anything because of them todays YOUNG girls think they have to be 105pounds before they are beutiful.

I hear it all the time that it is our sociaty that needs to realize skinny is beutiful anymore.but then again skinny is every where we look ( magazeins,t.v. its every where.
I just keep thinking of what my husband says to me(i'd rather sleep next to a pillow then a sketeton)
I just find it sad that these young women care more about how much they weigh then they care about life and living.

Tyra keep hitting the topic's that affect our young children

sarah

Tyra i'm a big fan of your's, I smile everytime i watch your show. You look good in your swim suit don't let anyone let you lower your standards. I love everything you wear on the show. I have to watch your show everyday i come home from school. I'm a big fan.

hi tyra i luv ur show it is good every show is wonderful i live in Barbados that is located in the caribbean hope some day to meet you in person ur beautiful keep it that way. luv Audine

I honestly think that you look better now than you did before!Irreguardless of what people say about your weight.They suck!Youre beautiful Tyra..Always and forever :]

W0W!! sooo many milestonesz so little time.. lolz it would take me more than my space here to write `bout eventsz in my life.. it`sz been a constant rollercoaster..



thankfully.. i`m doing much better now.. n i`m grateful for REAL ppl like u to look up to Tyra!


ur da best! n don`t change for anythin` in this world!!! i L0VE YEW ♥

Hey Tyra,
Whats up! Here's a 16 yr.old girl letting U know that I watched the show and I really admire how strong you are as a women but also how brave you are. I really admire you because you don't let any false comment stop you from doing what you want to do. I can see that you are really close to your mom and so am I, I think that's what makes you the strong women you are and hopefully I would be the same. (You look very pretty on both of your magazine covers.)

Love always,
Jannet

Congratulations on your SI 10th anniversary cover. I think you did a fantastic job. I enjoyed the show. I think your story was very moving and very interesting. I love what you do and you are a great role model. You are setting a great example. I support you all the way with what your doing.

Love Always Steve

Hi Tyra. Am studing History in a State University in Tijuana Mexico, and i love your show specialy the one you did for the 10 aniversary of your cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition. You put out there that it isn't important the figure, and we have to be proud of are selfs. I also have a caina aniversary, weird, am now 21 but when i was 9 i had an accident that change my life for ever, not in a bad way, well not all of it was bad. I was run over and broke my right leg, and i was unable to walk for several months. My family was devasteted, and for several years i had depresion because i didn't see me like the other girls, i didn't wore skirts because i didn't want that the other see my leg. But the years past and we all grow, and i put it on the past when i was like in high school, and lookin back i am really grateful with GOD, because y am alive, a have a good family, great friends, and am close to graduate from my university, am so proud of me and my achievements!!...I LOVE LIFE...and now i do use skirts..am not afraid of what people think...AM BEAUTIFUL FOR WHO I AM....

whit LOVE..Judith

Hi...Ms.Tyra Banks

My name is Tiffani, and I wanted to tell you what was going on in my life 10 years ago on April 13, 97'. I was 10 yrs. old and I got the one phone call in my life that I will never forget... i'm about to start crying just writing it. It was one Sunday morning when my dad called, and told my grandfather that he had hurt my mother, and I could tell by my grandfathers reaction that this time he had really hurt her. So as grandfather rushed to leave my grandmother suggested that we call the police, but they had already been notified, and were on their way. To their arrival they found both my mother and father shot to death. I can just crying with my grandmother, I will never forget that day aslong as I live. I look at you and mother, and I just envy the relationship that you'll share I see my mother and I in you all. I have looked up to you since I was a little girl I used to want to be a model just like you, but that dreamed went away with my mother, and now i've gained a good amount of weight,but that's o.k. because you have shown me that is o.k. to be curvy. I am so proud of you and all your accomplishments, you are a beautiful and strong "BLACK WOMAN", and I think you for who you are. I hope I can to meet you and your mother one day, or at least talk to you.

you looked GORGEOUS!!!!!

i hope i look like you when im 32♥

The name Tyra is synonymous to "inspitation" these days. You've inspired people of all shapes to be comfortable with themselves. I think you look a lot better in your SI recreation than you did 10 years ago. Thank you for being such a very good role model to everyone!

I was watching your bathing suit for SI and to tell you the truth, you were more beautigul than ever. Girl you look better than ever, you nave the curves that are very nice. You just keep on doing what youdo best. Love You

Hi Trya,
I've been watching your show since you've been on and I applaud you for all your work and for your strength! I'm 26 years old have been fighting to stay thin my whole life. On the outside I look like your average woman but on the inside I'm thinking "man your getting married in July and you're FAT!".It's a daily fight to not think these thoughts and watching your show has really helped me be constructive instead of destructive when it comes to my weight. I have joined a gym and am trying to eat healthy (but you know how it is girl!). Anyways, thank you for just being you and a source of strength for a modern woman.

Ha Tyra just wanted to say you are so beautiful (I Know I'm a little late,but I just had to say something)now girl the first SE cover was amazing.But the 10 year cover is out of this world you with all your curves.I actually like the 2007 cover better than the 1997 cover.I just wanted to say thank you form all the big curvy women around the world,even though your not big at all I don't know what the media is talking about.You still give us big girls alot of support,that most talk show host want do.Love ya and I'll keep praying for you.Just continuing keeping your head up

I loved the "Making History - SI Bathing Suit" episode. However, I don't think you should have been airbrushed quite so much in the updated photo. You are truly beautiful and would still have looked great without so much retouching. I hope you'll do another updated photo in 10 years. I bet you'll still be beautiful even when you're 100!

TYRA GIRL THAT SHOW WAS HOT YOU RIGHT YOU DID MAKE HISTORY YOU ACTUALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE EVEN THOUGH IM NOT A SIZE 3,OR 4,OR 5.I CAN STILL DO THE MODEL THING.YOU BEST BELEIVE YOU STILL LOOKED GREAT POPARASSI{I KNOW I SPELLEDIT WRONG SO DONT LAUGH}MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY.TYRA FAT THATS A JOKE.YOU STILL CRAZY THOUGH TALKING TO YOUR PIMPLE WHATS WRONG WITH YOUAND GIRL WHAT YOU KEEPING A SWIMSUIT FOR 10YRS FOR ANYWAY.ITS OKAY BECAUSE BEST BELIEVE I STILL LOVE YOU LIKE CRAZY. YOUR#1 FAN MUCH LOVE

Hey Tyra!!

You look GRR-R-E-A-T!!!Your pic was in the sunday newspaper here in South Africa!! I cut it out and put it in my visual diary immediately. Anyways keep doin' what you doin'...U ROCK!!!
PS: YOUR BIGGEST, BIGGEST SOUTH AFRICAN FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YA, MWAH!!

Tyra,
You are so brave! I know that you hear this a lot but you are a great example for many people and hopefully many more will be recruited. I had my doubts but I watch your show daily and believe you are doing great things. Thanks

Hi! i am from South Africa and i just love your show cause it helps people and i wish we could have a show like that in SA but i love my country and someday i wanna travel the world when i finish my studies so plz reply and i wish i could visit the USA so that you can make me a make over couse i just love that so God bless you and your family i love you like u used to say see ya later.

Tyra,
Thankyou for being such a role model for young girls like myself, and for women. I'm 16 and I always feel fat and am always on some sort of diet. But watching you on Larry King, and the Tyra Show, and also reading your article in People magazine has helped me to see that being rail thin isn't everything. I can still have a goal to loose weight, but I need to make sure that the way I go about it is healthy and that my expectations are realistic.
You're such a great role model Tyra!! Whatever any magazine or news program says you are beautiful! =]
-Sarah

Tyra,
You are a true role model, I am glad that young women have such a wonderful, intelligent, articulate, and beautiful person to look up to. I am so proud of you! Keep up the great work!

Tyra, You were to be my role model...until your SI 10 anniversary cover came out. For the past month I have constantly seen you EVERYWHERE defending your tabloid pix and how it doesn't matter if you were big it didn't make who you were. Being a plus sized 20 yr old woman I was inspired by you. Even though you've never been in my situation I quickly related to your retaliation even when it was spoofed all over television. If you really are proud of your curves, then why did you photoshop (or have someone) the hell out of the SI cover? Thats clearly not you! My role model, thats not you!. Sorry, but that doesn’t make sense.
If you really want to impower women and all that other stuff you were saying on your show, then be real. I really expected to see you in all your glory, perfections and inperfections. But I guess you care more about whats "idealized" and not about the stuff you preach. I'm not hear to bash you, but I really want to let you know that you broke my heart with that cover. & I pray that you see this & hopefully change.

For Black History month, you focus on what YOU have done to uplift African American women? Please. How about focusing on someone who has really made a difference in the lives of these women! By the way, I think the picture that Opie and Anthony did of you in your swimsuit 10 years later is more accurate. You know, wider hips, fat roles,
Frrrrrrunnnnnkisss

Sweetie Tyra
don't worry about what other people say. They are NOT paying your bills and they are just jealous.You look gorgious no matter what you wear.With all these years in the fashion world,give yourself some credit.So what you gained some weight, that's your business.Don't even give them the satisfaction of answering them.As long as they know that they can get under your skin by making those comments, they will keep it up.You have NOTHING to be ashamed off!!!!!They are jealous that your show is doing as good as it is and you will be around for a long time because you touch on everything there is.No matter what subject!!!I wrote you once before to see if you knew of anyone that would do teethwork pro bono.I had to take a loan out to get the other things done.I lost over 158lbs and I am ashamed of my mouth.I am on disability because I had a major breakdown after I lost 7 close family members and that included 2 murdered children.My husband is on SS because of his age of 75 (yes he is 15 yrs older than I am)Here is how far I have come..I don't know where else I can write this so I am putting it here.Maybe someone can put this in the right place so I can get an answer incase you have one.
As for your show...keep up the good work for it touches every subject and you're not afraid to do so...Kind Regards Gisela

Hi Tyra,

I just wanted to congradulate you on your 10 year anniversary. i also wanted to let you know that I agree with you when you said that you look better now than you did 10 years ago. not that you weren't beautiful then, because you were, but with age you have become even more lovely. I also wanted to let you know that since the beginning of your amazing career, I have always looked up to you. I'm half african-american myself and always wanted to become a model but because I don't meet the height critierior, it's just a dream. I love everything that you are doing and wish you nothing but continued success!!!!

Congratulations on your 10 year Anniversary of the SI cover. I love the new photo. I think it's really HOT!!!! I love a good size curvy woman and I always loved your curves. The Image your showing for woman is wonderful and very inspiring. I really love what you do. There is no woman more beautiful then you Tyra. I really enjoyed the show and your story was very inspirational.

Love Always Steve♥

Hey Tyra,
I saw your show on your 10 yr anniversary cover of SI. I really enjoyed the show!! Girl you nailed it!! I too am larger and curvier than I was 10 yr ago, but I feel better about myself now than I did then. I am also celebrating a 10 yr anniversary, I got remarried and everyone said it wouldn't last 6 months. It was 10 yrs on Jan 31.
I am happy for someone of your status to finally stand up and say, YEAH I'm bigger than I was, SO WHAT, I look GOOD!! Tyra, you look GREAT!!
Keep up the good work!!

Jacque
Arkansas

I think you're a inspiration to black women around the world. But I really think you pretend not to like the fact that you're thick. As a black women it's expected of you to be thick. Which you don't look so thick cause you're like 5'11. Now you do contradict yourself a lot. Be proud to show your real hair and for your modeling show stop representing skinny boney models. They all look like they're about to die. To me you're putting a bad example to young girls. Sorry if I ofended you in anyway.

HI TY!

The pics from your recreation shoot were fabulous. Really, I think you look better now than then! I remember that shoot (I graduated in 97). I'm 150# and initially was traumatized because I gained over 20 lbs. since I've been married (only 1 year ago). Everyone said how much healthier I look (I was small because I was sick). The truth is, what makes you beautiful is your spirit, and I think your spirit is stronger than ever before.
P.S. Joe's Jeans are the best!

I just wanted 2 tell u tyra that u looked great in the swim suit. U looked great 10 years ago and u still look good gurl u r like a role model 2 me i watch ur show and i luv it. Well i have 2 go 4 now.

Much Luv
Desiree

Tyra you are soooooo awesome! Thank u for setting the record straight about all body types u have really inspired me!

Don't you think it is a little self centered to celebrate black history month by acknowledging yourself?? You posed for a magazine, nothing else...I mean, this month is suppose to acknowledge people who REALLY made a difference in the world today. I don't think posing in a red bikini is the same thing.

About your SI cover recreation, you said you were twenty pounds heavier than you were ten years ago, that you did the recreation at 161 lbs. On the show you said you did the original cover ten years ago at 123 lbs. Um, 161 - 123 = 38. So are you 20 lbs. heavier or 38 lbs. heavier? You still look fantastic, and much better in the recreation, but I'm just curious......

Dear Tyra,
THANK YOU for bringing a new sense of awareness to the world on what being "beautiful" means. Your remake is absolutely fab and you look GORGEOUS.

I am a healthy, happy, nearly 53 year old woman and for years had not one iota of a problem in the "gaining weight" department, but that has changed in the last two years and now at 5'10" I weigh 169 pounds, 20 pounds heavier than what I consider my ideal weight. It wont budge though - diet, exercise, nothing helps. I would love for you to do a show for "older" women who fight the weight battle and bring in a medical expert who can talk about how/if hormones play a role in later years, and what WE can/have to do differently than the standard diet/exercise plans for 30 somethings out there. Also could someone PLEASE talk about how to get rid of cellulite. If cellulite is fat, why won't it go away when we do lose weight? I've struggled with it since I was 34 and still very thin. It's such a mystery and apparently nothing will change it.

Thank you for all you do to bring a positive outlook to women everywhere and congrats on a BEAUTIFUL redo! You are GORGEOUS. (I don't see those "dimples" you talk about.! :)

Gorgeous.... you look absolutely beautiful. I have to say that I was starting to buting into the news that you were too fat till I saw your picture. You are 100% more beautiful. I guess with everythin in moderation, you will keep yourself at a healthy size. Whatever the case I will always love you!!!!

Thanks for giving Nnena a chance...

Nigerian Girl

Tyra,
I am so proud of you. You are a remarkable woman. I have to be honest, that I didn't follow your career as a model. Let's just say that I am not the most "in shape" woman" and looking at you being so perfect in my eyes was hard. When you started the talk show and "America's Next Model" I saw a different side of you. You are just as beautiful on the inside as the out. You opened up to America through both shows, and I truly love you. I try to watch your show every chance I get. Your swimsuit anniversary show is beautiful. I have to agree with another viewer when I say that I think that you are more beautiful now. You’re not fat at all. To me and a lot of other women, you have our fantasy body. Tall, long legs, nice butt, great bust. Keep doing your thing, and know in your heart that young, African-American women are proud of you and we love you.

Tyra. As a black woman, I am can't help but be embarrassed by this. You're making history in your bathing suit? How on earth can you even say something like that? Being on the cover of SI did NOT celebrate the beauty of black woman, it celebrated the Americanized standard of black beauty. You make yourself out to be someone who paved the way for some extraordinary event. Hello Tyra, modeling? please. What has modeling done for anyone expect inform woman all over the world that they are not good enoough. Ask any black person 5 other people of color who inspired them and I'm almost positive your name won't come up or your bikini. Wake up.

Well Tyra I watched your swimsuit episode and all I have to say is You Go Girl! I thought you looked just as good as last time if not better. I remember watching you on the news when you made the cover the first time and I was amazed. I'm glad that black women are getting recognition for the positive things that we do. Don't let that weight thing go to your head. You are fine the way that you are. GOD Bless!

I just wanted to give Tyra her props for fighting back against the tabloids about her size. She's 5'10 for goodness sake. She needs more meat on her bones and so does everyone else her height or closer. She's no where near obese and probably still wears a single digit size. even if she didn't curvy girls are hot too, remember Marilyn Monroe or have people forgotten the vava voom. I also want to tell her she looks even better than the SI shot from ten years ago. I remember when that was done. I've followed many of the black models and mainstream models that have paved the way for others including herself. I'm about the same age as Tyra minus 9 months. So I remember Kara Young, Gail O'Neil, Beverly Peele et cettera. I haven't forgotten Iman,Roshumba and Beverly Johnson from the previous generation. I was born about 1 month after Beverly Johnson's Vogue cover came out. Also, I know I'm late but my 10 year anniversary is my Ohio University college graduation coming up in August 2007. Blessings to all

Tyra, I really have to say I love you! You are an inspiration and an ethereal role model to many, not just black women.

This recreation of your SI cover should mean A LOT to you. It just proves that, first of all, you're still HOT and SEXY even though you have got some pounds heavier. It is a solemn claim to the world that there is certainly nothing wrong with being fat. You are a positive image as you said on the show and you're healthy. Down the unflattering tabloid and the morbid trend of "skinny as beauty".

Of course, more importantly, it's just a subtle time to remind the world of black beauty and honour when Beyonce gets the cover 10 years later. 2007 just marks the 10 year anniversary of how black have eradicated all the inborn, absurd, unnecessary obstacles imposed on them! It's about equality, equality among different races and nations. Tyra, you made an impressive statements about every black leader, including you, that they are actually paving the way for the others to follow their footsteps while eliminating social injustice and discrimination as much as possible.

I am an Asian from Hong Kong. I would love to see more Asians to be proud of their national identity and represent our continent to fight for our goal! Asian success should be recognized.

Tyra, thats why I said you are an inspiration. Your show kinda inspires me to be that aspiring figure who takes an important first step to show the world of Asian pride!

Love,
Sam Wu

Hey tyra im 15 yrs old and im so happy about your SI issue. I think that it's more than great of what you're doing. For everyone that has seen your show has been more than inspired in themselves to be themselves. I love what you are doing. You have inspired me to do great things in life and for that i'm truly greatful. THANKS TYRA!!!!!!!!!!

i saw that episode and i thought that you looked better in the new photos then in the old, and i almost started to cry when i heard you telling your story of how you were the first black woman on SI.
my 10 year landmark is that in 97 when i was 3 or 4 our house burned down and we had to live in a hotel for a while but we re better now and it would officially be 10 years in july that we've lived in our "new" house and 10 years this august that our house burned down

im from the uk n i just wanna say Tyra u r such an inspiriation! watching ur show has given me the confidence n strength to not care what people think about the size of my A**!!I like it the way it is SO WHAT if others don't!!You make women proud Tyra!!we love you!
bethan in wales

Hey Tyra. U r my biggest fan because u taught me not to give up on my dreams to keep going on until I reach them. I watched ur show yesterday (2/19/07. I did want to be an actrist or a model.

tyra i was watching the show yesterday and you looked just fine another 20 or so lbs aint nothing.. and congrats on proving that you dont have to be all bones to model
~sHeLLiE~

I sent in my 10 year anniversary story yesterday. I meant it to be an entry for the Bahamas trip. Today I found the official entry spot. I entered there but didn't get confimation that the entry had been submitted. I hope it did get through. I've never done anything like this before but I am so grateful for the last decade and Tyra's story inspired me, I felt compelled to share my story. It's not only about the trip. It would be wonderful if I did win it but it's also about sharing my story and hopefully helping others. Thanks for the opportunity.

im so proud of u tyra

love gurjit

Tyra,

Thank you for the ground-breaking photographs and images you have shown us over the years. I still remeber your character, Deja, in "Higher Learning" and I remebered how strong and ambitious she was. I always imagined that there was more of you in that charcter than most people knew or even thought about. Now I know where the strength came from to play that role.

As a black woman and African-American History major I think what you did 10 years ago and what you are doing today is WONDERFUL and super important!

You were instrumental in breaking down the barriers of beauty in the fashion industry. It's not all that often that you see black models in the fore-ground, especially in the 90's and even today we are kinda scarce. But I just wanted to say thank you for the contributions you have made in the past and the contributions you continue to make for our communities and education.

We LOVE you!!!

Rhonda

you look beautiful, but how much did you airbrush, signed your number one fan
Keep it real with us, becuase we all love you ! :)

Dear Tyra I loved this show because it really ment something to me also, well I'm 14 and I want to be a model someday so I like always watch my weight I weigh 92 pounds and I always like looking on the foods I eat for carbs and how much fat it hasbecause I don't want to get fat,(then I really wouldn't make it as a model). I watch your show everyday but this one really hit me that I can eat like regular people and be myself so I just want to say thankyou for that you kinda helped me.

much love Latoya from New Haven CT

You are beautiful and I hope to see the same recreation in another 10 years from now....

tyra, i watch your most of your shows and they area good . Because you help out so many people , like people with inner problems, eatting problems and family things . I guess what im trying to say is that you are a lovely person and so is your mum that is wear you get it from . at the moment i have had problems by gettin kicked out of college for defening myself , but when i watch ur show and see you help other people with bigger problems than me , i feel better when you make their lives better . but if i ever meet you it would make me happy because you area such a loverly person and just keep doin what you area doing luv from a person that idals you robyn w

TYRA!!!! I'm 33yrs old and I'm from the Bahamas. I used to work at the Royal Towers! Remember(1999 or thereabouts) when you needed a pair of sissors and you came down to the front desk to receive and return it? That was meee! You're so beautiful! I just want you to know that I am EXTREMELY proud of you! I am so inspired by your courage and your pure heart. You are one of the reasons I KNOW I can accomplish my goals and make a difference in our generation. I was weeping yesterday when at the way you use your life-POWERFUL. I just adore the relationship you share with your mother. Isn't it funny how God will always provide ONE person who sees your future as clearly or sometimes even more clearly than you do? I'm so glad that just as she was there for you when no one knew your name, she is there celebrating your success with you!-PRICELESS!
GOD BLESS YOU!

Anastasia G

I want to thank Tyra for the show about women being proud of their size. My daughter (21 yrs.old today)is 6' tall and now weighs between 140 and 145. She has always been very thin growing up and when she finally started getting curvy, she was worried about being fat. She is gorgeous and I have always impressed upon her that it is not healthy for a 6' women to weigh 110 lbs. She looks at the scale and thinks she is fat if her weight isn't as low as her 5'4" tall friends. She is finally ok with her weight and is comfortable with how she looks. I really appreciate your show and how you let women be beautiful for who they are. Thank you.

You "GO" Tyra when you decide to do a show about, Women over 40 that is a size 10-14 and still look good give me a call..

V/R
Raina

Tyra,

I just wanted to let you know that you are such an incredible inspiration for every woman; regardless of our height, weight, color, class, profession, etc. Seeing you flaunt your gorgeous self is more awe inspiring today than it was ten years ago, because now we know the beautiful person behind that gorgeous body, and clearly you are much, much more than just a physical beauty. I'm begging you not to succumb to the rediculous pressures of Hollywood to lose weight, you are ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and perfect JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! You were gorgeous ten years ago, you're gorgeous now, and you'll be gorgeous another ten years from now. Please don't change; you're inspiring myself as well as millions of other women (and more importantly young GIRLS) to enjoy ourselves just the way we were made. GO TYRA! :) If there were one person I'd like to work with in Hollywood right now, it would most definitely be YOU! Continue to spread the message that we are beautiful and that women need to stick together and complement one another instead of putting eachother down!

Greetings Tyra,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for all of the positive work that you do. What an inspiration you are! I am a 40 yo black woman and have admired your career over the years. However, assuming your talk show only appealed to very young girls, I never tuned in. Anyway, I ran into an episode of your show recently late at night with respect to models and young women starving themselves to be thin. It was very sad, but I so appreciated your choice to shed light on the topic. I have a 14 yo niece and the last thing I want is for her to not feel beautiful just because she is not a size zero.

Yesterday I happened to be home from work in observance of President's Day and caught your "Making History -SI Bathing Suit" episode. It is absolutely wonderful to see an intelligent black woman breaking barriers in style!! I am not sure if your schedule allows time for you –or only your staff- to review these messages. Nonetheless, I still wanted to take a few minutes out of my day and thank you, thank you, thank you, for your efforts and good work. We need more people in the world just like you.

Warm Regards & Blessings,

Kimberly L -Washington, DC.

I thought Tyra looked absolutely awesome ten years later. It would be great if SI would release a Special 10 Year Anniversary Issue with an article on Tyra showing the the and now photos. Great job to Russell as well.

In this episode you talked about how proud you were to be a black woman. What i cant understand is, if you are so proud to be a black woman then why does it always seem like you are trying to be white? From the hair to the makeup...

I watched your show yesterday because I wanted to show my support that you were re-doing your swimsuit cover to show the world that even though you have put on some weight that you still are sexy! This is an important message to send to young girls you can have some weight and still be sexy. But I have to say I was most upset for what I saw! You made a comment about you paved the way for black models and you were the first black model on the cover. I am happy for you however, you are playing the race card and are only teaching other black childern or even adults that is ok to play the black card. White women and all whites for that matter are discriminated against. Black people get special scholships, and beauty pagents, and they have special places reserved for them at collages. How is this fair to a white person? Please tell me this and you and all of the other famous black people who contuine to do this will only contuine to make the world worse. In my opinion and from the people I talk to the reason why the whites hate the blacks so much is because they play the black card, they think because of what happen 200 years ago the should get special teatment. It did not happen to you. You should try to fix the problem rather than making it worse by useing the color of your skin as leverage. And I wish it would start with Tyra.

You look fantastic! Please continue to be a role model for all women from all walks of life and races. I love your show. I wish you much continued success.

Proud to a Black Latina!
Delilah

I thought it was amazing what you had did on yesterday's show. I am a young girl who has been through alot and i look up to people like you and everyday I come home and see your show it helps my self-esteem alot keep doing tyra and don't worry about the outside world.
Your my idol

Hey Tyra
I tuned in to the SI swimsuit show and was very impressed by your comfort level with how you look now compared to 10 years ago. Funny thing is that I am going through that right now. Ten years ago I was a size 8 now I am a 12 and feel huge. Thanks for reminding me that beauty is not in the size but in your mind.
Ps I'm still going to try and lose a little weight though...but thanks for keeping things real...

Tyra,
You are such an inspiration to all in so many ways. I know you hear that all the time, but it's definitely true. You made history as the first african american model on the cover of Sports Illustrated, you made that cross from beatiful to BEAUTIFUL and you look GREAT! I am nineteen years old and happy to say that I am not your everyday female. I am happy to be thick and beautiful, and just want everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin. You take the lead in what woman have been wanting to express for so long. Let me be the one to say that I for one am proud of you, like you were my big sister. You are able to say,"Either you love me or you hate me." And you walk with your head held high. Believe me, they don't hate you. You look amazing, and you continue to be an innovator for our people. God Bless you Tyra!

Tyra,

I actually loved your 10 year photo! I also think while you are a beautiful person, the photo 10 years ago shows you as a beautiful girl. The current photo now shows you as a beautiful woman...my husband loves you and thought you looked absolutely GORGEOUS!

You are the encouragement of success and the picture of endless possibilites to all young women.

Keep up the empowerment of women and black women.

I am proud of your accomplishments!

Best Regards,
Mari-Ann

I think that you are truely brave and I just love your style showing of your curves. I think that woman should celebrate the way they look and embrace that.

Love

Lizelle M
South Africa

hey tyra i really happy for beyonce and what this might do for her career and i think you are the best inspiration a girl can have and tell beyonce that she should be proud of herself and to keep it up seeya

I think that your 10 year photo is great. You except yourself the way you are in which a lot of people should, but don't. I am one of those people. I am 20 pounds heavier than I was 2 years ago and I hate it. I have not been in a bikini since 1989(13years old). You are doing your thing and I look up to you. You are a great role model for the newer generation, that beauty doen't need to be a size 2, real women do have curves and it is O.K.

Tyra I am so proud of you. thanks for not being scared to be who you are and the woman that you have become. Look at Beyonce it's her curves that make her fine as she is. ALthough she has a beautiful voice men see HER before they hear her voice. I think the curves on you are very nice and I would almost kill to have YOUR body. Keep on blessing others with your inspiration. May God continue to bless you and keep you.

hi... i just saw your show on the 10th year anniversary of you SI cover.. and you wanted us to tell you what we are celebrating the 10th year of this year... and i realized, hey, in 1997 -- i was just 19 at that time -- i started a new phase of my life when i entered medical school! i can't believe 10 years had passed! it took a lot of guts for me because my career defined my life, not to mention the fact that at that time, i had to move out of the house and into a dorm... and now, i'm back home, pursuing a further studies in surgery.. i know that here in manila, there are already a lot of female surgeons, but in my world, i am the first :)

congratulations to you and congratulations to me as well!

hi... i just saw your show on the 10th year anniversary of you SI cover.. and you wanted us to tell you what we are celebrating the 10th year of this year... and i realized, hey, in 1997 -- i was just 19 at that time -- i started a new phase of my life when i entered medical school! i can't believe 10 years had passed! it took a lot of guts for me because my career defined my life, not to mention the fact that at that time, i had to move out of the house and into a dorm... and now, i'm back home, pursuing a further studies in surgery.. i know that here in manila, there are already a lot of female surgeons, but in my world, i am the first :)

congratulations to you and congratulations to me as well!

I don’t watch your show usually but thought I would catch the show on Feb 19 re: your SI 10 anniversary. I guess I watched because I am 44 years old and have been struggling with the changes taking place in my appearance with the onset of age, weight gain, etc…
And you yourself are starting to feel the effects of aging. Recent tabloid article regarding your weight. Well the weight and changes in body appearance all come with age.

Always a fit 125 I did some modeling up until I was 35(won 1st and 3rd place in local photo contests nothing of your caliber). Now 44 years old and 160 pounds Issues of self-esteem and loving the body you’re in take a double whammy when you hit 40 especially if you’re a woman. You don’t look like you used and people treat you differently when you are an older woman so emotional and esteem issues are soon to follow. Society does not look at aging woman as attractive or sexy everything is geared toward the young.

Marketing is geared towards young adults, television shows and movies even the federal government refers to anyone over 40 as the older worker.

If you’re a man you are distinguished and probably looking for a younger woman.
Woman just age. Talk about your self-esteem taking a beating.

You mentioned how proud you were of being a on the cover of S.I. being the first black woman to grace the pages. Well age discrimination knows no color but maturing woman will surely will know it. And aging is the one thing we all have in common so maybe you can deal with this issue in upcoming shows imagine how proud you would feel making a change not just for black woman but, for woman.

Hey Ms. Tyra,
I am currently a principal in Chicago and since there was no school today, I had a chance to click through the channels to see what was on. Your show on Monday, February 19th concerning racism in your own race was very interesting. I was also very proud of you for not going crazy trying to loose weight in order to get back to your size 10 years ago in order to do your SI photo shoot. Your show caused me to reflect on my own life over the last 10 years. I have to say that I am very proud of myself as well. I have been able to travel to Europe 4 times, I have two masters and currently working on my PH.D, I've purchased my own condo, bought a new Jaguar and I am surrounded by family and friends that constantly give me love and support in all that I do. Keep up the great work that you are doing and always stay real like you are now.

Hi Tyra,

I really enjoyed this episode, it was one of my favorites. You looked and did a great job. Thanks for paving the way for all of us:-)

used to enjoy show/now I realize your just boosting your ego,very stuck on yourself which is ugly/please ...

dear tyra, could you please do a segment about black women who have two toned lips and how to chose the right lip stick, so that it covers completely and looks uniform (my top lip is the color of my skin and my bottom lip is pink

I just watched the show this afternoon and was floored. Tyra, you still look so amazing, but you look even more beautiful now than you did then. I was happy you did the re-creation. It gives me the inspiration to be better than I was before. Thanks so much for that. Take care God Bless you and your family alwayz.

*Tyra*..
You are God's blessed Gift to Us (Motivator Extraordinaire),HE definitively knew& Map your Life for it is needed .WOWWEEE. talking about' It's a Wonderful life now I know you've seen it. honey when struggles get bad ..be encourage. see the Movie cause your are one of the people it was base on.:)
Listen...Wayyyyy to gooo on the...episode: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit .It Touched me prison held captive my Heart *sigh*truly I enjoyed ,the WONDERFUL LIFE the spirit of it's power had in the Topic.. it was an...undeniable phenomenal. experience... ever by far!
It deeply hits Home and will forever be rooted grounded in my mind heart spirit to pass on& as apart of my daily living!
It ONLY drives Home to me as a Black woman that I'm one of God's Exquisite Jewels .what so ever way I allow my Beauty to shine.. Positively is COOL.
Furthermore in giving doing being all that I can be and the importance of staying True to me..It such a BEAUTIFUL Deep THANG.. without it Life for me is soo dull and meaningless. Hearing the beat of my Own drum is of the most importance...It's breathtakingly vital sooo very mandatory as is to establishing a lasting ongoing Positive legacy . Allowing my Life to freely give of itself.
While in life knowing there are struggles, Heartache disappointment.. but with in Mind Rising above the occasions. anchored.. by God’s Amazing Grace, strength, wisdom& knowledge thereby I'm building on my growth &development. It’s a Blessing to have truly, That makes me mighty Happy as can beeee!! ;O)
Best wishes,
susieQ-Boston

Tyra you look pretty in both of you magazine covers
I admire how strong you are as a woman and how you dont care what people think of you. You Rock!

Tyra,
Your comments regarding the fact that you are proud of the way your body is NOW were great to hear, until I saw the final product of your 10-year anniversary SI photo. If you are in fact so proud, why did you permit the photo to be retouched to the point that it was obvious that photo was not indicative of your current body? I was shocked upon seeing a photo on which, at the very least, the waist and thighs were heavily and unrealistically retouched. And this after you had spent the entire show convincing your audience that you absolutely loved the body you're in now. In the future, to really get your point across, I would stay away from the excessive retouching and truly be proud of what you have now- all 161 pounds of you.

God Bless you and your mother Tyra....
...I know that this show has a lot of emotion for you - full figure, african american....but I have to tell you - as a white,overweight, gay man you hit me hard with the start of the show...your mom is amazing - to tell you to eat pizza when your agents want you to lose weight...good on her!!!- and for what you are doing now - that beauty is within - is a true gift for us ALL...know you you touch MANY people...and I thank you for touching me!!!

All the best to you!!! Keep up the good work!!

David

Dear Tyra
My name Detrie Wyatt Iam married and a mother of 2 childred you may not ever read this email but I recently had brian sugery and i had to cut off all of my hair Tyra I have been out of work sine July so I watch your show every day you have inspired me so much because just because some has changed with your body of what every you made me fell as a black woman all though we have some flaws in our life we still are beautful women and when you did your photo shot all though your body has change you still are be beautiful black women with curves and you are what keeps me going because i loved my hair and when they cut may hair I felt i lost my inner beauty and you have inspired to feel good about myself.

Tyra,
YOu should come up with a swimsuit line for girls who have real boobs and curves! I know you would be successful and I would certainly be one of your first customers!!!! My mom and I are looking forward to being on your show on march 1st. My mom is a true fan from Canada! eh?!!!!! thanks for inviting us, we truly appreciate it. Teagan and Pat

I was so impressed with the show today, however, that dress was not flattering. The bikini shots while both good, it is my opinion that the more recent one shows you as a woman should be, with your well-defined curves.

For the past 10 years I have been consistently working on my family history since I acquired my first computer! (Actually I've been doing it a lot longer, but walls broke down in the past ten yearss with the advent of computers and all of the information currently on the internet. What an incredible force it was and opened doors to an extremely rich (spiritual, hardworking, strong, venturing and steadfast. I have been appointed as Family Genealogist for the Freer-Low Family Association, a contributing family group of the Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz, New York. I have also been published in Ancestor Magazine, as well as having two "brickwall" solutions printed in "500 Brickwall Solutions." Many of my ancestors were really among the earlier colonists, while my father came through Ellis Island in 1922 from war-torn Russia. An email arrived recently that offered a trip to the very area my father attended school, built bridges and grew up. It would be such an incredible dream to be able to take this years' trip in May.

Again, thanks so much for an incredible program that speaks to us REAL women.

Now that I have commented on your picture in previous post, Ten years ago, I was starting college after the end of a 19 year marriage. I worked full time and went to college at the same time. I graduated with a BS in December 2003 in Elementary Education and I have just completed my Master's degree in Reading and Literacy in August 2006. I still work full time , as well as substitute in the school in my area. I am trying to attain a full time job teaching- my passion. That is my next goal that I look forward to accomplishing.

After viewing both pictures, the one from ten years ago, and the new one, I can only say that the beauty that you posess shines through in both pictures. It is evident that this is a gift that comes from within, not something that can be "touched up" or manufactured. Bravo for your decision in appearing in the picture of today as you are- a beautiful human being...

I think that is was so great for Tyra to re-create this shoot because it shows that although she has retired from modeling, she will always have modeling in her heart!!

HELLO!!!

Tyra, since it was a holiday I was home and able to watch the show and I must admit you are a woman with a lot of courage and I think that is great. You are really dealing the body image and no one else is really standing up and saying anything about it except for Jamie Lee Curtis who challanged the status a few years ago. You are also proud to be a black woman and are not afraid to say so. I would have liked to be a part of your online chat tonight (Feb. 19, 2007) but I could not find it on your web-site. I hope to log-in again in the future and be a part of your conversation. Take care!

Tyra!!

I liked the picture taken 10 years later. You loo great.

Love YA!!

first i love your show only because of you. You bring a new life to televison. Ten years ago i got sick and lost my kidney's and had to retire from work . I felt that my life was over but a friend of mind told me to do forster care and I did it and im still here and have adpoted six boys form the age of five to twenty thank you for your show

Hi Tyra
I'm glad that u got a chance to do your cover over after 10 years you looked great then but even better now.....stay beautiful....with much love

Hi Tyra, I think you looked young and sexy then and young and sexy now... I'm glad that you talk so heavy on how THICK is lovely because alot of young girls don't think that way and are very unhappy about themselves and their bodies... your a positive person, very beautiful and I love you much.......

Hey Tyra,

I have watched you grow up and must say you are doing your thing. It's sad that the media is hating on you. I am glad you told them that you don't care. It was smart step in the right direction. You are so talented and you are one of the few celebrities that you never hear anything bad about. And if if something bad was said the world needs to realize that celebrities are human. You are awesome.. May God continually bless you.

Marleen
Marietta GA

TYRA! You are so beautiful on the inside and out. You make all my dreams seem like they are in my reach. You looked gorgeous then and you look gorgeous now. You could be 100 pounds heavier and it wouldn't even matter. You're an amazing woman and role model for teenagers like myself and even all women in the world. I strive to be the wonderful person that you are. Thank you for the example you set for girls like me.

xoxo

Hey Tyra! I didn't get a chance to watch your show today but wanted to say congrats on your accomplishments!! I checked out the photos too...your look absolutely gorgeous as always!!! Thumbs up from a MN fan!

Ms.Tyra I love you dearly , love your show I personally think you are the next OPRAH. but let me say this in the honor of us black women 4 this month YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO insecure, an soooooooooooo transparent. The fact alone that you choose this month to re-invent your sports cover says all whole lot to those of us with mature minds, Out of everything going on this month you pick this, WHY I will tell you the FAT jokes where just a little too much 4 ya so you have to prove you can still hang with the the youngsters get over it Ms.Banks you are a lovely women in your own right. There really is no need to compete with Ms.B she is dong her thang, an you are doing yours. Lets not show all of the world how desprate we can be to prove a point let the youngsters have there day AFTER ALL YOU HAD YOURS,now lets pass the reighn.

I saw Tyras show on being the first black women on the front of sports illustrated (congrats by the way)... I always thought of Tyra as being a strong woman! Why would she objectify herslef on this cover? Why would she turn herself into a sex object for men to oggle? Shes so strong and bright I guess I cant figure out why she would do that? Well she made a mile stone and should be proud!!!

Just two words; Awesome pictures!

You rock Tyra!

Photo Courtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, PA.

To speak the Lakota Language, one needs to be aware of the Lakota perspective so that the correct words will be used. This is achieved by either growing up among Lakota People whose first language is Lakota and who live in their homelands. Or it can be introduced by a Lakota who has lived that perspective all of his life. Because of the experience of Natives with western civilization, meanings of some words were altered by those from the dominant society to attempt to change and control the Natives. They did this hoping it would tame us.

During the early part of the 20th century, the american government set up boarding schools to "civilize" Native children so that they would be able to function within american society. They realized that the earlier they took the Native children away from home, the easier it was to transform them. They also realized that the further away from home they took these Native children, the easier it was to break them down emotionally. These schools offered low paying salaries and not much benefits. Thus, a lot of teachers of questionable character were hired to "civilize" these Native children.

These children were taken hundreds of miles away from their extended, loving families to these boarding schools. When they arrived there, one of the the first things they had to do was to stand in a line to get their hair cut. In most Native cultures, hair contains the essence of the soul, and this is why most Native peoples grew their hair long. The only time when they were to cut their hair was when a relative died. This hair cutting was done in a ceremoniously way, as this was a cultural rule. Thus as these children were forced to stand in line to have their hair cut was really shocking. So these children thought that someone in their families must have died. And since they all had to stand in the same line, they thought that all of their families must have died. And then they felt that they were now facing death, as well. That had to have been a most traumatic shock experience.

Then they were told their language and culture was evil and from them devil. When these Native children spoke their language or talked about their culture, they were severely beaten, molested and made to feel ashamed to be Native. Soon many of them died in those schools from broken hearts, as well as the physical, spiritual and emotional abuse. And some adopted the abusive ways of the teachers, priests and other authority figures in these schools, as the older students began to abuse those they considered weaker than themselves. Thus, these children grew up away from their extended families that normally would have helped them to learn to process their emotions and thoughts, as they grew to become adults. And instead they were grew up facing constant abuse and with no emotionally healthy adult role models to emulate.

Photo Courtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, PA.

When these children became parents themselves, they did not want their children to speak their language or to know their culture, so they did not teach them much concerning these things. This process continued for several generations and surprisingly, some of them thought the best way to survive was to adopt the ways of the christianity; thus, many of these children were brainwashed. And when they returned home after they were finished with their "schooling", this brainwashing was continued by the christian and catholic priests on the reservations by their perverted mistranslations of certain Lakota concepts and teachings. They must have felt that their "old" ways were now being corrected by the priests.

When the christian and catholic priests first came to the reservations in the early 1900's, they wanted to convert us to their religions. One step they chose was to learn our language. Some attempted to translate bible information into the Native tongues so that they could better approach the Natives, which would also make for an easier conversion. These churches later built schools on the reservations, which were havens of constant abuse from the priests against the Native children. More Native children began to accept what they were being brainwashed with, as it led away from this abuse. And those who still spoke their Native tongues accepted the perverted translations of some of their Native words, as they accepted the new ideologies being forced upon them. In some instances, the priests built themselves up to be the literal ears of their god. Thus, these priests would have the Native children ask them for forgiveness of their (Native children's) sins. This put the priests ABOVE the natives. From this experience, the priests mistranslated the sacred Lakota word "unsimala" to the covert and oppressing expression of "have pity on me".

HOWEVER... THROUGH LAKOTA EYES... "unsimala" means "I have a genuine need and I need your help". If I am need of assistance and I say "unsimala" to someone, that person has a choice to help me or not. If he/she chooses to help me, the Lakota Natural Law of Generosity goes into action. This Natural Law states that the energy a person uses to communicate with others will return to him/her fourfold. Thus, that person chooses to help me, the result will be that he/she will be receiving good medicine fourfold (x4). And my need will be met, also. When I said "unsimala" to that person, I was presenting an opportunity for that other person to receive blessings fourfold. The original definition of "unsimala" is very different from the christian and catholic priests' definition.

Relocation Brochure distributed by Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In the recent past Lakota history beginning in the early 1950's, a USA government program called Relocation was created for Native peoples. Under this program, the United States government would pay all expenses for Native people to move off the reservation and into a major U.S. city. The USA government promised that if the Native people would sign up for this program, that these Native families would receive good jobs, nice homes in nice neighborhoods, nice schools with high quality education for their children, among many other promises. Thus, a lot of Native families signed up for Relocation.

When these Native families arrived in the cities, nothing was the way it was promised to them. Instead, they ended up in ghettoes where many times even the African-Americans and Mexicans gave them a difficult time, in addition to the racism gifted to them from white America. Thus, they had racism coming against them from all those around them who were not Native. As such, there was a lot of injustice committed against them and they basically had no place to turn to for help, as even the law enforcement and the courts handed out more injustices upon them. Some Natives returned to the reservations. Even though the economic situation was worse on their home reservations, they still felt it was better than the extreme difficulties they had to go through in these cities.

However, a lot of them stayed in the cities. In time, things got better. Not perfect, but better, and many began to prosper materially, as well. However, spiritually and emotionally, the city Natives were still suffering. Also, back then it was very unpopular to be Native. By this time, Native people have already suffered the boarding school experiences of the early 1900's and now they were suffering under the Relocation experience. And even moreso than before, many more of the original Native beliefs were neglected and forgotten. Also, the Native Relocation people began to lose their tribal perspective, as they were adapting to the big city life. Some began to lose the full meanings of what little cultural information they still had. As a result, these city Natives began to think with a perspective very similar to the western way of thinking. And those who still knew a little bit of their language began to speak it from a western & christian perspective and not their own traditional perspective.

One mistake is when people take non-Lakota expressions and translate them into Lakota. When they do this, they think they are "speaking Lakota". One example, is the expression "Wakan Tanka nici un". This is an expression that is not from the Lakota Perspective. Rather, it is non-native expression translated into Lakota. However, translating a non-Lakota expression using the Lakota language does not convert it into a Lakota expression.

Before our Lakota ways were perverted by christian and catholic priests of the past, "Wakan Tanka" meant "an organization of spiritual and physical entities", whose ways were a Huge Mystery. Thus, the true definition of "Wakan Tanka" is "The Great Mystery". It does not mean "the great spirit" or "the creator" or any other "one god" concept, such as that found in christianity. Our belief system is merely a different one from the christian view. But because of the christianizing process that happened on the reservations in the past, many of the original teachings became tainted, as a brainwashing technique, to bring Native people to "see the light" and "error" of their past "evil" ways. Thus, "Wakan Tanka nici un." is NOT a Lakota expression. When traditional Lakota people hear "Wakan Tanka nici un", to some it is funny, and to others it is insulting. Lakota translations of expressions, which are not from the Lakota Perspective, actually contradict the Lakota Perspective and the Lakota people themselves.

The Lakota language was never written until just recently. As such, our language has developed attributes that involve the frequencies of combinations of certain sounds that affect unseen dimensions. If someone says something in Lakota that at first sounds "ok" but without the Lakota Perspective, he might be effecting something dangerous to happen. Thus, teaching this language requires teaching the Lakota Perspective, as well. The Lakota Perspective is based on several important Natural Laws. One of them is called the 7th Direction, which is about taking care of the four parts of the self (mind, body, emotions and soul) as best as can so that we establish inner peace within ourselves. Nature projects the state of being in our inner world to the world around us. Thus, if we do not maintain our 7th Directions, then we contribute to the continuing violation of our Mother Earth. Also, speaking the Lakota language without the Lakota Perspective affects one's 7th Direction, as well. The Natural Law of Generosity states that the energy we use to communicate via thoughts, feelings, actions and words will return to us fourfold. Thus, speaking the Lakota language without the Lakota Perspective can bring harm to the person speaking it.

However... in honor of my relatives who suffered and survived the "civilizing" process forced upon them by the boarding schools and churches they were forced to attend, I teach and I will continue to teach the Lakota Language according to the way it was spoken before this "civilizing" experience. Our language has existed for tens of thousands of years. Thus, it developed characteristics that most other written languages do not have. Some of these characteristics involve actually feeling the connections to animals and plants, and communication with the spiritual realms.

These are my words,

Wakinyan Ihambla = Vision Quest, Jim Norris Jr

Am for real you're the most hottest girl i've ever see in my life, and i will let you know that am your number one fan from the west African region. Thnks Tyra keep it up.

Hey Tyra! First off, I'd like to say that you looked absolutely fierce in that swimsuit both the first and second time around and I would love to have your body ten years from now (or at any age)! I know you've heard it a million times before, but you are truely an inspiration for all women, especially women with curves. I feel so much better about myself as a young, curvy, black woman after watching your show. I'm glad that you're changing the images of beauty and that your standing up and saying it's okay to have curves. When I see a sexy supermodel who is black and has healthy size body, it makes me feel better about myself. Today your show was wonderful. It brought me to tears, and in the end I gained a lot of confidence knowing that even models struggle with their image. I love you and I love your show!

-Whitney

Tyra I just want to say that I love you so much. I watch your show daily. I think the picture ten years later looks better than in 1997. I am a big girl 5'11 300+. I deal with my weight in my own way. I just love the fact that you accept your body the way it is. I love myself,but i literally hate my body. I dont want to do a surgery. I want to be able to do it on my own, in healthy way.. I am so lost for words when it comes to how much I really truly admire you..You remain true to yourself a STRONG AFRICAN WOMAN at all times and I LOVE that about you. I like the fact you are not afraid to go out the box to have fun..I tell my mom all the time i wish I had a friend like you growing up or even now..Keep inspiring young females, especially afro americans like myself to dream big and never give up no matter what..and for the record I dont want to be skinny I just dont want to be this big...thank you again.~smooches~

I wanted you to know coming from an Irish-American woman. I never saw you as a beautiful, skinny, African-American model. But as a beautiful woman...period.
Congrats on all you have done and all you will do. Also a big Thank You for the topics on your show. You are an inspiration to so many people.

HEY TYRA!!!!!!
hello tyra my name is megan buck and I LOVE YOU im only 14. i watch you every day at 7:00pm aand i have to say this is my fav. show! you have inspred so many girls including me you dont have to be 87 pounds to be beautiful! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! i love you. i love that when you say stuff it really comes from the heart! tyra i love you!
thanks for beng such a insperation!

my dream is to meet you some day!
Megan

Hey Tyra.

I think it is amazing that Beyonce is on the cover of SI. Making history is one of the greatest accompishments in my mind as long as its for the good, and I belive that Beyonce making the cover is the most encouraging thing ever. Along with every thing you have done as well, I admire the african american culture. Even though I am not apart of it, if I was I would be proud.

Thanks for encouraging teens like me everywhere. You looked amazing in the remake of the SI cover! YOU GO GIRL!

It's seems like everyone these days so wrapped in in what hollywood is suppose to look like they forget about loving themselves first. It's so sad that you have these young beautiful women trying to live up to this standard but yet not prepared for the outcome. When the story broke about you having "curves" (for better words) you did not take that as let me go run to the gym and loose 50 pounds but embraced the ignorance of others cruelity and said yes and I am proud of it and I am still fine. That's the type of role models we need for the younger generation. Accept who you are regardless of what others think because god made only one you and he don't make no mistakes. When I was younger I wanted to model, but I was either too short or not the right look at the time so I went to acting. Now, I've had two beautiful children and Im not the thinnest anymore, gained some curves, but I love me. I am beautiful and can't nobody tell me otherwise. Thank you Tyra for representing beauty in all ways and giving something positive back to the younger generation. Stay Blessed! P.S I love your show girl!!

hi Tyra!! omg i just came to tell you that i watched the show today as always and your new picture of the sports illustrated is GORGEOUS! your body looks just the same, and even better. I really don't know what all that people is talking about when they criticize your body..they are all nutin but hataz! when they see nothing can break u down.. that picture really amazed me and i don't see no 10 more pounds, but what i see is ten more years of knowledge and a beautiful inside and of course out! U GO GIRL!!! we luv you!! and keep demostrating people why u a TOP MODEL!
-Aurora-

TYRA I REALLY ADMIRE YOU AND I LOVE YOU I AM 16 YEARS OLD I WANT YOU TO WRITE ME A LETTER PLEASE I LOVE YOU AND I ADMIRE YOU AND GIRL YOUR A BEAUTIFUL MODEL AND WHITE GIRLS AINT GOT NOTHING ON YOU YOUR MY IDOL AND SO IS BEYONCE AND I SAW THOSE MEAN TABLOID MAGAZINES THERE IGNORANT THATS WHY THESE DAYS THERE ARE SO MANY GIRLS RISKING THEIR LIVES JUST TO BE SKINNY . YOUR A GOOD INFLUENCE FOR GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD I WATCH YOUR SHOW EVERYDAY I LIVE IN MIAMI LOVE YOU TYRA .
LOVE , SAMANTHA

I am celebrating a big ten years! I made the choice a little less than ten years ago to move out of my parents house, at the age of 14, and make a better life for myself. My parents were drug dealers and addicts in Sonoma county and they didn't provide the parental guidance or necessities that I needed(the government did help out with food-stamps, but they never made it past the first week of the month). I had an amazing older sister and brother-in-law who let me escape my heartbreaking and debilitating reality for a chance at a dream by letting me move in with them in my freshman year of high school. My dream was not only to graduate high school but, more importantly college, and have something that no one could take away from me...my degree. It has been a long, long hall that very few people thought I could accomplish. But, through countless hours of studying, hundreds of late night coffee runs, family tragedies because of drugs(brother dying in prison and father dying on my birthday), and friends that I had to say "goodbye" to because they couldn't understand why I put school before them, I am graduating from UCSD in a couple short months. I have attended three Jr colleges and both UCSD & UCSC and have struggled with learning disabilities because of my mothers life style choices while pregnant with me, but I never gave up. There is soooo much more to my journey, but I hope this can in some small way conveys that I am accomplishing something that many would say a girl with my past could not. I am 24 years old and would love to be able to celebrate this HUGE anniversary dream that is about to come true with a trip like Tyra did on her show. I know lots of people that have gotten graduation trips as a gift from there parents, and it would be a great honor to get one from Tyra. Ha, Mama Tyra giving me a trip for graduation, wouldn't that be amazing!!!! Well, if not a trip I would still love to encourage others that might be in the same place I was ten years ago. College can be for everyone, no matter what kind of family or socioeconomic class you come from. If it is your dream, don't let anyone or anything get in your way!!!!!

I just wanted to say your Sports Illustrated '07 cover was beautiful just like your '97 one was. You are such a great role model.

I am celebrating a big ten years! I made the choice a little less than ten years ago to move out of my parents house, at the age of 14, and make a better life for myself. My parents were drug dealers and addicts in Sonoma county and they didn't provide the parental guidance or necessities that I needed(the government did help out with food-stamps, but they never made it past the first week of the month). I had an amazing older sister and brother-in-law who let me escape my heartbreaking and debilitating reality for a chance at a dream by letting me move in with them in my freshman year of high school. My dream was not only to graduate high school but, more importantly college, and have something that no one could take away from me...my degree. It has been a long, long hall that very few people thought I could accomplish. But, through countless hours of studying, hundreds of late night coffee runs, family tragedies because of drugs(brother dying in prison and father dying on my birthday), and friends that I had to say "goodbye" to because they couldn't understand why I put school before them, I am graduating from UCSD in a couple short months. I have attended three Jr colleges and both UCSD & UCSC and have struggled with learning disabilities because of my mothers life style choices while pregnant with me, but I never gave up. There is soooo much more to my journey, but I hope this can in some small way conveys that I am accomplishing something that many would say a girl with my past could not. I am 24 years old and would love to be able to celebrate this HUGE anniversary dream that is about to come true with a trip like Tyra did on her show. I know lots of people that have gotten graduation trips as a gift from there parents, and it would be a great honor to get one from Tyra. Ha, Mama Tyra giving me a trip for graduation, wouldn't that be amazing!!!! Well, if not a trip I would still love to encourage others that might be in the same place I was ten years ago. College can be for everyone, no matter what kind of family or socioeconomic class you come from. If it is your dream, don't let anyone or anything get in your way!!!!!

U LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL I ADMIRE YOU SOO MUCH.......... CONGRATS!!!!!!!! SINCERILY : VIOLETA

Oh Tyra~! I wish I wer you! I respect you so much! Thank you! You are beautiful no matter what!

Tyra,
Your cover shot 10 years later was BEAUTIFUL. Your curves are beautiful as well. I found myself crying too when you showed the film of you 10 years ago. You looked like a little girl back then. Congratulations on a wonderful cover. Just one word of advice, I support you 100% in embracing your curves and encouraging others to love their body and not get too skinny. Also encourage good eating habits and exercise. Now Tyra you know there is a sista out there weighing 250 lbs talking about, well Tyra told me to embrace and love my body - LOL! While we want to love who we are, we also have to be mindful of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. So Tyra, please explain to your audience there should be a healthy balance. By the way, your Mama looks beautiful. God Bless You, Keep up the good work and I love ya girl!

Tracy, CT

Tyra,

Since the begining of 2007 I have been celebrating 10 years since I walked away from an extremely abusive relationship. It is more than a celebration of the day I left in September of 1997 but truly a celebration of who I have become through the experience and my life as it is now. I was in a physically and mentally abusive and exhausting relationship for 4 long years. The day I walked away from that relationship I learned a lot of valuable lessons about being strong. It took all the strength I had to walk away, and from that momment on I made a vow to myself that I would demand respect if it was not given and do my best to stand in my power. I learned how to stand up for myself. After having left this abusive man I had a clear vision of what type of relationship I was looking for and what I was not willing to put up with. 10 years later I have a wonderful husband that treats me with a lot of respect and we are expecting our first child. I know deep in my heart if I would not have had the strenght to leave the abusive relationship I would not be alive today. Ten years later I celebrate my life, strength and ability to stand up for myself. Believe it or not I only have the abusive man to Thank. It is possible that I could have put up with a mildly abusive man for the rest of my life, this experience made me not want to settle for less than the best. I may not have learned these valuable life lessons if it were not for the experience.

i love you so much Tyra you need to come to my house and hang out with me and my friends we watch your show every day and think that your insainly amazing!!! your one incredible person thanks for the show about how the media was falsly portraying you as fat, it made my day to see you knowing how beautiful you are and how becautiful every girl can be!!! also thank you for the show that you did today when you recreated you old swimsuit issue it was so brave of you and you still look absolutly amazing!!!YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL!!!!!

thank you so much tyra...i hope you really read this =)

love, kate and meaghan

On November 3, 1997 I meet the biological mother of my first son Jesse and three weeks later he was born! His Mom came in to my office as a temp for one day and it changed my life. My husband and I had already had a failed adoption and were very afraid it would happen again but we put it into God's hands and he put us together with our son. There were so many miracles associated with this story it's sometimes seems like a lifetime movie...and quite unbelieveable!! Jesse was just the first of 5 miracle children we adopted, all of which were drug addicted and very high risk. Each of them are doing great and have overcome many obstacles.
I thanks God everyday for making my dreams come true!

hi tyra! i saw today's

show where you re-created

your sports illustrated

swimsuit cover issue from

10 years ago, and honey, i

have to say that you still

look great in that bikini.

i have that 1997 issue in

my collection of swimsuit

issues somewhere. i'd have

to find it. anyway, i heard

those rumors sbout you

being fat, and those who

spread such stuff need to

get a life. sweetheart,

you are still a gorgeous

woman and a gorgeous black

woman at that. don't let

nobody criticize you for

how beautiful you are. keep

doing what you do 'cause

you do your talk show well.

gotta go now. take care.

luv ya dearly darling.

darwin beatty jr.

that zit tyra wanted to get rid of-we use Clean-Clear.Max strength-Invisible Blemish Treament,it comesin a .75 fl. oz tube-it works good! and fast!

You are an amazing young woman...and thank you for instilling in young to love who they are...and not why the media tells them they should be...I enjoyed your show today...it show just how far we as women of color have come...10 years ago i was living in hawaii and perparing togo to my 30th class reunion in kansas city kansas...and this year i am planning to leave in june sailing on the freedom schooner Amistad, which has been invitited to England to celebrate the 200th anniverary of the signing of the Wiberforce treaty which abolished slave trade, (not slavery but illegal capture of free women, men, and children an making them slaves) I am chef, moral officer, and creative director of the boat...I would have never imaged that I would be at this place in my life...I attribute this to my Buddhist practice and wisdom of the strong black woman that have come before me...nothing is impossible and the potential we have as humans know no limits....would love to tell you more....

nam myoho renge kyo
a hi hou
me ke aloha pumehana
dani

Hey Tyraaa ! ♥ Well I just watched your show [ had to tape it since I was in school]. I think your photo was beautiful ! I love it ! All you said was very inspiring. It made me think about everything I hope to accomplish in my life. In school last week, we had to make a list of things we want to accomplish before we're 40. And you've shown me that I have to follow my dreams and that anything's possible if you're willing to work for it ! Since i'm only 16, ten years ago, I was only in kindergarden or first grade, but I hope that when I get older, I can think of great moments in my life and relive them ! It would be so cool ! I think it's great what you're doing ! You're putting out a great example for young girls. You'll always be my role model ♥ Love ya always ♥

Tyra, i couldn't tell which picture was taken 10 years ago, you are still just the most beautiful person in the world to me, inside and out. love you much Kimmie

TYRA YOU ROCK!!
I am sure that every woman and girl has admired you for your amazing body and yearned to be just like you... however, you have amazed me recently. Your ability to love yourself and your body is fantastic. Your ability to make the rest of us feel better about ourselves and our bodies is incredible. I know that the women of the world admire your body and your personality. You seem beautiful from the inside out and while some people in hollywood might want you to lose weight I am so happy that you realize you are perfect just the way you are. 10, 20, 30, 40 pounds could not begin to take away from your beauty. Thank you for making me feel better about myself and reminding me that it is okay to be a little bigger than what everyone else seems to want me to be.
Sincerely,
Tracy

10 years ago iwas losing my kids to dcfs i was still a teen know i go to church and got married i have a seven year old son who has thing wrong with him from birth but no matter what i love being a mom and friendill be 30 this year

Hey Tyra just finish watching the show.. the picture looked great!!! you don't even look 20Lbs heavier honest. (well maybe in the chest area :)...luv ya...
I just hope that when Im your age I look just as GREAT as you do...Much LuV

tyra,
you are such a beautiful woman inside and out. congratulations on your 10th anniversary cover of sports illustrated. your pictures then and now are amazing and what makes them more amazing is you allowing yourself to be who you are and loving your body....curves, dimples, and all.
i love watching your show and fequently post comments on your site. im keeping my fingers crossed in making a trip to LA and being a guest in your audience, but well see how that goes with two children, bills, etc. so until i make it to your show (i will eventually!!!!) laterz!!!

Ten years ago I was in the tenth grade and 16 years old. I transfered into public school that year and the adjustment was hard socially and academically. That year I begged and pleaded with my mom to allow me to drop out of school and finish my degree in Adult school. My mother who was a teacher with a Master's degree was torn with the decision because she knew how bad I really wanted to do so. I transfered out of private school because my school was in financial problems, I was just a normal kid who did not like trouble. I just found the ajustment hard and couldn't find where I fit in at the new school with 500+ sophmores.
Even though my mother's decision broke my heart, I learned later that it was the best decision. I went on to not fitting into any groups, but fitting in all of the groups. I was that girl that was friends with everyone. So much that I was nominated into Homecomming Court my senior year! (what a way to make you feel accepted!)
I excelled socially but still struggled accademically, the private schools in NJ are not regulated the same public schools are. I was ahead in some of my studdies but behind in most of them. I struggled and even had to attend summer school after my junior year. I protested every effort my Mom had with the idea of me going to college. And again, she was right. It wasn't untill the end of senior year that I desided to go to the local comunity college. I attened college at the two year level and the four year level for four years. Four years later, I was discouraged because I still was not close to a degree. I dropped out. Dropping out wasn't so bad, I have always worked and couldn't wait to work full time. I earned my series 6, 63, life, real estate, and health insurance licenses. That is a reall accomplishment for me and to do it all under 23 years old. I was sucessfull as a Financial Planner and earned the respect of my community. Even the family that thought I would never stick to anything (I am kinda flaky- but in a good way!) A few years later my family desided to move from NJ to Tx where my mother was from. I was at a cross road and made the commitment to abandon the money and the sucess to take this opportunity to return to school to finnally earn my degree.
I am now attending the University of North Texas as a sophmore (humbeling since I am 26 and transfered with 96 credits). My first semester I made the Dean's list and this semester is a little harder. The point of all this is it is never to late to return to school and crossroads weather they seam positive or negative can result in a path you never though you would ever take but can be the best opportunity yet!

And now I am so stressed out and broke (like a typical college student) that I need a break!!!

Thank you Tyra Show, I think you are doing great things.

i love you soooooo much!!! you look even better now than you did then

Hey Tyra! I think that you're soo beautiful!!! I even think that your body is even better now than before! Watching your show is like eating a delicious hot fudge sundae- GREAT! I love you soo much!

-Nykki

i just wanted u to know that i thank u are a very pretty lady also dont let anyone say u are getting big cause as are body go throws change so dose are heart and u have always show your love for people and god will bless u always

Hi Tyra,
I missed the show today but went on to see what you had to say about it. I absolutely LOVE you and think you are Da Bomb and always have been to me. To think People magazine had the nerve to call you fat (PLEASE) they don't know what fat is. I think you look great in fact I like you even better now a lil thicker. I would Love to meet you and be able to take you out on a date, so if you get this please consider it. I'm the same age not married and no kids waitin for you baby.

Love Always
Jerrel

P.S. Keep on doin ya thang the show is excellent !!!

Hey there tyra, its me Gabriel. I saw your before photo from when you first appeared on the front cover of the swim suit addition. You looked great, And your second take from the show that i saw today. You were just as great. I dont think that there was much of an issue with the weight gain. Tyra i am always watching your show, and looking up to what new things you have to say. I would say that because with the help of your shown and listening to you speak, i was deeply inspired to do something great with my life. The show today was great and you looked Fabulous. Thanks much..

ALways Gabriel

I watched your swimsuit show because I did the same thing you did. I'm 38yrs old now but when I was about 23yrs old my Dad (who is now deceased) took swimsuit pics of me in my favorite yellow bikini. They turned out so nice. I was thinking of sending them to jet magazine to be a 'jet centerfold' but I never sent them in. I wanted to make him proud. I'm 5'0 and petite and always wanted to model but - I was too short. About 10 yrs later I tried to recreate the poses and had more pictures taken by a good friend of mine in the same yellow bikini. I didn't change much and the pictures were just ok. So I had my own brother take me to the beach in Chicago (not the same as the Bahamas) and take some more just a couple of yrs ago . Those turned out hot!!!! I was paying tribute to my Dad and well his son did him justice. I would love for you to see them and even though I didn't make history and the world didn't see my pics, I felt like I made my Dad proud of me by keeping in shape and remembering him. My Dad loved the tropics and he would have loved the new love in my life because I'm so happy. Both of our Birthdays are in April and I would love to take him out of the cold city with grey water to a tropical paradise. When you told your viewers to tell you their story and that they may have a chance to get away - I jumped on it. It would be awesome to go away to a place so beautiful because of something my father did so long ago just because he saw a little sunshine in his daughter!
Thanks and God Bless

i really thought your show today was so so so VAIN, you spend the whole show on talking about the cover from 10yrs back...it wouldve been nice to take some time to celebrate some other black history moments..and not just talk about yourself! get over the fact that you heavier now please!

Tyra,
I loved your milestone show! I am 31 years old and recovering from a full abdominal hysterecomy 12 days ago. I am very proud of how the last ten years has molded me as a woman, wife and mother.

Ten years ago to the month I was once again in the hospital with a difficult first pregnacy. Our oldest son Riley was born on Oct.9 1997. After 2 years and much convincing, my husband and I thought we would try again for another baby. Once again, I spent much of my pregnancy in the hospital with complications. At one point, we were asked to consider terminating the pregnancy. That was not an option for us, and on August 7, 2000 our daughter Kierstyn was born. We were very happy to have our family. Nine months later I was pregnant with our daughter Julia. I was in shock after all, I still had a baby. We were taking precautions and I couldn't understand how/why I was going to go through this again. Due to the complications of my pregnancies we decided that my husband Jon was going to have surgery. Julia was then 9 months old when I got pregnant with our youngest son Brady. This time I was devistated. I knew that someone else would have to take care of both me and my 9 month, 18 month and 4 year old. Once again I spent time in the hospital with an emergency ambulance run when Riley found me passed out on the bathroom floor. My husband was so supportive and went ahead with his surgery. He told me we would get through this. He said, "Honey, we don't know the reason now, but this is the plan for our lives." He was right...10 years later at the age of 31, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and a large cyst was found on one of my ovaries. The the other ovary was "waxing and waining" and had been twisted to the side of my uteris. I am so thankful that God's plan was better than mine. Many women who go through this surgery are left with the devistation of not being able to have children. I am completely blessed and fulfilled in the person whom I have become and what I have learned about about life, the incredable man that I am married to and the ability to teach my children that the blessings in life don't always come the way we expect or plan them. After so many years of problems in the female department, and now after having them removed....I am still as much of a women as I was before. I am looking forward to feeling good and spending even more time with my husband and babies. So my milestone is the celebration womanhood, motherhood and menapause and looking ahead to what the next 10 years will bring.

Sincerely,
Dani Rexine

Hey Tyra,
I sat and watched your show today and i cried all through out the footage which showed you making history as the first African American woman on Sports Illustrated.At times as black women we easily forget how far we have come and i was really happy to reflect on the impact your appearance has made on a black woman's beauty.I was definately encouraged to dream on.I loved your mum- i can see where you get your inspiration.So often i feel parents will bend to whatever is necessary to keep their children in the limelight and i am so proud and happy that your mum had your interests at heart and did not compromise as we have seen many other celebrity parents do.Tyra, the sky is the limit!!!Oh and boy do i love the way you have confronted your critics.I know everyone harps on about your outside beauty but i was glad to see so much of your inner beauty shine through in today's show.

Heyy Tyra!!:)

i luv you sooo much! i watch the tyra show every day!, and i whatch ANTM when ever a new season starts! you are the best!keep up all the great work!. you are truley a role moodel and my fav!

Luv Ya!!! Victoria

Dear Tyra,

I just finished watching your show and you still are beautiful. It is unrealistic to think that as we age our bodies shouldn't change. I thought I would share with you some of the changes I've undergone in the past ten years as well. Physically, I am no longer a size 2, I am a shapely 10. But more importantly, I have turned into someone who I can be proud of. It was 10 years ago that I dropped out of high school. My mother passed away when I was in the 8th grade and I didn't adjust well to this as a teen. My life was out of control, I moved from place to place and eventually quit high school. I am not proud of this, but as I look back at the past ten years I am proud of where I am today. A few years after dropping out I enrolled in my local technical college to begin taking a few courses. I eventually made up every high school class I missed at the college level that my high school granted me a REAL high school diploma! I really enjoyed school and did so well that I transfered into a Big Ten university. I graduated with a degree in English, went on to grad school, where I studied education, and am now a high school English teacher. Some would be embarrassed to admit all this, but I am proud to say that I have made poor decisions in the past and have learned form them. I did not take the typical route, but the journey was well worth it. Now I embrace my responsibility to help young people on their paths to their own dreams.

I am writing in regards to the ten year anniversary you said to write in about. This year marks an imoportant milestone for me. At almost seventeen years old my mom set me up on a blind date with a co-worker of hers, little did I know that first date would be the most important of my life. That wonderful first date led to a second, third and so on. Many people criticized us and said we were too young to date exclusively, but somehow I just knew he was the one for me. We continued to date while I finished school, we were engaged my senior year and four months after graduation came one of the best days of my life, we were married. A year and a half later we moved into our first home, a year and a half after that had our first beautiful baby boy Brayden, two and a half years later another beautiful boy Zackery, and just five months ago another beautiful baby boy Austyn. So this year I am celebrating ten wonderful years with my husband Tyler, the love of my life and the most best and most important first date of my life. Because of that day I have been blessed with so many wonderful things in my life, and have grown into the person that I am proud to be today. I just wanted to share that with you, thanks!

Tyra, I love your show, but on the Sports Illustrated issue show today your dress was WAY TOO SMALL for your breasts, it looked like you were trying to wear 3 sizes too small! With all the folks with your show, you could have gotten the right size for your breasts and had the rest of the dress taken in! Tacky, tacky, tacky! Very disappointed today!

Congrats Tyra!!

I think you look great, who cares about 20 pounds? (I don't think it shows when you compare your 2 pictures side by side)

you ROCK tyra!!! im so proud of you and you're someone that i look up to..tc!

I am writting in response to your show aired Monday Feb. 19th. By the way you look fabulous 10 years later.
At the end of your show you requested anyone how wanted to share their 10 year anniversary to write to you.

This is my story:
It will be 10 years on May 4th, 2007.
Ten years ago I learned what it felt like to make the biggest sacrifice of my life. In early August 1996 I had no idea my life would be SO changed, come spring of the following year. At the young age of 15 I made the biggest decision of my life. A decision that 10 years ago strongly affected my life and will for years to come. Ten years ago this May I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy and gave a wonderful, loving couple the chance to have a child they were longing to love, but lost a HUGE part of myself in the process. I will never regret the choice I made not only, not to terminate my pregnancy (which even at the age of 15 was never a concideration) but to give my child up for adoption. But the pain was and still is the most my heart may ever feel.
Ten years ago I never would have imagined my life would be where it is today. Today I am Married 5 years with two beautiful children of my own (Abigaile 5 & Max 3-the lights of my life!!!) and have recently started my new "life-completing" business. SWEET PEA DAYCARE! I can honestly say my entire life has never felt so complete. Staying home with my babies and being able to love and care for other's Children is like a final step in my healing process. Watching your 10 year reunion show has helped me to realize that after 10 years of felling the loss of my son I am finnaly free of the pain. Along the way I also realized that "everything does happen for a reason" I like to believe the Lord used my body to create a baby for another family, a family who would have otherwise never had a baby.
Now for the first time I don't feel the pain. Every day I look at my children and thank God for the second chance i was given. I feel so amazingly blessed to have been given a second chance at Motherhood. I definately feel my 10 year reunion is one to be celebrated.
thankyou for the chance to share my story.

Sincerely, Allison LaRue

I just saw Tyra's show about her Sport's Illustrated magazine Re-shoot this morning, and she definetly looks more Fantastic now, than she did ten years ago! Personally, I want a copy of this new SI cover!
Tyra, you look Marvelous!

All my best,
Tom

Hey Tyra,
I thought you looked absolutely awesome on the Sports Illustrated picture. You are a perfect example that it is ok for girls to age and gain some weight. Hopefully, I will have the same confidence you do when I am older. Keep up the good work.
Veronica

I think is so great that have black woman on the show that made head way for Other but Trya I believe with all my heart you should had your Mother up there as one of the black woman to make head way she was there through all that and she is a true entrepreneur in the behind the scenes of the model life

Hey Tyra,
My name is Sterling and I'm 15 years old. First off let me tell you that you were working that bathing suit today on your show.This message is regarding the episode on your show when you was talking about anorexic models. That particular episode inspired me to write a poem about how the agents might feel about their deceased models:

Scandal

Shes 19 and dead

I feel bad for her family

I wonder what happened?

It must be a scandal

Her mother said that she was going to be a model or maybe a movie star

Everyone said she was pretty enough

But I don't think she was

She was 5'11 and 91 pounds

She was fat

But oh well, she is dead now, she doesn't really matter

If she could have lost some weight she could have been my top model

Maybe her little sister wants to model, her ribs almost show

---------------------------
Tyra, you are an inspirational woman and I just wanted to tell you to keep doing what your doing and dont let those haters get to you.
Sterling

Hi Tyra,

I am 24 right now and I am from India, came to USA last year as i got married, and its been a huge jeorney, I love my Husband, I havent really seen or know much about USA but yeah i know you! as we never could go for a Honeymoon after wedding bcoz of job changes etc.. and i havent really gone out much as this is a whole new country for me so i am at home whole day, and i dont come from a very rich family and have struggled working hard and studying to come up in life, so everything has been a challenge for me till now, and this particular episod was gr8, it reminded me abut my past years! I have been in USA for a year now and i have alwyz been ur fan since i was a kid and now i watch u show everyday but i cud never become a model coz my height is only 5'2". But i dont care bcoz when u see me u will know how cute i look! Yeah thats the confidence every women should have. Last 10 years for me has been a struggle, being it studies or work but it surely has built my confidence!!

10 years is a long time, lot of things change but u still look beautiful and sexy as u looked then!

I love you Tyra!
Regards,
Ashwini

Hi Tyra,
I loved your show today. You make known to the rest of the world what we as african-american women already know. Black skin is FABULOUS. You still look the same as you looked 10 years ago; even better. Your mom is a beautiful women. Why is it that after you reach a certain age (women) we're no longer seen as attractive. It would be nice if your mom and you did a fashion show for mature women. Maybe even men. I think they may put some of the young people to shame. Maybe a competition between the young and mature. That would be a show to see.
Sincerely,
Brenda

I have tried to give your show a chance and become a regular viewer but I have noticed that a lot of your shows are about yourself, Tyra Banks. The first show I saw, I missed most of it and didn't know the subject, but you were on-stage showing that you could shake your "booty" and I got the distinct feeling that you were very proud of your butt. Then, about a month ago, I saw you showing a picture someone had made of you on a beach in a bikini that made you look heavy. You are always telling women that being a little heavy is sexy and you even said you thought you looked sexy in the picture (imagine that), but it was obvious that you were actually appalled that it looked like you had gained a lot of weight and later showed up on-stage in a bikini to prove to the whole world that you had NOT GAINED and still had the same sexy, slim body that you have always had. Do not try to convince me that gaining a little weight is not of a big concern to you. I think it is of utmost importance to you and you absolutely do not practice what you preach to other women. I am sure you would not want to gain 50 pounds, who does, but I think it would bother you if you gained even five. I just happened to turn on the show this morning when you had your mother on and she was verifying that you had not gained weight and then, once again, the whole show was dedicated to you showing yourself in bikinis and sexy poses on magazine covers, winning awards for your modeling accomplishments and current photos showing that your weight is almost exactly the same as in earlier modeling pictures. Here you go, after over a month, still trying to prove that you did not gain any weight as depicted in that picture.

These are just a couple of examples of how I get the distinct feeling that you are often screaming look at me. The title of your show should really be The Beauty and Accomplishments of Tyra Banks.

Give us a break, Tyra, we get it, you have a nice figure, have not gained 50 lbs., have achieved many endeavors and are beautiful. You do not need to keep trying to prove it to us, I am beginning to think that you are either one of the most vain persons in the world or have a self-esteem problem. Like I said, I have seen a few shows with good topics but it seems you always have to, at many points, slide in either a full show about yourself or at least make numerous self-serving comments. Please stop telling women how beautiful they are no matter what they weigh and look like when you obviously feel the need to keep showing us that you have a beautiful body in all those sexy bikini photos. You really come across as a hypocrite telling women they should not compare themselves to models and celebrities when a lot of your shows demonstrate exactly why they do. Yes, you should feel proud, but you are not the only person in the world that has worked hard and have done something with their lives.

Is your show mainly based on promoting you or can you producer not find very many subjects to discuss besides modeling and your beauty? Frankly, I find your show very boring when it is all about you and dare you to take an on-line poll to see if anyone else feels the same as I do. I honestly think you are trying to become the next Oprah and believe me, if you are, Oprah would have the nerve to address this comment on one of her shows.

Sandy
High Point, NC

tyra i need you really badly i need help to have confedants like you oh ya you you rocks that bathing suit love pinky

Tyra, enjoyed the 10-year S.I. anniversary cover show! Ten years ago, my husband of 20+ years had died, I was in a mega-dysfunctional relationship, was about 40 lbs overweight, and raising 4 teens, going to school for a PhD, teaching, working part-time as a Medical Transcriptionist, and nearly losing my mind. I now have nearly completed my dissertation, my children are "out of the nest" and doing wonderfully, I teach at Queens College in Manhattan, and I'm about to present a portion of my dissertation at U. of Maryland next month. I've lost about 20 pounds, and I have a really nice companion! My life used to be a living hell! Now I'm in heaven. You are 1 of my inspirations! Thank you, and I would love to be on your show! mab

Tyra,

I watched your show today and it inspired me to tell you about my life from ten years ago to today. Ten years ago I was a senior in high school graduating in the top 5% of my class and planning to go to college. The only problem was that I was having trouble finding full scholorships for non-citizens(as I was a Mexican citizen at the time) I ended up enrolling in a local university and had to work through college. I had many mountains to climb along the way, but I am glad to say that ten years later I am about to graduate from graduate school in May, I have a 3month old son, and am a US citizen. I feel being a Latina, like you I faced many challenges and although ot took me 10 years to finish a 6 year education I made it, through a lot of work, sweat and tears I am finally HERE!!!

I am happy to see someone saying its ok to be the size you are, just be healthy! I love Oprah but sometimes she promotes the image that everyone has to be skinny to be healthy.
I have gone on a diet where I was eating only salads everyday twice a day or chicken sandwhich. I lost a lot of weight but my thyroid became under active which is called Hypothyroidism in 1997. All in an effort of not being called "obesive" or "fat". Young ladies should not be subjected to this by anyone especially by someone who looks at them and say your'e not beautiful because you have curves or have some weight to their frame. Now I am 35 years old and still battling this condition and weight issues. I have a 22 month old daughter that is NOT going to deal with this at all. She is a beautiful girl no matter how she looks, curvy or have weight to her frame. I dont't want her to have to deal with hypothyroidism like I am and will for the rest of my life the doctor say.
It is not fair that all that society thinks about is weight. It is telling people that you have to be thin in order to be liked. When they end up with an eating disorder all they(society)do is say more nastier things about them.

Hi Tara,

I saw your show today celebtrating your 10 year anniversaty being on the cover of Swim Suit Illustor.

You look as beatiful as you did 10 years ago. I wanted also to give your mother thanks for her support she has given you in your earlier years and the support that you are giving to the future Afro American models of today. I wish you the best in your future endeavour, continue making the Afro America Sista proud.

Best regards,
Lisa (Afro American Sista)

hi tyra this may be the only time i will get to talk to you when i saw the picture with u at the sea i knew it wasnt u(with you fat,you wouldnt let yourself get like that,i am only 12 years old i have a lot of dreams i want to model when i tell all my friends that they laugh it hurts inside but outside i am still laughing a few of my problems are i have so much pimples on my face i tried like everything and the other problem i hate my size i look fat in a two piece and i hate it so much if i go to the beach i would have one of the best bathing suit and i always hide it by putting a shirt or pants on i just want to have a flat belly like some others and one more problem is i take the worst pics ever, when it comes out i have to delete it ,enought bout my winening althought you put on 20 pound you are still hot love you so much bet you get that the alot but i love you the most enjoy the rest of your years bye love you

hey Tyra

I am really proud of you for making it this far in your career. You are truly lucky for the chance you were given to make history and more importantly, make your dream come true. I hope that one day I will meet you because you are the only celeberty that I look at every day and wish to follow your foot steps. I watch your show every day and honestly, I have to say that from millions and millions of fans that you have, I am one of your biggest!!! I believe in myself and I know that one day, I will become a successful model, and I am also going to meet you, which will fulfill the other half of my dream....
I love you Tyra and i want to meet you so badly!!! I really hope you read this...Love Emina

Hey Tyra what’s up nm here I was just righting to you because I wanted to tell you that 10 years ago me and my family got here to the US and this happened because of my to favorite people in the world my parent and we would not be here if it wasn't for them and there hared work so pleas Tyra I would be so happy if you could give that tripe to the Bahamas to them they haven’t had a trip seines we got here.

I AM VERRRRRRRRY PROUD OF YOU MS. BANKS

Hi Tyra! I just wanted to say that I thought you looked better in the 10 year anniversary photo not that you didn't look good in the first one! I think the extra meat that you had in the second one made you look better. I hate it when people tell other people they have to look tiny, I'm also not saying that you make people be skinny but I think you look better with the extra 20 pounds on ya! Your show today really meant a lot to me and made me feel a little better about myself, I want to be the size you are now sometime soon hopefully! Right now I'm a little over weight so I'm trying to lose a little weight and I think you are the perfect size right now as you are! Keep up the good work on your show I try to watch every day!

Hey Tyra what’s up nm here I was just righting to you because I wanted to tell you that 10 years ago me and my family got here to the US and this happened because of my to favorite people in the world my parent and we would not be here if it wasn't for them and there hared work so pleas Tyra I would be so happy if you could give that tripe to the Bahamas to them they haven’t had a trip seines we got here.

I'm a 50 year old professional black women, who watches the show on a daily basis. For the most part, I've enjoyed your show. However, I felt I needed to write comments on this segment. I saw the Sport's Illustrated show and I don't believe how self- absorbed Tyra seems to be on this show. First, she states that she has made black history and she paved the way. In modeling, I believe black women such as Diane Carroll, Beverly Johnson and Iman actually paved the way. I don't believe being on the Sport's Illustrated cover has helped any woman except those interested in modeling. That cover is meant to sell magazines to men period!!!! The cover has nothing to do with being a role model for any woman. I have a lot female friends and family members and, believe me, the SC cover is of no importance in our lives. I believe that in celebrating black history and helping young people, we should look at scientist, educators, those people struggling everyday for their families, and raising decent people, not women bearing themselves in bikinis. On your show, you have constantly talked about how young women should love themselves as they are and not try to be like models and movie stars. However, I believe Tyra is contradicting herself with this episode, because is it celebrating the superficial instead. Young girls will still feel that have to look like Tyra and her guest instead of using their brains and going to school. The fact that Tyra is able to be a producer in Hollywood is of more importance and maybe seen later as Black History, than her being on the cover of SC. I don't understand the thought process for this show. I began to wonder if Tyra is doing this show because another black women is on the cover this year or because of all the news about her weight.

Hey TYra Babygurl,
i Enjoyed this show it Was fuN really it was and i'm excedingly Happy for u on ur accomplishments Keep Up the Good work..... and u still look as Sexy even more seXy than u were 10 years ago ur feirce babez keep it sweet be good Much Luvvv.....
BiGgest Fan ~CMoGseXytriNi~

I am so proud of you for taking a stand for what makes sense in this world, what is right, and what our culture and heritage stands for concerning all people. Our heritage taught us to continue being the "beacons of light" by being faithful to our history and our futures. I would love for you to come to West Side High School in Gary, IN (yeah, the original home of the Jacksons!) and talk to students about what you have accomplished. Also, I would like to have a forum with girls at this school to discuss issues of womanhood and share how special they are. This is something I do everyday when I talk to them, but you know that media weighs so much more with teenagers these days, and since you are doing so many positive and exciting things in media, PLEASE COME HELP!!! Again, congrats girl and keep making history!!!!

Tyra, ten years ago my father left my mother and she was left to take care of my brother and I. It's not like you making history on SI but it's history for me, my mother has made it ten years without him and continues to strive forward. She has two beautiful kids that have made it without a father and ended up fine. Ten years without a husband and a father. That's history to me.

I quit smoking a little over 10 years ago. I was nagged into it by my then boyfriend and was a skinny minny. Of course, smoking people tend to gain weight when they quit.... I not only gained weight but I got pregnant a month after quitting. Suffice it to say my body is no longer the skinny minny that it was then. HOwever, I have finished my BA in Spanish, I have finished my course work in an MA in TESOL and I am about to take my MA exam. I am now an ENglish and Spanish teacher and my daughter is on her way to turning 11 years old in November. The best part is that the nagging boyfriend has now been by husband for 10 years.

hi i just got done whacing the show you dont even look defernt i love that show thes one was so awesome i love you to my hero

Although not your demographic, 50 year old, white, male; I must comment on your recent Sports Illustrated cover remake show. When viewing the two cover photo's side by side. I can with all honesty tell you that the remake photo looks far better than the original. You looked way too thin on the original photo compared to the sensuous curves that you now possess.

Tyra, you are as beautiful now then you've ever been. I apperciate how you have helped helped girls like me get through being teased about there weight. Now i know im beautiful!

congratulations on your new cover! your officially my hero. i love your show, and your new cover is GORGEOUS!
**congratulations**
xoxo~mia

Tyra, you are as beautiful now then you've ever been. I apperciate how you have helped helped girls like me get through being teased about there weight. Now i know im beautiful!

Ok so i really hate to say this i just watched your show and i guess i want to say why did they touch up your body?? i mean you preach so heavily about loving yourself for yourself and im looking at your hips thighs your stomach and you yourself say you have 20 more plus pound so please explain to me why the pics look the same.. i mean come on now there are so many people that look up to you...but you just lost one

Tyra is such a great role model for women. She is brave, funny, inspiring and so much more. She lets women be who they want to be and will applaud them for doing so. Tyra, you are loved by millions, thanks for reaching out to so many of us. Also congrats on the 10 year cover shot!

Tyra, you look more beautiful than ever in your 2007 swimsuit shoot!

You come so far in 10 years!

You've made me think of how far I'm come. In 1997 (when I was 15), I had anorexia, and am now in full recovery! That is a VERY important anniversary to me :)

Heyy Tyra.

I missed your show on your 10th anniversary of being the first african american model to be on the sports illustrated cover. I was mad because I really wanted to watch the show. To see what the photos were like. It probably brought back so many memmories from modeling.Anyways you proabably looked gorgeous as always. You always are so pretty whatever you wear or whatever you look like. You still look like a supermodel to me, even after ten years has passed.Or even if you gained a little bit of weight, but that does not matter to me.That's right Tyra, you should be proud what you have accomplished being the only african american model on sports illustrated. Common Tyra , THATS HUGE!!! Can you please post the video?? Thanks for being such a great model for me. Love Always.xox

Brittany(Canada)

tyra,
You looked amazing then and you sure as hell look amazing now
You are a motivation to all of us
I love everything you stand for and everything you represent
keep doing what you're doing
we love you
monica

Hi my name is jazmin Calderon i am 13 years old...All i wanted to say is that you are very beatiful no matter what....u can take pics from 20 years later and to me you will always be beatiful and look the same.

10 years ago I had an experience that was a defining time in my life.

I was 42 and had necrotizing fasciitis.Necrotizing fasciitis is better known as flesh eating disease.To make a long story short…I just about died, had chunks of my body removed, had a piece of my leg amputated, had many reconstructive surgeries and had a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation.I already thought life was precious but that was really strengthened by just about losing my own life.The experience made me take a serious look at my life and what was really important.I realized I was blessed to be alive and it made me even more grateful for my many blessings.I made some life changing decisions.The biggest change was that I left my marriage of 19 years.The whole experience was very challenging.I became a better mother, daughter, sister and friend.I grew so much.

So much has happened in the last ten years.I worked hard and now I can do most anything I want to…walk, dance, water ski, climb, anything, as long as I persevere.Sure, sometimes it hurts and I have many scars but I appreciate the scars and even the pain, it means I have a leg and I’m alive!I’ve been here to see my children grow into loving young adults.They are growing, learning, meeting their own challenges and striving to live lifes of abundance.I’m a Grandma!I expanded my business and influenced the life’s of many in my two day care centres.I met my soul mate and we are building a future together.I am now semi-retired and am building a new business.I know the importance of giving and serving others and I strive to be a positive role model.

My Dad died at home surrounded by the love of our family.It was a blessing to be with him, to know he was at peace,feel the love, to be there for my Mom and each other.It was both a sad and a happy time.

I am thankful for my children, for my life partner, Lyle, for my family and for good friends.I am grateful for all the people, situations, beauty and abundance that has been, is and will be attracted into my life!I’m so blessed.

It seems that the older I get, my own age matters less and less to me.The past decade has been good and I joyously embrace my age!

Tyra, CONGRATULATIONS, you look as beautiful today as you did 10 yrs ago. I am very happy for you. Way to go. You are a true inspiration to everyone. Keep up the great work. Best wishes and GOD Bless.

Deanna and daughters Kriston and Ashley

YOU GO GIRL!
YOU GO GIRL!
YOU GO GIRL!
YOU GO GIRL!

Hi Tryra!
First I must say that I am so proud of you. You look fantastic!!!! Ten years ago, I graduaded with my second Bachelors degree and ready to enter the world of medicine. I had endured a lot of physical, emotional, and mental catastrophic tragedies in relationships that had a terrible impact on my self esteem and self worth. Everyone can tell you how beautiful you are but if you don't think you are, the way you feel is all that matters, and that alone can be quite damging to the soul. That is when I began to search my soul and become even closer to God than ever before. I prayed for my soulmate(and I was very specific)! Instead of me finding him..HE FOUND ME!!! We have been married nine years (this December 2007) and he treats me like a QUEEN(and he calls me that, too). He appreciates me for who I am, the shape I am(although he says I was little happier WHEN I WAS A LITTLE HEAVIER!!!) He write me notes stating when I am sad he is deastated; from birth we were created for eachother with a higher purpose; he pinches himself to be sure he isn't dreaming; and "Torri, you are the the perfect description of the essence of a BLACK WOMAN/GODDESS. "This Valentin'e Day he wrote, "I love you as Christ love the church."(Ephesians 5:25). So Tyra, 10 years later, I celebrate continuing to elevate my self esteem but I'm not alone and now with more of a purpose,and with more power and a soulmate(and a 7 y.o. daughter). I AM NOT QUITE WHERE I WANT TO BE, BUT DEFINITELY NOT WHERE I WAS!!!! P.S. We both watched your show about the weight issuesand the curves(one of my assets!), which is one of my struggles,he made sure I learned from that..to stop the THIN THANG!!!!!!(smile)

I watched your show today like I do every week day and I thought what you did was really cool,it must have been really exciteing for you and at the same time a little nerve recking to get a picture that was close to the in 1997. I think your a wonderful role model for young teens.

Tyra...way to go! I saw your show and couldn't believe how amazing you looked. You were stunning on the first SI cover but your second is so much more beautiful. You not only looked incredible, you could visibly see the growth and maturity in you. Your presence was so much stronger in the best way possible. Way to go!

hello, tyra i was watching your show on the 10th annv. of your SI cover. My son Tim who's 13y/o was watching toward the end (with me which we don't normally do but due to the holiday) and you came on in the white dress at the Atlantis hotel and he commented, " mom she's so pretty with a clear face, you know without makeup" and then the camera went to you in the studio and he said " she pretty there but it looks like another person who's trying to look like her in too much makeup" I explained that it's for the camera. So i just wanted to say that he thinks your beautiful the natural you over the made up you. and trust that was a comment so please don't take it the wrong way, he's 13 y/o so the articulation is not all there. So forget what the tabloids say a real beautiful black woman beats any made up woman anydaY. kEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOUR AND INSPIRATION TO US ALL TRYING TO STAY TRUE TO OURSELVES

I'm sure this will never reach you or get censored out..because of the obvious reason. I just heard you say that you cannot believe you've paved the way for Black Models Girl have you been taking crazy pills!!! Ever hear of Iman and Grace Jones.

The more i listen to you speak the more i get sick to my stomach. Unfortunately i cannot change the channel because my wife is watching your horrible show. Honey, you're just a model..your not curing Cancer or AIDS.

Girl, don't sweat it you looked great...keep doing you...much love,
millie

u r so sexy lol

Tyra,
You asked about significant events in our lives; although, mine was not 10 years ago;it was 25 years ago. My husband and I were married 25 years ago and are happily married with two children. Although, most celebrate extensively for the 25th, we have not been able to. However, we do celebrate every day when we look at our two wonderful children and the love we have that has grown so much over these years. It would be wonderful, however, to celebrate this milestone with a much needed vacation. Shelly

Tyra just wanted to say CONGRATS!!with your new 10 yrs later photoshoot you look so amazing and pretty like always on your photos and this proves that you dont have to be SUPER skinny and starve your self to look like a model....cus you made it happen so WE could make it happen too. :)

I cannot believe for your Black History show you are honoring yourself because you were the first woman of color on SI.
As a man I have to say that we don't care if the women is black white yellow or purple..we just want to see hot chicks on the cover. And for you to honor yourself during Black history month is disgusting. I guess you've done more for African Americans than Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, or even Colon Powell. Why not have Black business owners on your show, or African Americans who have made a difference in this country..something that your viewer can aspire to and relate to..not something as superficial as Beauty.

You're always complaining how your single..well this is why..because you're so full of yourself. Who wants to be around that.

If you'd like to debate this i'd be happy to come on your show and show you how to be humble.

Hi Tyra,
I just wanted to say that you took a big step to re-create your picture perfect moment on the cover of sports illustrated and you still look good. Also I am so glad that you mentioned the Bahamas because it is the best island in paradise. I can say that because I am a Bahamian and I live in Nassau, Bahamas so I am able to enjoy it everyday. I wrote you a few weeks ago telling you about my story. I guess someday I will be able to meet you soon. Well keep up with the good work and I'll be staying tuned to your shows. Love Ray!

TYRA!!! YOU WOULD STILL BE BEAUTIFUL IF YOU WERE 500 LBS!!! YOU ALWAYS SAY "CHILD.." AND I KNEW YOU PROBABLY GOT THAT FROM YOUR MOM.. AND OF COURSE SHE PROVED ME RIGHT TODAY!! LOL YOU 2 ARE SO CUTE!!

Hi Tyra. I commend your response to the tabloids and think that you have the best body in the modeling world. I am 5'8" and fluctuate between 150 and 165 lbs. I used to only like myself from the waist up, but thanks to women like you, I now appreciate my curvy hips. On one of your shows, you surveyed men that said they'd prefer a thick woman who was confident in her skin over a thin woman who was not comfortable with herself. Your show helped restore my body image after visiting family over the holidays and constantly being told that I had to lose 10 lbs.

When you thanked your mother for being such a supportive force in your life, it made me appreciate how much my mother has sacrificed in order for me to succeed. Like you, my parents divorced when I was young and my grandmother played an important role in my childhood. I also had a grandparent die from lung cancer and you show integrity by not smoking for photo shoots. Your mother has a beautiful heart and it is obvious that you are paying it forward. You are an inspiration to those who continue pursuing their chosen career despite numerous obstacles.

As a caucasian woman, I didn't realize all of the pressure that society and the media puts on women of color. It saddens me that some of my South Asian and African American friends have told me that they wish they were lighter. Your modeling career and television shows, in addition to, other campaigns for real beauty are invaluable to the self esteem of today's woman. I can't believe that it's been ten years since your Sports Illustrated cover. I actually started supporting Cover Girl and Victoria's Secret because they featured you.

I'm glad that you show that physical beauty doesn't have to define or objectify us. You show that it okay to express your opinion, communicate assertively, have insecurities, show compassion and feel emotion. In a world of superficial competition, your messages of self acceptance, sincerity, kindness and sisterhood are so needed and I thank you for encouraging us to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

Hi Tyra,
I want to say thank you for doing the Sports Illustrated show! It touched my life so that I can look back on my past 10 years and get excited! I DVR your show daily so I can watch it and not ever miss it because you touch those areas that some avoid. After watching this show, I decided to make a journal with pictures of all my landmarks in the past 10 years. One of my best landmarks is my marriage. My husband and I will be married June 28th for 10 years. He is a wonderful spouse, father to our 2 kids, a christian man, a hardworking man and he also, like myself owns his own business. As a Mary Kay director, I have the privelege to work from home and he has supported my business unconditionally throughout our whole marriage. We met as college sweethearts almost 17 years ago on the campus of UIUC and he was my sweetheart personal to my sorority. Well 7 years later we got married. So this year in particular I dedicate my excellence as a strong black woman to the strong black man that supports me in all my endeavors. What touched me the most about your sports illustrated show is that as a married woman you often wonder about your beauty as you get older, especially after 10 years. Your show reminded me of course I am with all my curves. We went to the Cancun 10 years ago and I wore this bikini so I've decided to take a picture in it to give to my man - now where did you get that fabric??? Anyway, I appreciate you for that and I am so grateful for your mentorship to us ladies in our thirties and all women! You are loved!

hi! I saw the show today, and.. OMG! you were right in all what you said! but, I think it doesnt metter the years or the age, I think you are the same beautiful woman!!!
I'm Jessica, and I'm Mexican,I'm 12 old, I live in USA, Wilwaukee WI, and
I always whatch your show, its fun, cool, and i've learnt alot of things.
I would like to become a Model like you, a beautiful woman!
well, I hope you're OK, take care, If you want to talk to me or something, just add me on Hotmail.
jessyara_je@hotmail.com
take care.
( I admire you sooo! much!)

hey tyra,
i watch ur show almost everyday. i really admire the things that you've accomplished and for letting every womans voice be heard. i really think that its great that even though u gained those pounds grl u still look fabulous. its very rude that the tabloids say all that stuff about that and i know it really hurt you, but wen you stood up to wat they said grl it really touched me because not only did u stand up for urself but for those who also get critisied about that. by the way congrats on ur 10 year anniversary of the sports illustrated cover!!!!!!!!!

You are sssoooo gorgeous your photo shoot beautiful!!!! You have inspired me for so long now to not care about what others think cause you are beautiful no matter what. I want to thank you for that ... You do a wonderful job on your show as well. Thank you much love
Monika

I wanted to write about my past 10 years. Well my husband and I will be married 10 years this June 21. In the past 10 years I have praied for my husband and myself to have a closer walk with God. My husband and I did not get along very well and then about 6 mouths ago my husband and I both went up before the chruch and got saved at the same time it was a dream come true. My life felt right for the first time I have my two wounderful children and my husband our life is so much better and I owe it all to Jesus Crist. And my mother for keeping me in chruch and teaching me about all the things that Jesus has done for me and how he can help you throw anything. Any way that is what happened to me in my last ten years thanks for your time may God bless and keep you all of your days.

Hey Tyra!
all i have to say is GO GIRL! you're beautiful the way you are and always will be. You could be 200 pounds and still work it. I think you're a great person and I'am also proud to be a black citizen. I watch you all the time and your such an insperation to younger and older people. Im 13 and i love you ! your gorgeous and beautiful in everyway. when i saw you in that picture in the magazines i was like "wtf nothing is wrong with that? all i see is a hot black women showing off some skin ;p well keep in touch
#1 fan

Tyra I think it's great how you answered the "remarks" about you putting on a few pounds. i am only 20 and like you i have a "shape". I've never really worried about my weight and diets because I know I can't change my body, you got to work what you got. Through high school always being on the go and working I went from a size 16 to a 11 by the time I graduated. Since then I've had my wonderful little girl, jasmine, my princess. I lost the weight pretty easy, that's not the problem. See my hips spread even wider and after having my daugther they didn't really go back.... It's not something you can really workout to change, their hip BONES. Anyways after seeing you it's nice to know that as bodies change and we face new problems as a "curvy" women in the public eye you help viewers feel more "normal" to see a real person and not a 2 by 4 stick figure. Not every woman has the same body type, but it's still nice to know theirs other people out there with your body type and your not the only one... thanks for all you do to give a down to earth image to your self and others in the public eye. Sometimes we can forget that stars and just people too.

I have a comment for Tyra personally. Whomever reads this.. please pass this on to Tyra. I watched the show today regarding celebrating black achievement in her bathing suit. I want her to know that I feel as a white woman that the black women should be upset with Tyra at her comments about celebrating being black.
All you have to do is look at her to know that she is the furtherest thing from being proud of being black.
Her hair is dyed to the point that it's lighter than it's ever been. Not her natural kinky dark black hair that she was born with. And her skin is so light almost a light brown. She tries so hard to be white it's ridiculous!
I feel she's not kidding anyone in her own black community. If she were truly proud of being black she would not dye her hair and wear hair extensions to try and look like a barbie doll. She's a huge fake and I would be angry if I were black. She's not doing the black woman proud if you ask me.
She's so fake and dishonest.
Thank you,

OmG!!
i see you show today and i see the pictures and you look even better in this year girl!!
both are great and i love the place!!
love the atlantis place was great i want to go lol!!
and i see you ween you come to sea world i work there i didnt have the chance to say hi or something but i was reakky cool!!
im a big fan off yours and thanks for all the advise you guve to all of us
xoxo
love
rashel!!

Tyra, I'm presently watching your 10 year commemorative S.I shoot episode, and I'm proud of you. I'm just a little white girl from Ottawa, Ontario Canada, but still you stand up for your morals, your values, and yourself....all things you should be very proud of.
Although I am not a black women, I am proud to be a women when we have representatives like you in our north american media.
Keep living your dream, you're fabulous.

you've been a great example of wat a real woman should look now and back in the day. even though you may have gained weight over the years you are still beautiful and you inspire me and black women all over the world and we love u no matter wat size you are.

Hello Beautiful Tyra,

I wanted to write you to thank you because since I am watching your show you inspire me to do better everyday. I don't have any single friends to share a cup of coffee or a Cosmo why not lol but your show is the biggest entertainment for me, and I really enjoy.

I am a 33 years old latin woman, living here for 13 years now. Ten years ago my life wasn't too nice. I was married with a man that only used me. I only lived for what he wanted. In other words I only existed to pleased others who only wanted my money. Now ten years later I am so proud of myself that I chose to walked away from my abused marriage without a penny. I will get my Associates with honors next March in Business Administration, I had my Real Estate License in the state of Florida, and what it is more important for me is that I believe in myself, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel again. I am available to sleep for eight hours straight, and dream that I can love and being loved again. It's been the most hardest moments of my life the past four years, but I am alive and proud of myself. I know may sound nothing for some of you; but for me is the biggest step in my life, specially for being an inmigrant and feel extremely alone. Keep your heads up, follow your dreams and God Bless You All...
Love,

Katiusca

Oh Tyra! Being on the cover of a magazine pulling down your bikini bottoms and looking like you're ready to give it up for every hound dog who buys the magazine is NOT a milestone for black women, it is a GIANT STEP BACKWARDS for all women. (When a black woman wins a Nobel prize for science THAT will be a milestone.) Any empty headed bimbo can take her clothes off for a camera. How dare you have criticized that young woman on ANTM who thought that modelling and stripping were similar careers? That SI cover proves that she was right. Everytime I'm walking down the street and a bunch of hooligans scream "Nice tits!!" at me as they drive by, I have women like you to thank. That kind of a magazine cover helps to reinforce the male fantasy that women like to be sexually objectified. You call that a milestone for black women?!?!? Then I say you set the bar way too low for what black women are capable of achieving. Shame on you.

My milestone event happened when in 1997. I was 16 and had my first car accident. It was horrible! It got worse when I had another accident in the same place that same afternoon! I know what you are thinking--this girl can't drive! That's not the case. I have always been a perfectionist, so after the first accident my friends teased me all day. I don't even remember the second accident because I blacked out when I reached the spot where I'd had a fender bender that morning. It may seem insignificant to some, but to me it changed my life. I learned that no one is perfect. I believe that Jesus is the only man that was ever perfect. The accidents forced me to take a look at my life and the choices I was making. All my friends talked about me, but I realized after that they weren't my friends at all. I had to re-evaluate a lot of things, including my circle of friends. I ashamed to say it, but until that point, I was a selfish person. I learned that my purpose in life is to help others. As a result, I am in graduate school to become a mental health therapist. God blessed me so that I can be a blessing to someone else. I truely believe that having those accidents was His way of getting my attention so that I could fulfill the purpose He had for my life.

dear Tyra,I was watching your show and you told everyone to email you with their 10 year story. well 10 years ago I had the best experience ever, I got to act.the first time I was on a stage I fell in love with every single aspect of acting. I've been to acting school and everything I just cant seem to get any acting jobs your show today has really inspired me and hopefully other girls all around the world. all this time I've been sitting around just waiting for something to happen but now that I've watched you I really want to start doing something. I'm really glad you have your own show. and anytime you ever think that someone isn't taking your advice I want you to think of me because no matter what happens I want you to know that your advice is the best advice I've ever gotten in my whole life thanks. Alesha foster

Tyra you look AMAZING! I am celebrating my 32nd birthday this month. And I thank you for continuing to encourage our African American beauty. It's because of you, when I look in the mirror I love what I see! Thanks a bunch! Toya

Tyra, I enjoyed your show today (2/19/07)because it reminded me so much of how I looked ten years ago. but it made me a bit sad, too. I wish that there was a way that I could send you pictures to show you what I mean.
Back in '97, I was in a rocky marriage and was willing to do juts about anything to make things better and to make this man who I loved love me again like he once did. He criticized me so often about my appearance that I believed it. A good friend of mine gave me a suggestion: have boudoir pics taken and give them to him as a gift, so of course, I did. When the day came to have my photos taken,I was so nervous, but the cool thing was the photographer made me feel so comfortable with myself and my body. By the middle of the photo session, I realized how fun it actually was to be doing it. The fear of being and feeling pretty was gone.
About a week later, the photos were ready and when I saw them for the first time in my life, I saw how beautiful and sexy I was. It was such a boost to my self-esteem and confidence. And I couldn't wait to give them to my husband, so I bought an expensive leather portfolio and had the 12 photos set into it. I remember the day that I gave them to him so vividly, and almost wish that I didn't. Tyra, I was so anxious, nervous, even a little scared of what his reaction was going to be. Well, he unwrapped the portfolio, took a look at the pictures, and without saying a single word, he tossed the portfolio into the back of his truck and took off. All I did was cry. I had no idea what he thought of the pictures, or of me. A few hours later he came home, then tossed some burnt paper scraps onto atable and then told me that he went out into the woods and burned every picture. He called me some of the worst things I'd ever been called. I couldn't understand why or how he could feel that way. I did nothing wrong, or "dirty" ... to this day I'll never know. It hurt me so badly that I became very depressed and just didn't care about much else after that. Then, within a few months, we divorced after 17 years of marriage.
I was 43 at that time and had to move on with my life. It wasn't easy bubt I saved up enough to relocate to another state. I just wanted to get away from bad memories and just to spite him, I chose to make something of my life. I bought a home in California, had a great teaching position and was very happy & proud of myself. Then in 2002, I injured my back and ended up getting a considerable about of hardware and donor bone placed into my spinal column. Again, I became depressed. I couldn't work, and eventually ended up being permanently disabled because of the injuries I sustained. I look at myself now compared to those ten years ago and am so ashamed of my body. I am heavier, and just disappointed in myself. That weight gain wasn't due to over-eating but is caused from all of the pain medications and muscle relaxers that I've had to take over the last 5 years. I ended up losing my home in Cali and had to move back to the midwest to be near family.
Anyway, your show today made me think and wish so much that there was a "miracle" out there that could make me look the way I did 10 years ago. Even halfway close would be nice, you know? I think you looked fantastic in your Ten Years Later pics, even better. I'd love to have that self-esteem and confidence again like I once did.
Anyway, take care, Tyra - I really enjoy your show.

HI TYRA MY NAME IS REBECCAH MITIAL AND I AM 14... I'M VERY SCARED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I NOT SURE IF YOU ACTUALLY READING THIS AND THERES CAN ALSO BE A POSIBILITY THAT TRYA BANKS IS ACTUALLY READING THIS BUT ANYWAY EVERY SINCE YOU STARTING THIS SHOW I HAVE BEEN A BIG FAN OF IT THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU DID THAT REALLY HELP ME AND ALSO SURPRISED ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THAT YOU WERE SO OUT SPOKEN BUT OUT OF ALL THE SHOWS I REALLY LOVE THIS ONE BECAUSE YOU WERE SO HONEST AND HAPPY ABOUT BEING THE FRIST BLACK WOMEN ON "SI" BUT ANYWAY I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW YOUR SO BEAUTIFUL I WISH I WAS AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU ARE BUT ANYWAY KEEP DOING YA THANG MUCH LOVE REBECCAH P.S YOU SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER MAKEOVA SHOW 4 MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS I WOULD REALLY WANT ME AND MY MOM TO BE ON IT AND TRUST ME MY MOM NEEDS IT

BYE BYE!!! =)

Tyra,
I just wanted to say "YOU GO GIRL." We need people like you to keep encouraging our young black kids. Where I am from all the young girls and boys have on their minds is sex, fighting, shooting,going to clubs etc. Not just that but where I am from we are top county (highest rank)for AIDS and it's sad but at the same time it is VERY IMPORTANT that we have somebody else out there to care for our african american kids. It's to the point that people are starting to give up hope for the african american kids. I just want to say THANK YOU for all the talk shows you have come out with and yet to come out with. Though I never meet you Tyra but you are like one of the girls and I love you!

Tyra asked about a 10 year milestone. Well in 1997 I got married to a wonderful man. And this year we are celebrating 10 years of being married and still very much in love. I was 22 and he was 23 when we got married. And gosh those 10yrs just flew by.

Tyra you look amazing girl! You should be so proud of yourself after ten years of all your accomplishments and mentoring women around the world. The media is just trying to break you down...when it is making you stronger! I love your show, thank you for making women like me be proud of the way they are.

"What's goin' on"?...

Last Feb. 23, 2006 I was a quest audience member, on The Tyra Show, along with two of my closets comrades. It was nice to see you at work. You looked so pretty. You seemed intimidating, plus smart. That day, for some reason, I felt like we new each other for somewhere. I looked into your eyes from a distance. I remember it was a good feeling. While the show was taping, I whispered to one of my boys,"man...it's something about her"! I then sort of observed your professionalism through out the show. I admire your finesse. Sometimes I feel like I have the infatuated fool syndrome, ha! ha!...Although, Angels Are Destined To Meet.

For me, ten years later, I'm more confident in believing in my capabilities. Self-esteem is important for both men and women.

Happy belated valentines day. Congratulations, this Black History Month, 2007.

P.S. YOU LOOK GOOD, in anything you wear!

Love,
eddie

HEY TY I LOVED THE SHOW TODAY I LOVE THE SWIMSUIT AND ILOVE YOU. YOU ARE BEATIFUL TODAY AND ALWAYS. I BOUGHT THAT ISSUE 10 YRS AGO I THINK I LOST IT. HEY I LOVE YOU JUST LIKE YOU ARE SEXY SMART PRETTY....

your shows have been fantastic tyra love the work you do now!!!!

tyra i just watched your sports illistrated show and i just want to say that you looked amazing in your new photo shoot i would say you look even hotter then your 10 years ago shoot. you go girl!!!
you are the greatest

Hey Tyra, I am so proud of you!!! You are truly stunning inside and out. I was especially proud to see the three generations of black beauty, knocked me off my feet. I don't have a 10 year milestone yet because I'm 20, but when I do I hope it's like yours!!! Much luv and happy anniversary

Tyra,
I just want you to know that you are even more beautiful today than 10 years ago. I watch your show everyday and I just want you to know that you are such an inspiration to me. Love ya lots!

Tyra,
You looked stunning in the remake of your SI covershoot...
You are truly an inspiration to all of us gals out there who feel we have let ourselves down b/c we have gained 20 something pounds...
My sister is 160 lbs and I am 155lbs, by today's standards "overweight"; thanks to your awesome picture- which simoultaneously reflects beauty and matureness, both of us are ready to embrace our evolved bodies which by no standards are less beautiful than 10 years ago when we were still high schoolers. Besides, experience is the sexiest beauty feauture a woman has and you are the epitome of such characteristic. Congratulations---Ericka

Tyra,
You really inspire me to be proud of my body and who I am. I really admire your confidence and the way that you are so open about your weight and body. Your photo 10 years later was better than the first. Like you said, then you were a girl, now you are a woman I think you are beautiful inside and out!! (I really, really love your hair.)

Dear Tyra,
As I watched your show today, I started to think back and asked myself what milestones do I have? Normally I am unable to watch your show, however, today was a school holiday and I was glad to tune in; you caused me to pause and reflect. Ten years ago I started on the path that led me to return to college and finish my degree in Secondary Education, specifically middle school. I took a job as a tutor back then and now, I am a licensed teacher. Just to give you a brief history, during the 1985 -1986-school year I attended college; I also met my future husband, fell in love and got married. By 1997, I was a wife and a busy mother of three. By this time, all of my children were school age and I wanted to help out financially, and work with kids, something I have always enjoyed doing. Over the next several years’ people asked if I would go back to college, and I just didn’t think I could do it, for many reasons. It wasn't until July 2002 that I finally took the plunge and went back to college, graduating in December 2005. Before I even received my diploma, I landed my first teaching job in Kentucky. Currently, at 40 years old, I teach seventh grade Language Arts, and I love what I do. Most people say you have to be crazy to work with middle school kids, and maybe I am, but I remember middle school; it was confusing, painful and difficult and I want to help my students get through it mentally, and academically. Teaching is my calling in life! Thank you for causing me to pause and reflect on the milestones I have accomplished over the last ten years.
Sincerely,
Tonie

Tyra You looked Beautiful in the bathing suit from ten years ago.My weight is 160 I feel that i would look good in a bikini but im conscious about the tummy area.I had a baby 3 years ago i would love to run around in a bikini but i don't want to show my tummy least not all of it HELP ME Plesae.....

Hey tyra,

I think your such an amazing inspiration. I am 13 and I really love the fashion industry! I hope to be in it some day!! The thing I don't love about it is what they think you should weigh!! I think your beautiful and that they should embrace your shape your NOT FULL FIGURED i think your what should be considered skinny!!Keep continuing to inspirie girls like me that you don't have to be stick thin to be a super model and successful like you!!!

your BIGGEST fan,
Autumn!!!!! : )

hey tyra keep up the good work! you look good all the time forget the media

Name: Lisa Brown
Age: 17
Where you live: I live in Victorville CA
3 years ago i was over weight.In middle school I had a weight problem. I was wearing black sweatshirts, big shirts, dark pants to hide my fat. Kids would tease me about my weight problem. It hurt me bad. I would come home and cry at night because of the teasing.
It is important to me because, my mom’s friend brought over a package of oreo cookies, and I ate it all in one day. A couple months after we joined TOPS my mom saw a diet on the TV and she said that if we would like to try it and see how it works. So we got it and we saw the video that came with it and I thought it was a pretty good idea. So I lost 31 lbs.
? Well I really didn’t tell anyone at school yet, but my family says a lot of stuff like, Wow Lisa you look good. Some of the kids at school do notice and say I look nice. At church people notice that I lost a lot of weight. And I really like that.
My struggles are that im on the diet and I could not eat what I wanted to eat, like any food, but I know that, that food makes me gain weight and thats why i dont eat it anymore.
i joined tops it is a weight loss program it means: TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY.I came on my 15TH birthday, I really did not know what to expect. When I saw all the people sitting on the chairs I was thinking to myself what are we doing here, but I know why I was here. I was eating and eating more food, it got out of hand.
in 11 mounts i lost 31 pounds and i reashed my goal to become a KOPS: KEEP OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY. and i got an award.i got a 1st place divison winner VI, and 1st place state wide. It felt good because I was trying to push myself to lose more and more weight every week. I was very happy when I saw that I had made it. People at TOPS sent me cards and that made me feel happy.

10. For all: What would you say to a family who is reading this story and is interested
In getting healthy? I would say try hard and don’t push yourself to lose too much weight. If you are like me and hiding your weight under clothes and jackets, don’t, because I found out that beauty isn’t every thing it is not.

thats why im writing to tyra because you know beauty i not everything it is what is in side you that counts.

lisa brown
victorville,ca

I think you look even gorgeous and there's really not any different between you ten years ago and now. you look great as alwyas

Hi Tyra, I am a 22 year old woman, wife, and mother of two. I have looked up to you since I was a young girl, and out of all the models I saw everywhere, white and black, YOU were always the one that stood out to me as gorgeous! I have never been super thin, I am 5'9", 164 lbs...you were a great role model for me, and I hope my 5 month old daughter will have women like you to look up to as she matures. And I hope my 2 1/2 year old son sees its ok to have some meat on your bones, and not grow up to encourage any woman to be thinner. After having two babies, I am back down to MY normal weight, plus some extra skin, and a stomache that looks like a road map(stretch marks), but with a husband that loves me, and my body; and someone like you on tv everyday to watch and look up to, I think women like me, who have less than perfect body images will be ok. I just want to thank you for doing what you are doing, and I really hope you are spreading the message when my little girl grows up. And I hope she finds a man like her dad, because he loves me for me, even when I look nasty in some bagy clothes and I'm sick, hes there telling me I am the most beautifull woman in the world...Thanks again, and thanks for letting me brag about my husband, christina

Hi Tyra,

I am so proud of you!! Last year I received a call to be on your show(for sisterhood). I said no because I feared being on t.v. with this weight gain.I had been battling a thyroid condition which made me gain 30+ pounds. I always took being a nice size for granted. As a result of weight gain, I pushed everything away and went through a great depression. I could wear my clothes and my self esteem was at an all time low.

I look at how you are empowering women. I am encouraged as I am on a quest to do the same.

Now, I realize that the weight has been lifted by my learning and loving my true self. Irony would have it that when I stopped focusing on it things changed. I have lost a few pounds,my health is improving, I am in the process of starting my girls mentoring group,and I truly believe that abundance and richs are just around the corner.

Thanks for being a TRUE model. You are an inpiration and a beautiful person, both in and out!!

Many Blessings,

Tasha

I WATCHED THE SHOW TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING HONEST ABOUT YOUR BODY!!! YOU MENTIONED A CONTEST TO WIN A TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS--I DO NOT SEE IT ON HERE. THANK YOU FOR A REPLY.

Hey
Tyra my name is Michaela and I love your show and I love what u said it is the best!!

LOVE MICHAELA

wow....hey tyra i wuz watching your show earlier
and when u were celebrating
your 10 year SI anniversary...and i noticed that how u said people think ur fat u look no diffrent form b4 then from now....either way it looks awesome...

Beyonce is cute and all but you go girl! I think you look BETTER 10 years later.

Tyra I know this may not be much but you are my idol. You are my inspiration, I would like to be just like you when I grow up. You don't care what people think about you and you have a good attitude towards almost anything. You make a lot of people laugh including me, and you inspire girls like me to not blend in with the crowd and to be youself. even if you dont read this or reply to me you will still be my inspiration.
-Nicole Nisenbaum

I think you are so beautiful, even though I know you hear it all the time.I admire you for who you are. Im trying to get in to the modeling business myself and it seem like whatever I do isnt good enough.I got my nose done, a chemical peel ect; and all I see is flaws within myself.Everyone tells me Im beautiful but I dont see it.In this business how can you stay so positive when you look all around you and see perfection, but when you look in the mirror you see flaws?

Tyra i just want to tell you " I love You,I love You,I love You. just continued to be who you are dont give a$%#@^& what the media say about you you are my role model

My 3 1/2 year old daughter watched the show with me today and she picked out her favorite SI cover. She repeatedly said that the 2007 cover is the one she likes the best. When I inquired why, she said because Tyra was to thin in the 1997 cover. She said that Tyra is more beautiful now.

Dear Tyra
I would just like to thank you. Your episode today inspired me to keep believing in myelf and my dream. I look at you like you are my big sister and it be an honor to meet you.
Thank You
Jamella Aike SC

TYRA,
I KNOW THAT YOU WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SWIMSUIT PHOTO SHOOT. I REALLY LOVED THE ORIGINAL COVER BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE NEW COVER IS BY FAR THE BETTER OF THE TWO, YOU ARE VERY GORGEOUS AND YOU LOOK GREAT. FORGET ABOUT WHAT SOCIETY SAYS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
JOE

I just watched the show...enjoyed it, reminded me that 1997 was a great year for me, on valentines 1997 i met my husband, we married on October 29, 1997.

This year my husband will celebrate his 40th birthday and our 10th wedding anniversary.

In 1997 we also were lucky enough to travel to many places...so we would love a chance to win your bahama/atlantis trip.

Hey girl! I loved the show today, the photo 10 yrs.later was beautiful, but I wish you had shown it untouched so that we could see you today! You are beautiful no matter what size they may think you are. I think us "normal" girls would appreciate the untouched photo! Smooches!

I just got done watching the show. I thought the new cover turned out amazing. You look good no matter what anyone says about you. You are beautiful and one of my biggest role models! :)

i just finished watching your show in reference to the ten years later si shoot. just wanted to let you know you look better today ten yrs later. as black woman to black woman you know our men prefer us curvey and full in the right places.your body today adresses all of that.i'm glad to see that you take the avise of your mother.we can see how grounded you are as opposed to some of the other flakey people we see in hollywood. Girl i'm with your mom;i would have enjoyed a pizza also.you are beautiful exactly as you are.My husband has said to me before "she is going to make some young man happy". i have to confide,my husband says you look much better with your weight now.

Dear Tyra,
I'm so happy for your remaking of your swimsuit edition of the first woman on S.I.
^.^ Congrats!
Sweet and Simple message!
Have a great year and I hope you continue to make more and more accomlicments!

hey tyra this is jessica i'm from fennville michigan and i love you and your show, and i love how your there for everybody you have taught me a lot of stuff when it comes to boys to my own personal life. i really hope you get this message it would mean a lot to me if you as in yourself would write me back thanks a lot
love,
jessica

i'm struck by the difference between what we saw on the tape of the shoot, and the final retouched photo. it turned out beautifully, yes, but i'd much rather see tyra looking like a real woman, with the real body that she now has. because that is beautiful too.

I think that your picture is very beautiful. It's very inspirational and says so much to a younger generation, as well as many women of any race today. I'm sixteen and have been a fan of yours since i was nine. You are truly bless with the gift of beauty and i'm amazed how you took advantage of that and made it something positive.
From a
fan always,
Eilaan

You are so full of yourself!

Hi Tyra first off I would like to just say congrads on the success on your show, it's definetly nice to see something different in the talk show world.After just watching your show today I was even more inspired to go ahead with my career change. I am a college student from Montreal Canada who has been majoring in Psychology for the past three years, and recently I decided that I will not be attending University to futher my studies in that field. I always had a passion for film and broadcasting but never took courses because I wanted to play the safe card and please my mother. I heard about a school that was solely dedicated to my passion. I am registering tommorrow in hopes that they will accept me after reading my letter of intent. My goals that I want to achieve after receiving the knowledge I need from the school is to produce a talk show benefiting young children and social issues which affect them.Later on I want to direct my own film and to be the first black female director to win an Oscar. People around me think it's a far fetch dream. However I am even more determined after watching the show. I feel and know its possible as long as you put heart and soul into it.You successfully achieved your dreams as a strong black woman and I know I will attain that aswell. Tommorrow I am registering for the school and I do hope to include you as one of my inspriration to DREAM BIG! Thanks so much again Tyra for being such a beautiful human being inside and out aswell as a good inspiration. I love You Tyra! Princilla Oduro xoxoxoxo

Tyra, I'm watching the show right now, and I have tears of joy. I love you than, I love so much more now. I'm not black. If I was, I'd be proud because of people like you. I am proud to be a woman. And I am proud of my curves and I thank you for your warmth and wisdom. You Rock, baby!!!!
much love and utmost respect,
Nena

I love you and your show. I'm proud to see a strong black woman doing her thing! But I really want to say well done to your mother. I saw the show today and what your mom said concerning the agency wanting you to lose 10 pounds made me say bravo mama! I'm so glad you have your mom on the show because she represents strong black mothers who had to raise children alone but still insilled in her children that they could do whatever they wanted to in life. And she didn't fold and say, "we got to get Tyra to lose weight to keep getting jobs and a paycheck!" She is truly a brave and awesome black woman!!!

wow tyra i dont even know what to say im so proud of you im not even done watching the show but im already tearing up i just wanted to say that i love you so much your my biggest ROLE MODEL i look up to you so much you just encourage me so much to follow my dreams

~LOVE CAREN~

Hi Tyra,
My name is Elikia and in Lingala, the language spoken in Congo It means Hope.Nine years ago my dad, a teacher and my mom, a nurse got new jobs and yea getting new jobs are big deals but how big of a deal is it when your new jobs require you to go over seas?
My parents got new jobs over in Burkina Faso, West Africa where it is a complete different place than the United States. Thats one of my most favorite mile stones. I was only 6 years old. It was a life changing experience and i am so happy my parents accepted the jobs. My dad worked on helping support villages in need and working with people and my mom became an accountant for a while. I went to The Saint Exuperie French School.I went to first through third grade in french. I now know French Flouently and am working on 2 other languages. Then my parents decided that we would move back to the us for my 5 grade year so i went to the American International School for 4 grade in english to prepare me. For my 5 grade year i went to Minnehaha Acadamy in Minnesota. My parents and i went back to Burkina and My mom became the School nurse and my dad kept working by helping villages and other stuff for the US embassy. Years passed and Life in Africa was The best. All my friends were African and i got to do so many experiences that so many people in this world dont even dream of. I now concider Africa to be my true home.I am only 15 but i have been writting a book and i want to get it published. I started 3 years ago this next month and thats another mile stone. There are many wonderful mile stones in my life and i just want to really remember them. I hope you get this and really read it.
Thanks so much,
Elikia

TYRA I LUV U!U ARE MY IDOL.U MAKE ME WANNA BE JUST LIKE U BECAUSE U ARE SO REALL AND UR A GREAT PERSON!UR GORGEOUS U HAVE HIPS AND A GREAT BODY DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE TELL U OTHER WISE.UR BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT!I ADMIRE U SO MUCH U LOOKED GREAT IN UR SWIM SUIT.U LOOK BETTER NOW IN IT THEN U DID BEFORE!UR A GREAT PERSON AND I WISH TO MEET SOME DAY AND MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE TO HAVE MET MY BEST IDOL EVER THE BEST PERSON EVER!

Tyra, I watch your show everyday, and i am sitting hear watching it again on you aniversery of your SI shoot. Your mother always helps me when i see her on your show. And today was no different. My own mother is always on me about my weight. I know i should loose some weight but it is hard. I would just like to thank you for what you are doing right now. It does a lot for all the over weight women out there who always hear and see that you have to be thin. I would just like to thank you for that.

Tyra,

I watched your show this morning and I was really annoyed. Stop doing shows about yourself. I thought the whole point of a talk show is to interview other people...not talk about yourself.

Tyra,you look so much better now. My gawd,your curves are amazing and why anyone would ever be critical of your gorgeous body. You're one of the most stunning women in the world! I love your hips and booty.Your breasts are so lucious.How many women wish they had those,thats why they get implants lol. Women should have meat on their bones. There's to skinny and than there's perfect.You're the perfect and its to bad the modeling world doesn't use you as a guideline.You're so sexy as you are. So this white guy loves your chocolate any way served.145 pounds,160 pounds or whatever you weigh,men have to be mesmerized by your beauty. I know i am. Keep up the great work you do,on and off your show. You show just how to be classy,sexy,compassionate and intelligent all at the same time.

Hi Tyra,
I know you have alot of fans, and may not end up reading my post. But I just want you to know that you truly are an inspiration to any race. I don't think you inspire black woman alone, but all colors. My 10 year anniversary will be celabrating my first championship for barrel racing in 1997! I don't know how I can celebrate it because its not like I can ride the same horse and re-anact the whole scene! But it is sure nice to think of the accomplishment that I had made!

Thank you for all your inspirations!

Hey Tyra!!!
I wanted to let you know that i watched ur show today and I wanted to tell you that 10 years later I thought u looked better on that cover! Ur curves are smokin! I'm glad you did that! you are a great role model for girls of all ages! Sincerely Rebecca 20 xoxo

Hi Tyra I was watching your S.I. show and I think you look even better now don't let anyone tell you different, Thank you for always being so inspiring.

I was not able to find where I can contact you about your "10 year anniversary contest" I am celebrating a 35th anniversary, of a life changing event. Can you help me?

hey Tyra. My name is Tracy and I'm 15 years old. Your awsome, and one of my biggest role models! When I watch you on television I feel inspired and would love to tell you face to face why your so important. You help me get through rough times, really rough times and I would just like to thank you and hope that you see this! My goal one day Tyra, is to finally meet you that would be life changing :) I don't know you but if feels like i've know your forever! Maybe one day that will come true, who knows. But just promise me you'll keep on doing what your doing and thanks for being a outstanding person! God bless, and thank you!
Tracy :) xo

Hello:
I am a child and youth counselor in Canada. I am seeing more and more girls coming in with body issues, my youngest child was 5 yrs old! I don't know what our society is thinking telling our children that their bodies are to heavy, not perfect and set them up at such young ages for a lifetime of potential body issues, diets and health problems. I appauld your 10yr anniversary swimsuit issue. I see you as a role model for my youth who are struggling to look "perfect" and there you are, in all your glory, totally stunning and perfect. Not caring about the numbers on the scale but caring about how you feel inside - both physically and emotionally. You inspire. Please continue to this campaign - young women AND men of all colours need to hear this message. Last, I love your mama!! What a beautiful woman to reject what those in the industry stated about you needing to lose weight and buying you a pizza instead! All children need a mama like yours! Thank-you Tyra! Thank-you so much!

Tyra,
I watched your show today. You remade your 1997 S.I. cover on this episode. Coming from a woman who has gone from very thin to slighly larger than what society considers average, I have to say I was more impressed with your remake photo than your original. You looked like a woman in your second photo and a young girl in the first. You have real curves now. The reality is S.I. is viewed by men more than women, and I think the viewers would appreciate seeing a mature grown woman over the young, almost curveless girl. Kudos to you Tyra, for accepting yourself the way you are today and not letting the media dictate what is considered beautiful. You are beautiful, successful and seem not just content with yourself, but happy with the road you have traveled which has made you who you are today. More young girls need to be inspired by woman such as you. Please keep being the model example you have been.

tyra, i got to say you go girl because im a very volumptous african american woman who hates her body all ive ever seen was twiggy size models and felt like were all suppose to be thin and im very gracious that a supermodel like you is putting the oh u got to be skinny world in its rightful place because a lot of us are not meant to be a size zero and i thank God for that because i am a smart intelligent female who had low self esteem but now i have two daughters who are thick and trust me now they are saying we can be accepted for who we are because if tyra banks can do it we can too. so thank you so much and again i say to you and your mom YOU GO GIRL.....SHENEATA DAVIS FROM NC

Good Afternoon Ms. Banks:

My name is Haneefah Hasan, I am a 55 year old African American Woman. I really am very proud of you and what you do. I love it that you keep it real and that you respond to as many people as you can. I was just wondering if you had or have a place in your business for a Customer Service Representative or Typist or something for a woman my age.

I live in Stone Mountain, Georgia and I am presently a Paraprofessional (teaching Pre-K) which I love, but, I need something that will supplement my income and I'd like to show my Customer Service Talents and typing ability if possible.

If you can assist me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Respectfully,

Haneefah Hasan

I think you look beautiful in the photos,not fat. It looks as good as the first, even better and i think its great that you recreated it.You loook great Tyra.
Love,
Ashley

Tyra you look so good even ten years later 20lbs seems like a lot to your own body but really to other people it is nothing i have gained 10lbs sence i had a child and that seems like a lot to me and i have tried everything to lose it but i can't. but after watching your show i say who cares i got hips now a loving daughter. And people can say what ever they want about me because you can still feel sexy having a little muffin roll lol thanks tyra you are so truth full and more people need to be like you. You are awsome me and my daughter watch you every morning at 11:00 Thanks

Hello Tyra, I had an opportunity to watch your show and I believe that you look just as good as you did ten years ago. Just recently I was able to celebrate a milestone in my life. I was able to make it to the New Edition Concert that was here in Louisville, Kentucky. I had missed this concert about 18 yrs ago. I missed the concert because of some bad choices that I made, but I must say I enjoyed every moment of seeing them 18yrs. later

Congratulations on re-creating your SI cover!! You looked great!

10 years ago i was hit by a car on the sidewalk , walking home from school, i was 10 years old. i was in a coma for 2 and half weeks, had to learn how to walk talk and eat again,beginning from a baby point, i have come this far, finished school, done one year of college, i have acomplished alot. the doctors told my parents to prepare for my funeral cause i was going to die. but here i am, celebrating every day of Life!

Miss Banks,
I have more of a request for information, then a comment. I hat met some one has told me that they were model and they do print work.There story changes ever so slightly eveytime we talk. I was woundering is there a centeral registry of models.Or any way that I can check her story to fid the truth.
lso I don't expect you to know the 1000's of people that work in your industry, but in the off chace you do know this person, she says her name is Tracy Subair. She tells me she has dual citizanship. Both U.S and Nigerian and she has to go to Nigeria to take care of her mother and has a fashion shut. The real kicker that is making me question she is telling me that she would like me to deposit her check into her account and then cash the post dated check and send her a portion of it. This is real fishy.
Thank you for your help.
David king

Hi Tyra
Congrats on recreating the fab SI cover from 10 years ago!

Tyra, you are such an inspiration to ALL women. Thank you for this show, and for your recent stance against the media's obsession with weight. I applaud, honour, and thank you for your continuing message of acceptance and self-love. Twelve years ago I got very sick from taking herbal remedies, as a result ten years ago I developed annorexia. I was told that because of my health issues I likely wouldn't live to see 35. Next week is my 35th birthday!! I am free of my eating disorder and I have learned to love and accept myself. I have come along way in 10 years and beaten all the odds. Although my success is not as public as yours, I am celebrating with you today. Thank you again for being such a strong positive role model. Keep up the great work, more women need to hear your message! Love from Canada...

hey tyra,
i just have to say you looked good then and you still look good. i also think you mom is great.

tyra i must say that i think you look better than you did 10 years ago. your body looks more femine, your face is more like a woman than a little girl, this 2007 photo is the one that should make the cover. like i said i'm not just saying it to agree with your point i would be more apt to buy the 2007 cover than the one 10 years ago. keep up the good work. i'm one of your long time fans and have watched your career all of these years. we are almost the same age and have watched you from the beginning and very proud of your accomplishments and who you are. jodi

I just wanted to tell you that I think you look better in this years bathing suit then you did ten years ago. You look more real, human, like the every day women and not like some toothpick. I had a baby 9 months ago and I'm still 30 puonds over wieght and I hate leaving the house with out her because I don't want people to look at me with their nasty eyes. I used to be one of those people and it took me to be over wieght to change my outlook on people. So,thank you for standing up.

Tyra I just want you to know that when I wach your shows, I don't think about you as some famous person that has enough money to have her own show, I think about a beutiful person on the inside and out, and I just want you to know that every day when you step out on that stage you brighten someone's day so keep going! thank you sooo much!!!

Hey Tyra,I've been a big fan of yours now since I first layed eyes on you.I think your the sexiest woman I've ever seen!your eyes are hypnotic and so sensual.I'd like to take this time and thankyou for what you're doing for women everywhere.I try to never miss a show and my mother and I often watch it together.sometimes it's such a beautiful show I can't help but cry(no im not gay).I think it's great that your not ashamed to look normal and that you feel how I do about models being under weight.I gotta say you've got it going on!I've had a BIG crush on you since '97 when I first seen that cover of S.I.Im 31 now and still think your a Goddess.obviously you've heard that alot in your life,but to me your just so much more than a beauty.the topics your show covers proves that,it's got something for everyone and I've always enjoyed that.keep on keeping on Tyra,you've got many fans who'll always have your back.forget what the moronic media says,your the hottest thing since the sun!

Peace,Love & Light

Carl xoxox

Tyra,
You are the most beautiful woman that is, was, and always wil be in the modeling agency! Even though I don't "KNOW" you, when I saw them tabloids I bursted into to tears at night becuase we all know no one wants to see a Black Woman make it as far as you or Oprah has. I admire your work and the things you've done and at the age 17 I feel nothing can stop me now! Thank you SOOO Much Tyra and I love you! Look out because Im going to be the next beautifil black woman making history one day!

Sincerely,
Direka

Dear Tyra,
On St. Patricks Day, March 17, 1997, I was involved in a horrible car accident. I was a Junior in High School, working part time, with lots of friends, and a great outlook on life. Luckily I do not recall any of the accident. The accident involved the first initial wreck then by the time I could get out of the way I was under neath the pickup involved in the first crash. His bumper came through my windshield and the drivers side door. This making the frame buckle and me smashing my head on that sharp frame. I went into shock and was rushed to the hospital. I went into a coma and the hospital could not do anything to me until they knew who I was.
The state trooper called my Mom and said "Could you come to the hospital we believe your daughter has been in a car accident and we need you to identify the body." A mothers worse nightmare. She said well is she dead? And he said I can not disclose this over the phone. Could you imagine how my mother felt? She was in a panic, luckily she received a call, from the girl who had caused the first accident and asked for me (she was also a classmate of mine). My Mom said well, I received a call that she was involved in an accident. Which this girl confirmed was true. But made it sound like I should be ok.
Once my Mom confirmed it was me she called my sister and asked her to come to the hospital and decided to phone my father who was working in Maryland at the time. About 5 hours from where the accident occurred in Virginia.
Once my Mom arrives at the hospital the nurse quickly starts asking so many questions as she is rushing my Mom to where I laid. There I was my brain was exposed and I was a terrible mess only the worse thing a mother should have to experience. Once my mom said yes that is my daughter they quickly wheeled me away. I was in a coma for 3 days and when they couldn’t wait to do surgery any longer I finally woke up. They preformed surgery and put me back together. My Mom calls me humpty dumpty. I have 3 titanium steel plates in my head with 32 screws and bolts. Which we joke didn’t come from Lowes Hardware because they were a thousand dollars apiece.
The part of my brain that was injured was my personality. When I came home from the hospital after a month long stay, I was a totally different person. I had a bad attitude, I was hateful, rude, and uncontrollable. My life was spiraling downward. And I didn’t care. I thought I was invisible and since I had this happen to me nothing else bad would happen to me. Well, it did, I lost so many of my friends, I traded them in for the kind of friends you dont want your child to have. I treated my parents like crap and I even told my father an ex-marine corps drill instructor to go to hell.
My parents understood what I was going through. They knew that wasn’t me, that someone else was in my body. Its true, I was going down the wrong roads. I finally realized after 3 years of being wild and crazy and that I wasn’t saved to be destructive. I was saved to do good in the world.
I moved away from the town that was bring me down. I lived with my sister and her family and turned my life around. I found my husband and my best friend. I have been "better" for about 6 years. I owe a lot to my husband because I changed not for him but for myself. But he really showed me how to be a better person and realize that you can't change the past but you can make it better from here forward.
I know my parents are so proud of me because I am back to the Ashlee before St. Patricks Day 1997. I still have moments when they are tough and I don’t make the best decisions but I know that my head injury well never go away persay. I still have things that bother me and its hard for me to learn but I will try my hardest!
This St Patricks Day I am celebrating by going to Las Vegas with my husband. This will be 10 years since the day that changed me life. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I know this was my journey to overcome.
I am not irish at all but i celebrate life every St. Patricks Day, I have a four leaf clover tattoo on my shoulder and I wear a white gold clover around my neck. My car has shamrocks on the windows all year long, and is adorned with teddy bears that are Irish. Just to remind me how precious life is and how lucky I am to be alive.
The funny thing is Atlantis has been my dream vacation, for many years now. I know I will go one day I am thinking for mine and my husbands five year anniversary which is in 3 and a half more years, but what I would like to do more than anything is send my Mom in my place! The year before my car accident, her father was involved in accident that involved his head. He was the gentlest most loving grandfather who never said anything to hurt anyone, and he spiraled downward just as I did. His left frontal lobe same as mine was damage changing his personality. So my Mom not only had a dad that was mean and hateful she got a daughter that was mean and hateful to. My grandfather lived until July of 99 but my Mom always said she lost her father the day of his accident. I always thought I cant have my Mom say "she lost her daughter" the day of my accident. So I had to find myself. I am so much better and just looking to the future, though I will never forget all the hurt I caused people and the bad things I have done.
Then after my accident within 2 years my dad started getting sick. He went to doctor after doctor and he was finally diagnosed with MS. He is still lucky and can walk and talk, but he is hurting badly. He still works just to keep health benefits and to cover all the medicines he is on. I wish there was some way I could just pay for everything so he didn’t have to work. Its really sad, because I hate seeing my Dad when he is sick. He tries to be so strong and act like he is Ok when I really know that he is in so much pain.
My Mom has just been through so much the past ten years not to mention her whole life but she is SO STRONG. I have never met a stronger woman than her. I love my Mom so much and she knows it I just wish I could do more for her. So my request is for my Mom to get to go on the trip to Atlantis. I know I will get there one day, but let my mom and dad go and enjoy themselves before it’s to late for my Dad to enjoy such a trip.
Thank you for giving me this chance to share my 10-year anniversary story with you and look forward to seeing many more Tyra shows in the future. You are truly a beautiful person inside and out.
Sincerely,
Ashlee in North Carolina

You are always so great Tyra

Congratulations Tyra! =]
10 years later and you look even more beautiful!
-Sarah

10 years ago I saw your beauty on the cover. Now, 10 years later, your beauty has only increased, and they should put you on the cover again.

Dear Tyra,
I think your incedible and such a strong person. I love watching your talk show. Keep up your hard work girl!
Love,
Tressa Green

Thanks for making me take the time to stop and reflect on where I was 10 years ago and how far I've come!
Ten years ago, I was recovering from a suicide attempt and then a severe cutting episode. I left the hustle and bustle of NYC (my home) to a calmer N.H. I have been sober for over 6.5 years, have almost entirely quit smoking, am in therapy and in much better control. I was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder 3 years ago which has been very trying and difficult but aside from that I am so much better than I was 10 years ago. If I were still in NY or still drinking I am certain I would not still be alive today.
Thanks for making me stop to think. I'm grateful!
Sara.

Hey tyra, I'm a 13 year old girl, and im inspired by your S.I photo shoot 10 years later. When i hear about your confidence it gives me confidence, i'm about 5'8 and 140 pounds. I feel that this is alot for my age, and sometimes i feel ashamed of it, but reading your blog, and watching your show has helped me to have confidence and to love your body for what it is, Thanks Tyra
Love Jenny-Lee

Tyra,

You looked great 10 years ago, but you look even better now 10 years later!! I'm so glad that you are proud of your body and don't listen to what you see in the tabloids!! You're a role model for all women!

Tyra Congrats on your 10 yr anniversity. I think what u did was an amazing idea.You look beter than ever. Thank you for being u i look forward everyday to watch your show. Keep up your good work.

love always
Diana

Tyra, I just wanted to say that you're photo shoot was amazing. The final picture was truly beautiful! You keep workin' it girl!

That is so cute, the pictures! You still look awsume. That episode of Tyra just finished 5 minutes ago. You keep me in suspence. And also you look so much like your mother. She is gorgeous 2.

I happen to home today, on a mini-vacation from working at my el school. I saw the news this am...the continuing saga of Brittany Spears and Anna Nicole Smith. Being almost 57, my heart was breaking. Then I turned on the last l/2 hour of this show. Of course you're still beautiful, even more so than 10 years ago. And the contrast between your life, and that of celebrities that struggle, is so life affirming. Thanks for your commitment to young women, their mental/emotional/physical health, which for me is an answer to prayer.

hey tyra im 12and i watched your show today monday 19 2007 im trying to get on the vitual studio thing but i cant find it but i love your show and you your such a inspration to me i always watch antm bye

Tyra, I just want to say how great you looked in you pokadot bikini. I truly think you look just as good now as you did then. Who cares if you gain 5 lbs or 20 lbs. You look wonderful. I am very sorry for what people say about you weight. My mom always tells me if they are talking about you and cutting you down it is because they want something that you have and in your case I believe they want that rocken bod that you have. I am 27 years with two children (6yrs & 5 mon). I weigh 206lbs and I am 5'6 1/2". I am not proud of how I look at all. My husban tells me that I am the most beautiful person on the inside and out that he has ever seen or met. He is wonderful. I try and try to lose weight, but oh my gosh it is so hard. I try very hard to follow a diet, work out and do the thing that the experts ask you to do. Nothing. Then to top it off I had a bad allergic reaction to something in my home leaving me to having to take a form of steroid just so I could breath. It packed on the pounds. I no longer have to take them and I am now a size 16. I went from a size 14. Now I can not even lose 1 lb. It bothers me very badly. I have heard from many people that the neutra system diet as they show on tv really works. My only thing with that is it cost $280 a month and I don't have that kind of money. It is not a lot but I am an at home mother 24/7 and my husband works to pay the bill and for us to live off of. He has told me that he will help me save up for it if it is really somthing that I want to do. I really do want to do it but I don't fell like I deserve it because I don't work and I have two children and a husband I need to worry about. I feel that it would be selfish of me to do that for myself. I just wish I could look like you in that bikini and in everyday close. I am embarrased to go any where because I am afraid of embarassing my family. They tell me I don't and not to ever think that. There is nothing more that I want in this world than for my children and husband to have a wonderful healthy life and for me to be right there with them. Why is it that every thing is so damb expensive. I always thought that God made the world go around, not money. Girl was I wrong. If you are happy with youself don't let anyone else bring you down. I wish I was happy with myself. You are rocken and thanks for your show.
Melonie Willmon
Kyle, TX

omg tyra you look so unbeleivably fierce ....you are truly one of a kind and i love you dearly thanks so much for being and inspiration :]

♥/kari

p.s. here's my myspace so you can identify who's talking to you (hehe)

oh and i love your little virtual thing a majig :]

Tyra,Are you not only and inspiration to me-an older women of the age 48,but to the young daughters I am raising.Their age is 18 & 16 and to me you have taught "us" it is ok to be "us"! No one is perfect and that is ok. I watch your show everyday and each time,I feel more proud of myself, full of hope for the next day. Thank you Tyra for being just you.,Audra

hi tyra, its so funny i was watching the show and im like i dont really think i have a 10 yr anniversary but i thought 1997 i entered my first beauty pageant. Im getting married this summer and id love this trip! lol...but anyway i was 10 years old and i won here in buffalo,ny and went to atlanta georgia to nationals and came in first place since then, i have won 6 of them. i can say they have made a difference in my life and made me a young black women who strives to acheive every thing big, like u say think big. and yeah, theres my 10 yr. anniversary that i didnt even think about until today...ans i have the proof too!

hey tyra im 12and i watched your show today monday 19 2007 im trying to get on the vitual studio thing but i cant find it but i love your show and you your such a inspration to me i always watch antm byb

Tyra:

I love what you are doing to glorify your changed body and the body of girls everywhere who are not a 0 or 00. Your photo shoot was great during the video taping where we could see your natural figure. What confuses me is how the new cover shot doesn't look much bigger than you were 10 years ago! I think it is still deceitful to not show what has been done to that new pic. Nothing we see is real anymore!! Dove is doing it best. One more thing...If you were still 123lbs would you still be so concerned about how skinny models are getting or how beautiful fuller figured girls are??

Patty--Nova Scotia, Canada.

Added note:
I have been a size 3/4 to a now size 11/12 and there is not a day that goes by where I dont' think about ephedrine but the nurse in me now deals with that and I hit my gazelle instead, but being 31 now, looking great is more an emotional thing than a physical thing.

Ok...I'm done now...Thanks for hearing me out! xo

Tyra....
Your show today was really inspirational. You are just a beautiful today as you were 10 years ago. You continue to make your fans proud each day you represent someone who doesn't have a voice of their own.
Thank you for being such a great role model for so many people, 10 years ago and today.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
Much Love,
Lindsay
Manitoba, Canada

Tyra I think you look better now on the cover versus 10 years ago. I also think u look better than Beyonce on the cover, who is beautiful but over-rated. Keep up the good work and keep encouraging young women.

Thank you for making young girls, as well as women,feel good about themselves. I know your momma is proud of you! If I'd had a child I would want her (or him) to be brave like you have been in realizing your dreams. At the end of today's show, you helped me realize that I have a ten year anniversay coming up that I am so very proud of. Ten years ago I received my Bachelor's of Science degree. For many people this is an everyday occurance, but please understand that I had been in the workforce since I was 14 years old, I was the first girl from my father's side of our family to have completed high school, and it took me twenty-five years of working odd jobs, helping my husband raise our three sons (his from his first marriage) and helping put them through school, and borrowing thousands of dollars to get my degree. (I was the first person at that time, in the entire Collins family, to have graduated college.) It took me another three years to get a Masters of Arts in Teaching (along with the borrowed money) to begin to realize my lifelong dream of working with kids, teaching them and providing a safety net for others like myself(as a child). As I see it there aree no safety nets for kids from povertty stricken homes in our appalachian area. We have Title this and title that for regular, gifted, and special ed learners, but what about the children whose parents don't understand the value of an education? I call these my crack kids -- not from drug use-- but from faalling between the cracks in our society. Kids like me from high school that was told I would have to give up my spot in keyboarding and enroll in foreign language, because the superintendent os school's son needed the keyboarding class because he would be going to college and I would probably never be working in job where typing skills were necessary. I was the tall skinny geek kid with the crooked teeth and mis-matched clothes, a daddy that drew disability from the time I was 13, with a mm that worked fifty hours per week hand-sanding furniture at a local factory at minimum wage to provide food for me and my four brothers. I was not supposed to be "anything". I want to be that teacher that can help these crack-kids feel good about themselves. My story so far has only scratched the surface of where I have come from, but my life has only scratched the surface of where I hope to go. I have recently applied to a local university (ETSU) to obtain my degree in special education as an add-on endorsement and hope that by the time I'm sixty (ten years) I can talk loud and hard enough to attract other educators attention to these beautiful kids that have fallen between the cracks. I realize I haven't set the world on fire and have made many bad choices in my life, but with the support of a loving husband of the past 26 years and the determination to help kids, I may well have realized a second dream in another ten years. God has been so good to me. May you and your family feel the same blessings as I do in my life.
Sincerely,
Rita Neill

The blatant conceit and narcisstic commentary of Tyra Banks is far from inspirational to me or my daughter. People of real greatness do not need to repeatedly tell others about their own accomplishments. If they are truly great, there are many others eager to speak on their behalf. Handing her telephone number out for advice to her guest was the icing on the cake. What of humility and the greater good? I certainly hope that parents choose the role models for their children more carefully than this.

Tyra! You are so pretty hunny... I wouldn't care what those people are saying if I was you... Because you know the real truth and you know if they are lieing or not... You are soo pretty.. And you always have been...

Hello Tyra,

This is definitely a first for me. I have no idea how to use the site. I guess you can call me “technologically retarded”. Well obviously I am a fan, but I was watching your last show “Making history in my bathing suit!” and you asked you viewers and audience to look back at where we were 10 years ago and look at our selves today. Well I did that and I couldn’t help smiling.

My name is Britney and I am 17 years old. I was born in Trinidad and I know live in Maryland with my mother and step-father. I am a black woman (or young lady as my parents would say) and I have faced many obstacles in my life. I look back ten years and I find my self living in Trinidad with my sperm donor (I don’t call him a father) and my mother. See I migrated to the U.S in 7th grade. Well my father was very abusive, especially to my mother and me. He told my mom she was ugly and she was nothing without him. For him to stop hitting her she had to threaten his life by boiling hot water and oil and standing above him one night and saying “never hit me again.” The physical abuse stopped but the mental abuse continued. I mean, the man didn’t even go with my mom to sign my birth certificate so I can have his last name. He said “she’s gonna change it anyways”, yes Tyra D-O-G.

Any ways, between then and now, my mom forgot what people will think and she left the dog. She sacrificed her whole life for her kids. Tyra, my mom is a very intelligent woman and if she was not with my father, she would seriously be a doctor today. But as immigrants, life was definitely challenging. We struggled with immigration, we lived in a one bedroom apartment, we’ve done it all. All through such adversity, my mom reminded me to do my best and I could be whatever I want to be.

Well you know there’s good news, I bust my butt in school, I am now school president, and a lot of things. I was in the newspapers, I’m doing in Tyra just like you tell your models on ANTM. “do your best and work it!”

The best news of all is that I was accepted to Columbia University with a FULL SCHOLORSHIP. Yes Tyra, I’m a black girl going to and Ivy League!

I just thought I should share a snap of me with you after your show. I just thought you would be proud. This is the first letter I did not edit, I simply let in out

Anyways, if you do read this I hope I you’re proud. Thank you for doing your shows and being my role model. I look up to you not only because of you success but because you never give up and because you thrive to make a difference, something I see in myself, and thanks to you and my mother, I am not afraid to do that.
Thank you
Love Britney

Tyra this email is for you and your mother. I am 58 year-old retired mother and grandmother from Bowie, Maryland. I watched your show today celebrating the 10-year anniversary of your appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I just wanted you (and your mother) to know that I am so, so, so proud of you. I don't think I could be any prouder if your were my own daughter (who is a little older than you). You are amazing!!!!! You are one of the very, very few (believable) role models for young women and girls. I tip my hat and send all my love to your mother. If the proof is in the pudding, you are the "pudding proof." Stay the course. Keep them (the media, the industry, and anybody else) on their toes and accountable for what they say, do, and print. God's plan for you is clear. Know that there are those of us (your mature audience) that are praying for you everyday. Perhaps one day you will do a show about older women who have raised their children and grandchildren who still got it going on -- and some who could use a little help! Much love to you and your mother.

Tyra this email is for you and your mother. I am 58 year-old retired mother and grandmother from Bowie, Maryland. I watched your show today celebrating the 10-year anniversary of your appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I just wanted you (and your mother) to know that I am so, so, so proud of you. I don't think I could be any prouder if your were my own daughter (who is a little older than you). You are amazing!!!!! You are one of the very, very few (believable) role models for young women and girls. I tip my hat and send all my love to your mother. If the proof is in the pudding, you are the "pudding proof." Stay the course. Keep them (the media, the industry, and anybody else) on their toes and accountable for what they say, do, and print. God's plan for you is clear. Know that there are those of us (your mature audience) that are praying for you everyday. Perhaps one day you will do a show about older women who have raised their children and grandchildren who still got it going on -- and some who could use a little help! Much love to you and your mother.

Tyra congratulations on your 10 anniversary. You look better now than you did a decade ago. Take care and congrats again.

TYRA, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, YOU ARE TRULY AN INSPIRATION TO ME. I TOO AM AN INSPIRING MODEL IM 6"4" AND 240 POUNDS RECENTLY LOSING OVER 300 POUNDS TO PURSUE MY DREAM TO BE A MODEL. AND I OFTEN THINK OF GIVING UP AT TIMES, I OFTEN WONDER DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES , AND I THINK I TRULY DO. BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT, YEA I HAVE MY FAULTS ALL WOMEN DO. SINCE MY WEIGHT LOSS I HAVE BEEN EMBRASING WHO I AM, I NO LONGER LET ANYONE ELSE TELL ME NO, OR WHAT I CANT DO OR MAKE ME FEEL LIKE IM LESS THAN A PERSON, BECAUSE OF WHAT I LOOK LIKE OR BECAUSE I DONT LOOK LIKE OTHERS, AGAIN THANK YOU TYRA YOU ARE MY IDOL I LOVE YOU BB

P.S. I DONT WANT TO BE RICH I JUST WANT TO ENRICHE PEOPLES LIVES

BB

Dear Tyra:
I am responding to your show of 2/12/07. I am celebrating a different kind of 10 yr. anniv. It is for my beautiful daughter, Sarah. 10 yrs. ago she was diagnosed with histiocytosis, a rare blood didsorder. She presented with 5 tumors. One had to be surgically removed. She went through numerous procedures, and I was with her every step of the day. She is the picture of grace, strength, and joy. In addition to celebrating this special anniversary, (hers is a life-long disorder), we are also planning her wedding to her high school sweetheart. If this story were to catch your eye, I would love to give her the prize to the Bahamas for her honeymoon. Sarah is in her first year of graduate school, so a honeymoon isn't a reality for them right now.
I admire you, and your show. We are hooked on ANTM, and can't wait to see the next segment. You make the world a better place. I understand that Sarah's Story isn't the most important thing in this world in the scheme of things. I thank you for letting me tell you about her

Sincerely,
Ann Fallon

Tyra I am sooo proud of you! This is such an insperation to all people of color. One of my dreams is to be a model, and even though I am not yet body ready and Im a male, I am given hope ever time I see u. It tells me that yes a black model can di it! Keep incouraging others!
Be Blessd
Chris

Hey Tyra
Just to let you know I love your show!
About 10 years ago, I was just getting out of high school. When i was 15, I had multiple cyst on both ovaries. After takeing medication to make them go away, in 97 I had a pelvic mass. They found endometriosis, which I still suffer from today. I had surgery for the endometriosis again in 2002. They told me that I would be lucky IF I ever got pregnant. My biggest acheivement is...Today, I have a son that is going to be 4, a duaghter that is going to be 2 and I am due again on September 29, 2007. So to all of those who think there is no hope...there is! Thank you for letting me share my storie with you!
Sarah Webster

TYRA.....THANK YOU!!!! You have created a pathway for all blackmodels like myself. I have been following in your footsteps since i can remember. Its really hard to get your foot in the door when you cant be catergorized and your too short. Well in the next 10 years I vow that i WILL become a future MULTIRACIAL model that will grace many magazine covers and be only 5'2. I am not going to let my height and or weight desiginate where my career in this industry will take me. I know you dont have the time to write back but one day when i am able to meet you, i am going to make you and Mama Banks so PROUD!!!!!!

hey tyra,i just want to say that you are very beautiful and you are a great role model for young girls in the world so i just want to thank you for making me feel good about myself,love andrea

It seems to me you are stil trying to prove to the white folks, you fit there version of a white girl. The comments didn't bother you, so you say. Black woman shouldn't have to prove anything too them

Tyra, you still are extremely beautiful as you were on the cover 10 years ago. But what truly makes you even more beautiful is your big warm heart and fun/caring personality. Congradulations on your anniversary in making history.

Hi Ms. Tyra, I really enjoyed your show today regarding the SI cover you graced as the first African-American woman. I want to tell you Tyra that you were pretty back then but you look even better now, I loved your dress. It was definitely a racial issue because for Elle MacPherson to make the cover 5 times is ridiculous; she can't hold a candle to you. Let's be real; she's plain looking in the face and she looked anorexic (I don't know if I spelled it right). However, instead of continually expressing yourself as a "Black" woman, say "African-American" woman because Black has no identity of your ancestors homeland. There is no such thing as a "Black Land", just as there is no such thing as a "Negroe Land", which was the reason are people were renamed to do just that, take away our identity. Even though we are all mixed like "vegetable soup", we still need a homeland to identify with since America was not the homeland of our original ancestors. If a dog, such as a German Shepherd or French Poodle, can have a homeland identity, i.e., no matter where the dog is located it is still a German Shepherd, English Bull dog, etc.; so we, as a people, need a homeland to identify with like the Irish American, Italian American, Chinese American, etc., I do hope you get where I'm coming from. Keep up the good work, girlfriend, and "represent". GOD Bless you and your Mother.

Tyra

Girrrllll, I watched this show and you looked absolutely beautiful. 10 years later and who cares if its 5, 10, or 20pds later, you are stunning as ever before. I luv the positive attitude you have about your body image and how you just don't care what people think!! You luv you and that's what matters and that positive energy flows through every young girl and women who looks at your show and looks up to you! And I for one (even though I'm only 5 feet tall and not exactly "thin") I try to luv myself as well, and though sometimes it hard because of the way women are portrayed today, at least I know women such as yourself are fighting to change that!!

You are truly wonderful!!

Much luv and respect for you and your mother:)

Hi Tyra -

I am one of your biggest fans and glad to see you embrace your flattering figure to the fullest. It give many young girls out here the sense of pride in being happy with themselves no matter what. Reflecting 10 yrs ago, I was giving birth to my son. I was a teen mom who had her child at 18yrs old. It was very had watching all of my friends go out to clubs and I would have to stay home with my baby. Back then I felt like they ere so lucky. But knowing what I know now, having my son was one of the best things that ever happened. He not only made me very responsible, but determined to make it for not only me, but I gave up my life for him. Today I am happily married for 1yr and 1.2 and only have that one child, but was graced with 5 step children. Having my son at a young age made me appreciate not only him but life itself and everyday I still dedicate to him, Kendrick Furbush my one and only son.

Thanks for listening Tyra and hope to hear from you soon

Shawnte' Furbush-Jones

Hey Tyra,

Hearing your statement that you were the first African-American on the cover of Sports Illustrated during black history month made me realize something about my life.

In February, 1995, I performed a piano concerto at Oakland University in Michigan while studying piano performance. I don't know officially yet if I was the first African-American to do so, but intend on asking as soon as I finish this post!

This relates to the fact that last year I realized that in 1998, I was the first African-American to receive a bachelor of music degree in piano performance at Oakland University. After confirmation of this fact from my piano professor, I suddenly had a new goal in life. I need to use this HUGE accomplishment and move forward as an example to other African-Americans. I look back at what my ancestors went through to get me where I am today and want to continue to clear the way for our future generations.

My current goal is to study piano pedagogy at a music school in Paris (where my educational lineage goes straight back to Chopin!) to broaden my knowledge on teaching piano through learning from a different culture. I would like to take what I learn and give it to students I teach in my own piano studio, or at a university, or anywhere honestly, but preferably in my hometown of Detroit. I finished my audition CD and am now in the process of finalizing the application requirements. If I am not accepted to this school, or can't raise the money to go, I will find a way to learn more and continue teaching. Nothing will stop me from reaching my goal!

Thank you for fueling my inspiration even more!

Jennifer

tyra i think that u r extrordinary

Hey Tyra i just love yuor show i just wonder how does it feel too be a model i need too lose some weight before this summer can you give me some tips to loose weight thank you see you later!!!!

I applaud Tyra for taking a stand against the tabloids. FAT is not a bad word. As long as a person is at a HEALTHY weight & maintains a healthy lifestyle which includes nutrition and exercise, they should not have to feel ugly because they are not a size 2! I find it interesting that SI did put another Black Female on the cover 10 years after Tyra made history, but as much as I love Beyonce, she is not a MODEL! It would have been nice to see Jessica White on the cover instead of Beyonce! I understand it was a music issue but the models were in more pictures than the cover girl herself! Beyonce could have been included in the magazine without being on the cover! She is an entertainer and she gets enough magazine covers without being featured on one of the last FEW issues that makes it a point to not feature models, not celebrities! I wish SI did not wait until 10 YEARS LATER to put another Black Female on the cover though. We need more diversity! Even Jennifer Hudson being on the cover of Vogue, it is a rarity to see a Black woman on the cover of that magazine. The mainstream media (especially the "high-fashion" magazines) still do not feature enough Black, Latino and Asian entertainers.

Dear Tyra, just like you I want to be a model, and I'm afraid that I will be to big to be a VS or SI model. I'm only 12 years old, but I know I have what it takes to be a model. I want to go down in history just like you. You have opened my eyes and have told me that I can achieve any thing big or small. I just want to thank you, and when I do reach the top in about 6 years I'm going to come to you and thank you for the big part you played in my life.

Hi Tyra,
You look so much more beautiful now having your voluptuous body than you were 10 years ago!!! 10 years ago i used to think you and naomi campbell were the most beautiful models but what's good about you is that you are doing something great by touching everybody's hearts on your show and all the people watching your show all over the world.
You are beautiful inside and out!!! i'm very proud of you!!! i'm a big fan! i actually work night shift and stay up until i finish watching your show at 11am. stay safe and more power to you and your show.

abbey (Ontario Canada)

Tyra youve inspired me to be an african american supermodel and not to be too skinny. to love myself and to be all i can be!!!!

Tyra you are still as georgeous as ever..I'm so proud of you for all that you've done..and Beyonce-she will stop at nothing...she is amazing! I'm so greatful to have you 2 beautiful, powerful black women making history! You would think I was black! It just makes me proud for as far as the world has come and gives everyone the ability to believe that dreams do come true! Love you Tyra, Laura..P.S. I've always signed my name with a heart! It's cute..you are a blessing, Tyra, for all of us ladies!

10 years ago I was 13 and that SI cover changed my life. At the time I was suffering from anorexia and was 5'8 inches tall and only 90lbs. That cover showed me how beautiful a healthy curvatious woman looked and it helped me to recover. It changed my whole perception of beauty and at such a confusing time in my life it saved me from self destruction. So I just want to say thank you!

Tyra looks absolutely great...a woman at 5'10, 113 is not normal.

Tyra,
It kind of upset me and got to me that when you were in the Bahamas talking about girls setting thier mind to what they want to do, you only adressed "black girls". i have always wanted to model but that quickly died once i had my son and was faced with weight i had gained from being pregnant and stretch marks...nobody wants to see that on the runway or on a cover of a magazine. plus, i dont even have the kind of money for headshots, agents, anything. So, i just wanted to say that upset me very much.

tyra I think you look better now than you did 10 years ago. you look good girl. keep up the good work,

You Go! You make women in general proud to be curvy or not the "norm". You look AMAZING!
I have to say the one thing I would like revisit would be the birth of my daughter 19 months ago. I know it's impossible but that was my proudest and memorable moment. Nothing beats that!

Hi tyra im briana
im 11 years old &&
love you dearly i really
like the messages you put out there for young girls like me
and i just think your awsum

It was an awesome pictorial for SI, 10 years ago, even now. All I can say is thank you Tyra, for inspiring people like me to go for there dreams, no matter what the road blocks are. I am an african american woman as well, my milestone was enlisting in the military. That was about 6 years ago when I first had enlisted, I had challenges when doing so, but it was well worth it. I had a chance to serve my country, and proud in doing so. Tragically my military career was cut short, in 2003. Although it was short, I'm still proud in doing so. I guess my most proudest moment is in founding out my younger sis joined the Marine Corps JROTC, because she wanted to be like me and join the miltary...She has done so well while being in there. She's the highest ranked black female @ her school JROTC as a Captain! Although she has felt her dream as dimmed in joining the Marine Corps because of having a child. She's got soo much going for her, she's a senior in high school and is graduating in May. I wish there was someway to tell it hasn't dimmed, that her desire should be stronger because of Triniti (that's my niece's name, she was born on December 31st, 2006), She's so beautiful, I can send a pic if you want, okay so I am babbling. My point is thank you setting the standards for us in dreams, no matter how big or small they are.

I think it was great that you were able to allow yourself to go back there, knowing that all the feelings were going to come rushing back. I did not think about you were on the cover on black history month and that it's been ten years and now ten years later they decide to have there second black female and what a concidence it's the female that they say you favor ( Beyonce )

Tyra,
Thank you for your powferful words....words of love, encouragement, and support. Your words are for all, but I believe as black women and girls, your words are particularly important. I am a 36 year old woman...soon to be divorced. As much as I admire you...I absolutely love your Mother. I have a 6 year old daughter and a 4 year old son and I hope to be as a great a mother to my babies as she is to you and your brother. From what we see and as you know she is SUPER. Please tell her I said thanks for being a role model for me!!!

I have watched Americas Next Top Model and if I can catch it, I watch your show. You are absolutely goregous! I am a big girl now however I used to not look this way. Depression, stress and a whole lot of other things added the pounds. FINALLY I see someone embrace thier size and that is what has encouraged me to be more positive about my size. I have a husband that loves me for who I am and it doesnt matter if I am a few pounds heavier than what I was when he first met me. We share a fairy tale relationship starting from meeting online. I went this route because I was embarrased by my weight. Now I see that it doesnt matter what size you are and it really doesnt matter if you are in the single digit jeans or in the double digits. its whats inside of you that counts. I would much rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not. I just want to thank you Tyra for opening my eyes and giving me that little boost that has sent me on a new road to discovery. Much love-Jennifer

Hi Tyra!
I'm your biggest fan all the way from Singapore!=)
But we can only watch past episodes of your shows.=( But it is better than nothing...
I sooo wanna watch your show "LIVE". =)

Thanks!

TYRA.. I am such a hardcore fan of yours. i love you eversince i saw a picture of u in the net when i was like 12 years old and till now i'm still a big fan of yours. I'm been following your famous reality series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL from cycle 1 to cycle 7 and waiting for the cycle 8 this coming feb 28. However i stay in Singapore and sadly i have to watch it on youtube but its okay. I think you're such a great person. I look up to you like my you're my IDOL! I really love you so much. I always wanted to be an audience on your greatest talk show, the tyra show. OMG! hahaha.
It would be ahonour if u would actually reply to my comments. You're like the greatest model ever known. Gorgeous and fierce TYRA LYNN BANKS! woohoo.
LOTS OF LOVE TYRA.
FROM AFIQ
SINGAPORE HARDCORE FAN!

Hi tyra..
your picture so nice.I love you so much and I hope to conect with you because really I couldnt find how to write messages to you from your web site..

see you soon

Abeer

Dear Tyra:

I allowed a couple of personal tragedies to keep me from pursuing my dreams about 5 ½ years ago. One of these was losing my dear Sister Sheila in death. When I lost her… I lost my desire to be creative and have a creative outlet. She was one of my best friends and one of my biggest supporters. About 1 ½ years ago, I finally came to the realization that she would never have wanted me to give up doing what I loved. In fact, knowing my sister… she would be very angry with me. I believe that I will see her again someday and want her to be proud of me. This gave me the courage to try again. I was further encouraged by your show and your theme song. Long story short; I closed my eyes, prayed and took that leap of faith in myself . Now I really look forward to the day when I can fill my sister Sheila in on everything wonderful that has come of it. I have reached my dream! Thank you so much Tyra for the much needed encouragement you give young women and women in general.

PS You make 161 look fearce & fabulous. Not a defect in you from head to toe.

Sincerely,
Angela Dugan

I like it I only wish that I could be one of the people making the history on the bathing Swim Suit

Dear Tyra,

Congrats on breaking barriers for women of color. I understand that it wasn't easy, but yet when the challenge presented itself; you step up with style and grace. I'm glad that you took a stand on loving your body for what God made it to be and not succumbing to "Hollywood standards". I'm 28 years old soon approching 30 and I finally came to terms with who really am. I am a earthy, soulful tall sista with nappy dreads and ample hips. I love every inch of me and realize it is time to reach my full potential. It about time that "the industry" cater to the real women and not vice-versa. Keep on breaking them barriers.
Peace and Blessings.

hey Tyra,
I really hope that this gets posted. Well i am proud of you in what you have in your lifetime so far. The sports illustrated magazine cover was just one of many accomplishments. i cant wait to see the episode tomorrow. i have been waiting all weekend, like i do every weekend since im at school during the week and tape it everyday. Your show is on at noon where i live. i know that i am not supposed to ask for advice, but i am having a lot of trouble latley and i really need to talk to someone. i have no one to go to. so please e-mail me if you can. i love you so much. you are my role model, idol, inspiration, and you are what keeps me going everyday.
thank you and i ove you so much!
YOUR BIGGEST FAN BY FAR!!
~*Amanda*~

Tyra-Good friends don't try to still the limelight from one another. Celebrate Beyonce by allowing her to shine in this new light.
Furthermore, always focusing on your body seems to reflect a more shallow side of your personality. Grow-up--there are way more important issues than beauty related issues like the number of American companies selling out by sending American jobs overseas.
Pick a focus area and get serious.

TYRA, TEN YEARS AGO YOU TOOK THE COVER OF S.I. BY STORM BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO MAKE THE COVER. NOW (TEN YEARS LATER) YOU LOOK EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER!!! yOU TRUELY ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT AMERICAN WOMEN REALLY LOOK LIKE !!!!YOU ARE A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO LOOK UP TO..

Hello, I just wanted to say I am an eighteen year old girl, trying to find a path thats right for me. These days media influences many people in many different ways, and I just wanted to say that I have been following every interview and comment about Tyra's new weight. I must say that I think you are an extremely powerful influence to many people out their. All the power to you,with the way you have gone about that situation.Like you said on Larry King you have made millions of dollars with your body, and I think its absolutly gorgeous. I have always known that but now I can truly see you are a beautiful person inside and out.Even if your 60 you can still pull off the cover of sports illustrated
lotsa luv : justine=)

I AM REALLY HAPPY FOR HER.

Yes you should be proud of how you look now. Ms. Tyra you were gorgeous then and you definitely are gorgeous now. Congratulations.

Hi Tyra-

Because of you, I am now proud to weigh as much as I do. I have been trying to lose as much as 20 lbs, but then I looked at you and realized that I look good at the weight I am. Thank you!

hi trya i really like your show i have learnt a lot and think that u are a very realistic individual , keep up the good work i am always tune in to the show .from my entire family at trinidad.

You go girl!
Your an insperation to every woman out their.

Without a doubt, you are the most beautiful person on this planet.
I truely admire you.
Your ot just beautiful on the outside, but your beautiful on the inside.
Not like I really need to be telling you this coz you already know!

I love ya Tyra,
Keep it up!
xxxx

I think that it was very brave of you to do the shoot 10 years later. Celebrate yourself as you grow in maturity. Who cares what others think as long as you are happy that's all that matters.

Tyra,
Ever since I saw that show that you talked about the picture of you in your bathing suit I've seen so many things saying "Do you think Tyra's fat?". I think you are the most gorgeous woman and nowhere near fat!! You are such an inspiration to me!! I really wanted to email you but I couldn't find the link!! Thanks for being such a GREAT role model!!

You go witcha bad self!

Hey Tyra, since u will feature swimsuit modelling, I just happen to remember I've got an unresolved question about this for so long.
I always wonder how the female models deal with menstruation if they have to walk the runway in skimpy swimsuits or lingerie. The Victoria's Angels always look safe & confident to me. Is the show date chosen when all the girls are menstruation- free, bcoz some women might not be able to wear tampons.I ask that bcoz I was watching Fashion Tv and was alarmed how Naomi Campbell's stuff was tightly clung to the bottom-half of the swimwear! Now it's a question of hygiene, are these worn swimsuits given for free after the show?I'm dying to know the answers!

hey tyra. i love watching your show. i am from australia. is it possible to enter your comps and things on your website if you r from australia? my sisterand i are addicted 2 your show. please let us know.

cheers hayley

hey tyra i think you look amazing..there's a change?i dont see it..if there is,,so what for me you 1oyrs ago is nothing,,you're still hot girll...10yrs ago you look like an innocent angel..now you're a strong powerful angel that's making a history..you inspired women from all walks of life,teaching us to accept and love ourselves to whatever changes comes to life..you look amazing..and cute 2....god bless you always..luv ya tyty.

You go girl work it ang just want to say that you are my role model

I have to start with saying I've loved Tyra since I was 5 years old. I wanted to look like her, so that people would look at me and say how beautiful I was. So in the past few weeks it really hurt me to see how she reacted to what people said about her. The thing I grew to love about Tyra is that she was beautiful and strong in the public eye. She had this I don't care what people say because I'm happy being me. I've gained alot of weight since high school ( I mean ALOT) I was a size 4 and now I'm a size 10. I don't look bad, my friends didn't even know how much I've gained in four years. I just wasn't happy with myself. Than I watched Top Model and saw these women and heard Tyra say that even though some were plus sized models they were they were beautiful. And I believed that I was pretty at least. Than she gose on this all crazy and is out to prove that she hasn't gained weight and that she can still fit into this bikini and all these things. Every thime she talks about it, it makes me feel so sad because it means that she didn't mean a word of what she said to those girls who aren't happy with their apperance. It's not okay to gain a little weight, and it's not okay to just be happy with yourself. It means that it only matters what other people's opinion of you is the only thing, ONLY THING, that maatters so you better prove them wrong. Tyra, hasn't any told you their out to make you look bad because it sells. I just can't believve that YOU, bought into it.

Hey Tyra,
I am chinese girl living in Netherlands now for study.. i watch your TV show when i Have time. Let me say i admire your courage and intelligence. But i would like to challenge you with one question: what do you think you will achieve if you lost your beauty? Because not everyone are so lucky to have both beauty and intelligence. even some had both when they were born, for all kinda reasons, they lost their outside beauty in a violent way.. so my question for you, if you lost your beauty, will you still be successful? if Beyonce doesn't look that way, will she still be famous for being a singer? When you famous people say on TV: inner beauty is more important, do you really mean it? do you think you can achieve the same level of success with only your talent and inside? Can you imagin if you want to be a model or singer, you know you have the ability, but somehow life distroies your dream/possibility even before you have the chance to try. because simply you know it is impossible. even you work hard on it, but you know by yourself there is something that can never be changed and you will never reach the one thing that is what you dream about..... Looking forward to your reply!
Sincerely,
Cindy

Your the Best Ever!!!

This year marks my ten year high school graduation. When I graduated I went to college but I didn't care and wasn't serious. Three years after that I had a son and realized how I had messed up and needed to get my education so that my son and I could have a better start at life. I waited two years to get my finances in order and went back to school. Not only did I go back, I graduated with honors. Now I am in graduate school and will be getting my master's degree in May. Not only that, I am getting paid to go to graduate school. Never be ashamed of anything you do. Always be proud of yourself and do for yourself not for other people.

hey tyra.
im so glad to hear that you are happy doing the same pic even though you are curvier. i think you look fabtastic!!
keep on being such a great role model! can't wait for the new antm!
love kerry xx

Hey Tyra,

I can't wait till tomorrow so I can see the show. I did see some short clips on youtube and im so excitied about the whole show. And Tyra CONGRADSSSSSSSSSSS million of times on the history you made being on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I can only imagine how much that meant to all African-American women and how much it changed alot of these womens lives by that inspiration. LOVE YOU TOOOOO DEATHHHH TYRA!!!!!!!

your number one fan
tyrabanks4life

Cool Tyra i loved when you modeled i think i am am the youngest biggest fan. i think you are a great role model to me . you are my hero!!!!

From Terrin

Tyra,

You are NOW, as then, SO
BEAUTIFUL,,,AND BRAVE for taking on the fashion-personal self image and worth--society!!

I personally know how fickle and shallow this is, yet it goes to the core of american's self esteem and value/worth,in work and marriage-relationships. As a teen ,i was a bony 6'2" 175 # awkward boy,with lots of social disapproval/lack of acceptance,,,just based on my looks !!,,,

In college, i was 195,,,then moved to Yosemite for 10 years,and could not understand all these women falling all over me, when i had been the outcast in high school and totally ignored for years, even tho i was exactly the same person, wearing the same casual clothes,,,it was just my weight and image that had changed. So i was very very popular, and i never forgot that all those women were just into my looks, to sleep with me the first day.

Now i am 245, and want to lose 20-30, but probably not go back to 195,,,as i would have to win the lottery at 59 to be attractive to women nowadays, and own a huge house, and a very expensive car,,,and be much funnier than i am,,,and sing much better in my car than i do for decades,with the windows rolled up.

So ,you go Tyra !! FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, AND GET THESE SICK IMAGE MAKERS OFF THE SKELETAL IMAGE THAT IS FORCE ON WEAK GIRLS AND WOMEN IN THE USA, AND US WEAK BOYS AND MEN,,,

ALL THE BEST,
YOU ARE SOOO BEAUTIFUL,
INSIDE AND OUT IT SEEMS,
BEST WISHES,
D.G.

Ciara because shes my influence

hello
oneday when i saw the tv suddnly i saw ur talk show in one tv channle whe you did meeting with american muslim ladise and the other ladies in this i like ur way when you try to solve the problem between american muslims ladise and the other ladies i like ur this way i wanna tell you congratulation about ur program
i hope your undwestand me becuse we not speak english and we are not good in english language
i hope you send me any email from you as soon as possible
take care
bye......

YOUR MY BiGGEST ROLEMODEL EVER && YOU LOOK AWESOME iN A BATHiNG SUiT AND CONGRATS TO B

Dear Tyra,
I think that it's great that you are back in the magazine and you are not affair to show of your curves to the world.
Bye Maria

Dear Tyra,

YOU GO GIRL!! I'm plus size and I look up to how you don't care what others think...Your beautiful, skinny,smart women! I just hope one day I'm half the women you are...Anyways I have something I'm proud of...I graduated from High school as class of "06"!! I graduated as the Valedictorian of my school..Approx. 2-3months before graduation I was diagnosed with Narcolepsey among of a handful of other health issues...They told me theres no way I should of accomplished that high and I should have been in special Ed my whole life...Now I believe thats something to be proud of...Well again I look up to you gurl! YOUR THE BOMB!!

i from dubai and i have prolem and i hope from to help me thenx

hey Tyra

I'm really proud of you!!!
You have accomplished so much, and you are really lucky that you were given the chance to live such a great life!! You truly are my personal role model, and I hope that my modeling dream will come true, just like yours did!! And Im sure you look just as good if not better in the swimsuit, even if its ten years later!!!!
Love ya...emina

hy ,,, i AM FROM PANAMA AND I LIKE YOUR TWO PROGRAMS.

Hi tyra! i just wanna say that you were great ten years ago and you'll be great now. i love you so much and i am your biggest fan. i really wish i could meet you but any way, girl you got that shot!

Tyra I am so proud of all your accomplishments. You are a beautiful young lady inside and out. I was so glad when you told the haters just what they would do when they made those fat remarks about you. Honey let me tell you, if you are fat, give me your kind of fat any day. I too feel like I have accomplished something in my life. In 2002 I started writing my first novel titled "High-Profile Murderer" Tyra when I tell you this is a page turner and I see "BIG SCREEN" written all over it, please believe me. I was laughed at when I told some of my so-called-friends that I was writing a novel and when I completed it and proceeded to have it published in 2004, girl do you know those nay'sayers did not give me as much as a congratulations. But that's ok, I believe in being a person that does things and not just talk about what I am going to do. I also believe that what God has for me it is for me. I am now trying to promote "High-Profile Murderer" and get it made into the block buster movie I know it's going to be. The official release date was January 1, 2007. I am just a down home girl from Alabama, still live in Alabama. I am waiting for my break and when that one break comes, look out world. I'm going to tell the haters and the people that laughted at me to kiss my A.. just as you did. You go girl. It's ashame people will try to hurt you, people are so mean now. Don't let that mess get to you, the people who are saying this S... about you, they just wish they were in your shoes. Tyra do you have a book club? Or are you planning on starting one? I really think my book would be a great one to be in your bookclub, or start your bookclub. Tyra would you allow me to send you a copy of my novel for review? Who knows you might be able to get it in the right hands of a producer and whoop there it is "THE BIG SCREEN". Girl, I know you get these request all the time, but I'm telling you I feel so good about writing you today, because this topic hit me in the heart. Please visit my website to learn more about me, to read a synopsis of "High-Profile Murderer and more. My site address is: www.ajdawn.com. I can't wait to hear back form you, my heart is telling me I will. Tyra I am ready for my close up, it's been a long time coming. I really want my writing career to kick off full time. Right now I'm still working my home based job because bills have to be paid, but again I feel in my heart something good is about to happen. My breakthrough is on the way. Thank you Tyra for being the caring person that you are. God will continue to bless you for that.
Author A. J. Dawn
"High-Profile Murderer"

hi tyra i'm dounia .i'm moroccan i have 15 years old and i watch your show evey day i love u so much

heyy tyra!!! its me steph again!!!! im so upset that i might miss this episode!!! but i cant wait to see it anyway!!! i hope i can see it!! it sounds like it is going to be amazing!!!!
ttyl!!!
steph

Dear Tyra,

I am as tall as you and grew up a super skinny stage actress/dancer. Now I'm 30 and 25lbs heavier. For someone who was an actor/dancer and everyone was jealous of, I thought I'd be sick with myself if I ever got this heavy.Now I feel normal. People dont accuse me of being anorexic or wonder what I'm doing in the bathroom after I eat. I was always a big eater, I had a fast metabalism, I could eat anything. Now I still do, always have.
You inspired thousands of girls to not wory about the fact that they are not model thin, and that they can still be beautiful and HEALTHY. You are helping to change the world view of beauty. And since you are one of the most beautiful women in the world, people will follow your example no matter what. I love all your shows. Thanks for being such a great role model.

lol GO TYRA!!! please, you look great in the bathing suit xD

Hey Tyra,
what a great idea to celebrate something that played such a huge part in getting you to where you are today. I especially love that you're comfortable with your new body. There's all this pressure (especially in your industry) not to age or gain weight but thats going against nature. Women's bodys change as they age and its a beautiful thing.
Tyra you have helped me so much to see this perspective. I have recently recovered from an eating disorder. It wasn't extreme but it still controlled my life. then you started popping into the media with all these messages about being healthy and it totally changed my idea of beautiful. I realized I was searching for perfection. I could have been a supermodel and I still would have found something to fix. Who wants to live like that?! I can now honestly look in the mirror and say to myself "not perfect... beautiful." I feel like I have a new joi de vivre, I feel happy and I feel free.
Thanks Tyra, please keep doing what you're doing.

Hey Tyra!

I am from Birmingham in England.England it is now 11.00 AM.
i just wanted to say how fantastic i think you are. you are a roll- model to me and i respect and love the kind-hearted person you are! I was sitting watching the tyra show with a massive smile on my face when you told us about making history. i was so proud that you showed the world that women of colour are just as equal as everybody else. I love you for that!! I also wanted to mention that the little speech you made about your fat tabloid was unbelievable tears were streaming down my face! my sister says that i am obsessed with you because i'm always on your site. i would watch your show but it only comes on at 3-4 o'clock here and i don't get in from school until 3.40, however i always look at little snippets of the show on the net!!

you are a true insiration to me with your beauty, your personality and the way you fight for world peace. by that i mean you want to help people all the time like when you went undercover as a homeless woman. i can't stress how much i appreciate and respect you and everything about you. i realy want to meet you some day. i'm only 14 now but one of my goals in life is to follow in my aunties footsteps and move to live in the U.S.A. if for some reason or another i don't get to meet you, i would love you to come to my funeral. my sister knows and said that she will try her best but she can't promiss anything. hopefully though i will meet you in person before any thing like that happens.

well tyra, i best be going now but i want you to know that you have such an influence in my life. i'ts really personal. knowbody knows this except for my sister because it is something i want to keep to myself.

thank you tyra and god bless. you are my true inspiration. my hero!! x*x*x*x*x

You go gurl!! I am so happy to see some like you struttin her stuff and proud of it!!! KUDOS to U Tyra!!!!! LOVES IT!!!

Thank you. You continue to teach me that beauty is being free to be ourselves. Thank you.

All I want to say to Tyra is Thank you for having a show on Meth. It is an epidemic that needs to have as much light shown on the darkness as possible. I lost my husband to this drug and I don't want anyone else to go through what I have been through in the last 6 years. So I just wanted to say Thank you from a 27 year old widow.

Well ten years ago. I lost my boyfriend in a car crash. It was the saddest moment of my life. I left the city that I grew up in because there were to many reminders of him. but now I am engaged and i have a son . I am truly happy now though it took some time.

i find this is a real good idea . It will maybe help women to have more self-confidence ,and be more proud of what they are .
I find you are really a great women whit a beautiful heart . You help allot of peolpe and when we see you on tv we can see you dont just do it to do wright but your'e heart comes with it and thats remarquable
Continue it is faboulous i love your'e show
xxx Shannon

You are phenomenal and I am proud of your accomplishments. You are beautiful inside and outside and may God contunue to bless you. I love to see our people and women in general doing positive things and setting an example for society. I think it is very sad that people have an issue with Beyonce on the cover of SI. Its absolutely ridiculous for anyone to be so ignorant to think that she is not deserving. Continue to do well!

hey tyra well about two to three years ago i was a big girl i was almost 200 pounds then im not sure what happend but i lost some of that weight i am currently about 160 ponds let me tell u im happier than ever i dont care what others think about me as long as im happy hey i still turn heads so to me its like im working it lol well if a 17 year old girl does not care what others think about her u shold not ither ur sitll the best looking girl i know lol and if ur happy u should not care ither.

i think it's absolutely wonderful that you refused to loose the 21 pounds for your tenth anniversary SI photoshoot.

It's wonderful that there's a super model out there who's actually a legitimate ROLE model as well.

Thank you!

I am really excited that you are standing up for the Real americans! You look hott Tyra!

Hey Tyra, you would not believe where I was 20 years ago. I am truly lucky to be alive. I am a recovered drug addict and I was living and working as a prostitute in Vancouver B.C. Canada. I could have easily been one of the missing women that they found murdered on that pig farm in B.C. I was also hitch hiking in the United States around the Green River killings. I believe I am here for a reason. I am just not too sure what my purpose is yet.I believe in guardian angels. Statistically I should not be alive right now. I am and I will be turning 50 this May.

Dear Tyra,
you truly are my idol i am a 15 year old girl and i have to deal with my weight and apperence all the time and like you i am a bit cruver than some and seeing you being so comfortable with your body that your able to do a shout with a bathing suit you wore so many years ago in your beginging days that it makes me feel more confident to you truly inspire me to be my self and the comments that the press made about u being fat truly sicken be because you are my idol along with my little sister's and we truly look up to you.
sincerly ur biggest fan-yjb

P.S. i love you show

Hi Tyra :-)
10 years I was in highschool and I am taken back to the first day of sophomore year. The busdriver,Rich, had just picked me up and I turned to Nate and before he said hi to me he looked at me and goes why are you following me?. Because every year, we would be on the same bus and of course at the same school. I, of course, spoke on that... and said, oh you know you like it and he just stopped. I got him good with that one lol. Anyway, that memory is forever engraved in my head!! I spent 18 of the BEST years of my life with him!!! 4 years ago this January the cancer took my angel from me :-( But I wanted share that story of the most AMAZING, HAPPY angel(my little speedy) with you Tyra along with everybody because I want Nate legency to live FOREVER! 21 years was not long enough, but Nate went down with an AWESOME BRAVERY that I'll never have.... I love you Nate(speedy)! Thanks for letting me share a glimse of Nate with you all!!
Shawnna---age 25

To Tyra,

You are such an amazing role model for today's women and youth. I would like to congraulate you on your accomplishments and your new photo op with the infamous "red poka-dot bikini. You truly are amoung the world's most beautiful people, but more shocking than your beauty and grace is your epathy and intellangance. Thank You Tyra,(and my mother) for showing my three sisters what a prinicpled woman can accomplish in life. P.S your body looks slamming on the beach.

I don't really want to remember 10 years ago, dated a guy that was horrible for me, but I was in love...blah!
But this time last year I was 210 pounds (I'm 5'10) and about to burst! My daughter wasen't due until March 15th. I was ready! I gained 60 pounds too much, high blood pressure, swollen hands and feet. Couldn't sleep longer than 2 hours at a time..yeah I was ready! So we decided to be induced, and on the 25th of February my little girl was born. All natural, no drugs and vaginally. She weighed 10 pounds and 1 ounce and was 21 inches long. I dropped 30 pounds instantly!
So I'm kinda sad right now..my little girl is almost officially not a baby anymore!

Hey Tyra
my big milestone i celebrated was in october 21st which is when i was released out of treatment for my eating disorder, anorexia. I was there for six months 4 residencial and 2 partial, which meant i would spend the whole day there but go home and sleep instead of there. Even though i am not doing great now i truely believe that was the best time in my life i miss my therapist so much she became a mother to me and i also miss the girl i shared my time with there. Well if you ever need to know from someones perspective that has gone through all of this, you can call me =) Because i know you have heard from girls and boys that have not gone through treatment.
I love you Tyra
you are my inspiration!!!
hope to one day meet you, Gabrielle

I wanted you to know that I watch your show everyday. I think I am really getting to know you Tyra. What I see of you everyday I must say I am pleasantly surprised. You really are a very sweet person. Your mom has done a great job with you. You are representing your mom and family in a very fashionable way. You have a ghetto elegance about you that is truly appealing to me that is why I watch your show everyday. If I can not sit and watch it i record your show daily. I am truly proud of you. The world needs you in it. You represent us women sooo very well.

First I just want to say that watching the show has given me some real respect for miss tyra because I see that she is normal just like me not in a bad way but like she is so down to earth and that keeps me watching. I also want ya'll to know that I loved the show with jada and mary and I need to see the show with beyonce so when is it showing again?
from a faithful veiwer keep on doing you tyra and I was feeling the show with you talking about the "fat" tyra it was funny and real honest I love you for it because I am a triplet and me and my sisters have put on some weight since Highshool (2000) and people always make such a big deal about it but now it does not bother me, because it is not like we are obese we are just healthy (160 pounds) and I am okay with that. thank you so so much tyra.

Nicole

YOU GO TYRA I CANT WAIT TO WATCH YOUR SHOW BECAUSE I DONT HAVE SCHOOL ON MONDAY AND IT IS VERY RARE THAT I GET TO WATCH YOUR SHOW.....SO IM SO EXCITED.
I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE A VERY HARDWORKING AND INDEPENDENT WOMEN!! ♥ TALISA GARNER

hello i was watchin one of ur show and i saw the one when u put on a fat suite and i have to say very mad after one day of wearing the fat suite you have the nerve to think u understand how life is for a big women when the truth is you don't. one day doesn't mean anything, untill you live your whole life being big only then you can understand . that is all i have to said

Hi Tyra. I never noticed you had gained weight,I have always thought you were the Worlds most Beautiful Woman,People who don't see that and say shit about you are small mined. I would love to look like you,The things I could do,but alas I am me,And that's not bad.

wow! tyra i am so proud that your doing this! you are such a great role model, (i'm 13) so youre really showing girls like me that we shouldn't be upset if we're curvy and we should be proud of it! i love you to death tyra! can't wait to watch on monday!!!!!!!!

Gorgeous

I just know that Tyra's Swimsuit Cover Re-shoot will look Awesome, especially since she looks so Fantastic at whatever she does.
All the best!!!

Tom

Tyra I think it is fantastic that you chose to do this shoot again! I have got to say that 10 years ago I wasn't doing anything with my life. I am so proud of myself now that I am going to school and have a little over a year before I have my Bachelor's in Social Work! Ever since I started watching your show I have felt empowered as a 33 year old single mother. You continually make me feel better about how I look and that it's ok to be me. I have accepted the fact that I am not perfect by any means but I am still beautiful! Thank You Tyra!! Please continue making real women feel like we are someone special. Signed, Angel

that's awesome that beyonce is making history she's gorgeous and so are you tyra you both deserve it! that's gonna be the best cover ever.

Tyra, I think that it is wonderful that you are proud of your body, So many people think they have to be skinny just because the mags say you have to be since the cover people are. You are a true role model just by being your self. I am faithful I watch your show everyday. I loved when you told the critics to kiss your fat ass that was the most awesome thing anyonwe has ever done on tv you are my role model
love, Darby

TYRA YOU ROCK GIRL :D
Kiss+Love Girl From Holland

HEY TyRa i love you

Hey Tyra!

I read your messages on my email. This was really awsome! I like to said about 10 years ago myself. In October 1997, I went into martial arts (taekwondo) and I was first deaf person to stay in there long time. TaeKwonDo (International TaeKwonDo Alliance) ITA that I am in there, nobody of deaf people join in there same one as I do. I didn't have an interpeter with me in lessons class; therefore, I can read their lips very little bit. I wore the same pant since 10 years ago but little short for me. I was 14 years old, I got red belt and I tried to break the pine boards. I didn't give up on myself until I got black belt. Few years later, I went to tournament in different locations, I was only one deaf woman. Many people sat on benches gossip about me; my friend heard from them and she told me that. They wanted me go to tournament and see me in there again later. Before the people talked about me, I noticed that they didn't know that I am deaf and thought me that I didn't very good in martial arts. Later, I did challenge to against another women; they saw me in there to became first sucessful deaf in ITA. I got a trophies from challenge. I had my friend knew sign languages in tournament when I am going there again. I do very good in there long time, few people asked me a questions, They curious to ask me, if I can teaching the all ages. I told them, I used to teach all ages hearing students and none deaf students in 8 years. I would like to try to open for deaf and hearing people someday. They really wanted to see me how to teach with hearing and deaf students when I get open the place. Most people didn't know that I am deaf trainee instructor and they will find out soon or later.

Five or more years ago, the another tkd location called "Master Lenny's tkd". He heard about me that I am first deaf female and very good in martial arts. He wanted to meet to me and never see me to doing things in years. Last semester, I went to Master Lenny's tkd, met him. He pulled me into safe sparring and he told me that I did very good in martial arts. THat's what he heard from us in Portland, Texas. Some of my friends doesn't believe me that I am in martial arts; I took my friend to there and watch me. She shocked that I did very good in martial arts. Now, my friends believed me.

Also, one more thing, I was in dance class in high school, most people didn't know that I am deaf. I can't heard the music but to open in my mind or heart as see the pictures to match the music. My teacher tried to taught me to dance and she almost give up on me. So, during dance perform show; I just went to be energy myself with no nervous. My dance teacher surprised that I did very good dancer; however, most people cried that I danced my own solo with the music. I am really good with partner to dance and with group too. I felt I won't let myself down in show. My teacher took us go to Houston for workshop by LADF (Los Angeles Dance Force). Still, no one know that I am deaf and I did it in dance. They found out about that. I still remember their steps of dance but not all of it.

I felt like sucessful first deaf person in these martial arts and dance. my life are so great about it. I still remember about 10 yeras ago and another years. Do you think about that story? Let know about it. Love ya!

Viktoria

I am so proud of you Tyra. You look beautiful the way you are and im sure you know it. you are right when you said why lose the weight. you looked beautiful then, you look beautiful now!!

Hi!

I like watching the Tyra banks show. it's educational. I learned alot from it. I also have one question to ask--does Pooch hall has a girlfriend? He was one Tyra's guests. I'd like to meet him.
I think he's so cute!

KEEP IT UP Tyra!

wow that is really amazing I love to see women of color setting the pace for others to follow. I didn't know Beyonce is the first celebrity to make the cover of sports illustrated. wow my two favorite people ever have done so much, Tyra and Beyonce!

i think that the web page is cool but a little more colour and excitement wouldnt hurt. tyra is fun an jumpy and i dont think that this website really depicts her true personality

TYRA YOU ARE SO PERFECT!!! My biggest dream is to see you.I am 14 years and I am from Bulgaria.I am girl.I'm so sorry if I have a mistakes in my writting.You are the most beautiful model ever!!!There is no girl like you!!! And you pics are perfekt! Every day I imagine how i see you and how we are talking ... and i am crying cause I know that I never can see you.That is inpossible!I cant go on your show because it is so far away from me...In bulgaria I can watch only America's next top model and I am upsed cause they are playing only season 3,4,5. AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO ALL PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT YOU ARE FAT!!!
TYRA BANKS IF NOT FAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH BETTER I'LL SAY TO YOU ALL BAD THINKS IF YOU SAY THAT 6E IS FAT!!
I want to know have I got any chance to write with you only for 2-3 minutes because i cant go in america and see you.

Love Kati

girl you are doing your thing keep doing good cause thats why all your fans love you

first of all, i want to congratulate you on your success. i admire you alot. i'm a Nigerian and i think you look great. pls dont worry yourself about your weight as long as you dont add some more. at least you are passing across messages to those who are starving themselves just to look like supermodels, that one can be moderately fleshly and beautiful. God bless you and take care of yourself.

Hello Tyra
I'm Stefania from Holland!?
And I love youre Show!
It's be on air since last month here in Holland.
But I think that we are a littel behind :'(.
I think youre show on moday wil not send here in Holland :'( to bad.Maybe on youtube :P
Bye Bye
Hug from Holland :)
Stéfania

HI TYRA,
I want to tell you a little about my self. I am 21 years old I was a teenage Mom, but I didn't let the birth of my son get in the way of what I wanted in life. I finished college and now im a registered nurse. I don't regret my son he is my every day all day motivation. Maybe you should do a show about that people who raise up against the struggles of every day life. But Any way
I use to watch your show even when im not home. My TV is timed for your show. I use to support your show but you have been contradicting your self lately. First you say your against prostitution then you have the cat house on your show or what ever the show is called. their saying its wrong but their smiling and flaunting what they do like its a good thing i wish you would have asked them more serious questions or better yet never had them advertise the show period. then you have some morbidly obese woman (obviously an over eater) telling anorexia nervosa women that thin is wrong. Well, fat int right either that lady just went from one disorder to the other. your just scaring them. Almost like if you stop starving your self you'll look like me. Please Tyra take a good look at what you believe in and stick to it. Don't let people make you look like a fool cause I know im not the only one who sees this.

Hi Tyra,

I have lots of milestones to look back on..or "mistakes i've learned from" as i like to call them. I am 27 now. But at 15 yrs old i was a suicidal teen. Not even 100lbs yet and depressed. My mother ended up admitting me to a rehab for suicide. At 18, i was doing a little better. Then I ended up pregnate. I worked two jobs, one a pizza parlor and the other a retail shop. I had no license or car. I lived in a two bedroom apartment with 4 guys. (No i was not with any of them! just to make that clear) And my boyfriend at the time was 21 and did nothing but party. Then I lost the baby. It was then...after losing the life I so Unintentionally created..I realized I needed to put my life into check. So. I moved back with my mother. Put myself into college. Got a license. Taught myself to drive a stick. Bought a car. And started all over again. Today, I am happily married to the man of my dreams. I met him when i was 21. And I have two beautiful girls of my own (jayleen- 3mths and angelina 4 yrs)

Those years of trial and error made me who I am ...and who I am not...today. Those are only some of my long journeys...Lord knows i have many more from my past..harsh ones..and I can only assume down the road with two girls...i have more to overcome.

Just thought Id share.

Forever...only dani.

Wow!About 3yrs ago I been singing in a duo for aprox.14yrs.we've opened up for Gerald Levert,Ying Yang Twins,Chingy,Lil John,Big Boi from outkast,etc.Plus did a song with Lil Flip on his debut album so we were doing good.The worse thing about it is that she stabbed me in the back 10yrs.prior by sleeping with my boyfriend while she was living with us.She brought me to Forgive and Forget talk show and I forgave her.Before leaving I was homeless,starving,and had to escape tx.I am glad negativity is gone and I am now a manager of an upcoming artist named jaunte and still I haven't gave up on my dream.Thank you just for reading it.God Bless

Hey Tyra. I know how you feel about the swimsuit situation because ten years ago I had a problem of my own. I was in middle school and I dressed like a tomboy, and the boys called my carrot head and flat-chested. I always got upset that they called me names and I tought I wasn't pretty enough. So I said to myself in high school or college I am going to change and look pretty. Now that I change my look and dress nice a lot of boys are looking at me and think that I am pretty. Good luck on your next ten years and I hope one day I can meet you in person.

What's up Trya?
I'm so very proud of you. You are a eye opener to the public that curves are not a curse. I did write you about me wanting to lose weight but I still love my curves. But you know what I think, I think that secretly every women wants curves but they can't so they hate on the ones who do. Well you know what it's time for them to get over it. Trya do you remember when having a booty was like you was awaiting your death(lol). Then Jennifer Lopez singing career took off and everbody wanted a booty. Why did it take a Latina for people to embrace big booties(LOL). Mary J.(who I love from the bottom of my heart) was out for years and have a booty and you didn't see people running to get bigger booties(LOL). Anyway I so went off the subject but I love what your doing Trya, your positive, a little ghetto(LOL) but so am I. Don't ever stop being real.
Truly a fan,
Tyanna

you look really hot. I'm a Saint Lucian, and I really and truly admire you. I watch your show everyday. It's really interesting.

hey tyra my name iz semhar(s) i am 17 years old n i'm from africa name country eritrea.tyra i need yo help. your show iz ma favour shoespecially when ya bring singer like ching, nick n other.tyra when ne-yo n chris are in yo show ya make 2 girls dream came truewhen i saw da girs i cry2 much n i was like who's gon make ma dream came true n i say 2 my self why didnt i ask tyra. tyra i know da help am gon ask iz hard but plz do it for yo fan i hope god to help u. my problem iz am in love wit omarion(b2k) damn am dyin by him. b\c of his love i gat depression on ma head. i always heard hope song by twista cuz it gives me hope n i always felt like he sing it for me n real love song by massari cuz it explain my love to him. everyday when i go 2 ma bed from 12;00 am up to 3;00 am i heard omarion song n after dat up to 4;00 am i pray i ask god to let me get omarion and also to keep him where ever he go n also to return him to b2k. every day i dream about his but i dream bad about him i mean in my dream he told me dat he dont want me n other but da old people in ma country said if ya dream bad ya get opposite of it. i am living my life for him. ma friends always say ya cant touch da air u breathing and omarion is like that ya live in africa n he live in la n he is famous but i dont think where i from matter i think wat kind of girl i am matter n i am pretty, sexy n intellgent n i play basketball n also i dance hip pop n shake.omarion let me be wit ya am gon make u feel right n keep u happy ya can find a person love ya like i do. so tyra plz am baging ya by the name of lord to help me plz. help me to let da pain n depression i have . i love ya by.

tyra this is theresa again. i think it is great that u were comfortable getting in too your old bathingsuit. i was able to get over the whole being pregnant and wore my bikini even being pregnate with twins. this will be the first summer after having them and i am not too pleased with my post baby body soo this summer i hope to be like you and look beyond the past and look at it as a positive thing. thank you for being an inseration for me in my everyday i take everything you say to heart and try to think better of myself and my body for the sake of my children. thanks tyra you rock!! theresa

Hey Tyra!! It's so awesome how ten years from when you made history you are doing it again! I always watch your show and I just can't wait to see this one!
Much Love,
Jessica

i think its great how you didn't want to lose any weight just to fit into something. i wish i could do that. keep up the life changing work. love trisha x x x

Haaii tyra,

i think if i could do one thing over in my life, it is the day my momma died. i was very young back in those days so i didnt know exactly what it meant if someone died right. so i think i didnt spend that much attention to it. and now i kinda regret it and if i could do it over i wouldve spend só much more time with her and i wouldve asked her thousands of questions.

Kiss melissa

(PS. Do you really read all of the comments on this site :O. and if you do, do you answer all of them comments?)

I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you letting people see the REAL you and that still 10 years later at 161pds. that you are still Tyra the Supermodel ansd workin' it out!!!! I just turned 32 this January and I too weighed in at 161 pds. just this past friday and I still look great! Thanks Tyra for just being you.

Tyra i am one of your biggest fans i swear.I think it is great the way you help people.In one of your shows where your were getting friends to make up was great.I rang all the people who i had fallen out with and made up with them.I also made up with my best friend.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT PERSON.I also think it is amazing that you have made a plus size stamement that we are beautiful no matter what.Thank you for changing my life.love Amy xxx

Hey Tyra..I'm from the Philippines and you continue to inspire many people out here. You are such a rolemodel,I admire you a lot. I am so happy that someone like you exists in this world. Please continue your service towards people. More power, Ms. Banks! :D

Hey Tyra
I'm so proud of you, Iknow the picture is gonna turn out great. I'm 18 and I ave an interview with a modelling agency on moday and I was soo nervous cos I weigh 147 pounds and am still having treatment for my acne scars (ive put off modelling for the last 2 years for those very same reasons) I was scared dey were gonna say im too big. Theres still a chance they will and i do no i need to tighten up (im jogging an exercising and all dat stuff now lol) but you give me so much confidence, no matter what they say i wnt feel bad about my body, im beautiful and curvy like you :-) you chosing not to loose weight for the shoot shows jus how confident an strong you are and i endevour to be more like more every day. Tyra don't ever change, and ill let you know what happened with the modeling agency.

O yeah I also sing and act, I was in a singing group but am now a solo artist so 10 years ago i was 8 and sang my 1st solo at church. Thats when i cought the performing bug lol. Its like you sed, you no a career in modelling wont last forever, so i have other goals too :-)

Hi Tyra!

I must tell you girl, that you look amazing though you have about twenty pounds more than 10 years ago. But those curves look good on you and I think that it gives you sexier look:)And yet you still look great in this swimsuit from 10 years ago!!! I wish I will be able to say the same for me 10 years from now-I´m 22 now and I hope that when I hit my thirties, I´ll look as good as you:)
I really wish I could watch your show, but the thing is that I come from Slovenia (that´s in Europe, next to Italy) and our TV stations don´t air your show yet. So I only see what you publish on your website. But we can watch your other show-ANTM and it is really popular here in Slovenia:)
And I must tell you that I waited last monday to talk to you at your virtual studio (for your firs event) till 3AM (that is 9PM eastern time in USA). And this monday, february 19th,your event is at the same time...so I was wondering if this events will always be at 6PT/9ET?
...well, now I got a little carried away from the subject...:)
Anyway, wish you all the best and stay as strong as you are-you know your fans love and support you:)

Ciao,
Ines

hey Tyra...

i'm your huge fan from Singapore. i always tried to figure out ways to reach you but still to no avail. haha. no worries.

anyway, i'm turning 20 this year and to reflect back five years ago, i shall say that i wish i can just cease all the memories i shared with my bestfriend because we have split ways now. have you ever lost a bestfriend? and five years from now, i don't want to repeat the same mistake because it's a nightmare to wake up every single morning with the thought of my bestfriend but knowing that she is gone just kills me. i don't know why i'm telling you all this..

i never had a sister to turn to so i'm always alone going through all this. can you be my sister? haha. i'm just bored because i have nothing to do. its a saturday here so unlike the weekdays i have your show to look forward to. ^_^

and give me five years, i will fly to States and be one of the audience at your show. hope it will still keep going for five years okay. i love you, Tyra. just by watching you on the screen makes me feel like i gain a sister. thanks.

Tyra,

I'm 18 and I really look up to you. For everything that you've done and for everything that you're doing.

You're still gorgeous no matter what!

Thank you so much for being the way you are.

-Claudia

HI TYRA, I REALLY LOVE THAT YOU CHOSE TO EMBRACE YOUR CURVES RATHER THAN SLIMMING DOWN. IVE MET YOU NOW ITS BEEN I BELIEVE 4 TIMES AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL. WHEN I FIRST MET YOU AT THE SHOOTING OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL COMMERCIAL, I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF THAT YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN INSIDE AND OUT. AND RETURNING BACK WHERE IVE MET YOU A NUMBER OF TIMES BACKSTAGE OF YOUR SHOW, YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO WELCOME, AND YOU ARE SUPER FRIENDLY, AND I LOVE YOU FOR THAT! KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING, AND SHOW OFF THOSE CURVES!
LOVE, JOVANNA

Go Tyra! Awesome body!

YOU GO GIRL!!!
Tyra, I know that Imust be one of your OLDEST fans! I am a 59 year old Grandmother and PROUD of it! 10 years ago, my Granddaughter was born and that is one of the happiest and proud moments of my life. she is a wonderful and talent girl. She plays piano, saxaphone, taps,plays drums, and writes poetry. She loves STEVIE WONDER and palys his songs often. she also has written her own words to some of his songs. Ten years ago a MIRACLE happened in my LIFE!
TYRA,KEEP IT REAL!!!The young girls ands ladies need that from you,
Brenda

Hey girl

I think that's a wonderful thing that your doing!! Your soo pretty and that's hot what your doing, you feel pretty no matter what size you are!! That great.

I use to go to modeling school when i was in high school and that was 12 yrs ago and now after having 1 child i have some curves too.. and some junk in the trunk LOL. All i can say is you GO GIRL!!!

Love always Nikki

the swimsuits are great,wish i could get some but unfortunately am in Kenya, Africa. i love you plus your show!

Hi Tyra,
10 years ago this month, Feb 11th, I was in Las Vegas on my honeymoon. After 3 failed marriages, I finally met my "Soul Mate". I had almost given up on finding someone who could put up with me. :-) Then along came Jerry. We have been together ever since and I have felt more secure than I ever felt in my life. WE stayed at the MGM Grand and had the time of our lives! This marriage has lasted longer than any and I look forward to many more years with this man!

hi tyra, its your no.1 fan tara here from aussie. n i just want to see u loook just as beautiful, if not more beautiful than what u did 10 yrs ago. i love u forever even though u dont no me,
love tara
xoxo

HI TY!

LIFE CHANGING MOMENT...WELL would have had to have been approx. 6 yrs. ago when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and lost my great job at the local newspaper (I became a liability when I fell out at work, strike one, strike 2 I was 1 black out of a handfull). I was about 22, had just moved into my own apt., had to move out, got a nice car, was workin' out... you know... got in a car accident leaving the hospital one day, lost insurance, blah blah credit got killed due to sickness and no income... HOWEVER, I BECAME STRONGER THAN EVER, MATURED QUICKLY, became a nurse, and in Aug. 2004 met the man of my dreams who proposed following a major surgery only months before. BLAH BLAH. I'm happy now, still off work, but living life simply, appreciating the little things, and being greatful for every day, not worrying about how I look physically, but loving me for the wonderful person I am, inside and out.
HOLLA!

hey tyra
i love that you are going back and recreating the same shoot from 10 years ago. that is very special to be able to do that. i love the picture of Beyonce on the cover. she rocked it.
do you know me now?
i write a lot now. i love you soo much tyra
Karen 15

Hi Tyra, I really admire you for loving who you are ! You go tyra !!!!!!

hey Tyra its faith all i have to say is, you go girl you are so cool you make me feel good about my self because i'm 15 years old and my weight is outragish and i guess i just have to love my self inside and out just like you you are a great person and you look good dont worry about what the they say about you because YOU KNOW YOU LOOK GOOD ps you have alot of guts good luck (like you need it ) love faith

Tyra,
First of all, I just want to say how amazing, and almost peaceful you look in your pictures. When you took those pictures 10 years ago, you were the same age that I am now! I can't imagine already accomplishing something like that in my life. PLus, you made your dream of being a talk show host and producer come true. Looking at your photos now, you inspire me to know how much I can accomplish with my life. I can't say that I have had any monumental moments in my life yet,other than graduating from college, but I hope to by the time I am your age. I am currently getting my masters degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, and in 10 years, I hope to have my license and be successful at working with couples and families. Most of all, like you, I want to make a difference in people's lives and help others. Maybe even be an expert in the field that makes an appearance on your show to help people with their relationships! Hehe.
Also, I really admire your self esteem and I hope to be content with myself and be as beautiful inside and out like you. Thank you for being such an inspiration for me and hopefully in 10 years I will have something to celebrate like you.
Much love!!!

Tyra,

being only 20 years old i do have something that happened to me 10 years ago but it isnt anything positive, but i do believe it made me stronger,
Love the Show, and the New Attitude to Weight, Keep, Keepin it real,
XXX

Hi Tyra, Congratulations on making the SI Cover 10 years ago, you were beautiful then and are even more beautiful now. You ask in your article what was going on 10 years ago. Well I going through some serious stress in my life, an because of that, I became a right below knee amputee. That's my ten year anniversary story, but I'm still here to tell it so that's a beautiful thing. You go girl keep making history. You are a great role model and business woman.

I have to say this recent show about Tyra's " ground breaking appearance" 10 years ago as the first Black woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated is pathetic. She is so full of herself. Who cares?!! it's not ground breaking. Rosa Parks was ground breaking. Tyra's claim is about as pathetic and untrue as Janice Dickenson's claim that she was the first supermodel ever. NO ONE CARED ABOUT THAT EITHER!!! I usually like the shows on Tyra but she really needs to let this one go its sad. I didn't even watch this show I just heard about it on the news and saw every blogger making fun of her and I just had to agree.

and i still think you look very pretty maranda:)

Hi Tyra:

How are you doing? I remember when you were on the cover of SI. in 97'. You looked great then but you look even better now because you are like a fine wine you get better with age. Tyra I just Love You all the way around.

Jason

hi tyra,

i love you so much and i am so proud of u that you didn't loose the weight. you should embrase the body you have. i cant wait for the episode.

luv ya

Tyra i think it is amazing that you are doing this same photo again! you are as gorgeous as ever despite what all of those covers say! i am now 17 but when i was around 8 years old my friends and i would pretend we were models and we would always fight over being you! i still would want to be you!.. even though that sounds really corny!!!haha

hello tyra how r u?

I think tyra you look good what nobody says and thinks and Iam a mother of two girls and 31 years old I want to look like you let me know what is your secret is.

HEY TYRA,

WELL I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOUR SHOW AND I WATCH IT ALMOST EVERYDAY I RUSH HOMR FROM SCHOOL TO SEE IT BECAUSE YOUR SO GREAT...

ANYWAYS I THINK YOU WILL LOOK FANTASTIC IN YOUR BATHING SUIT BECAUSE YOUR GORGEOUS AND I LOVE YOUR STYLE AND YOUR MY IDOL

~KISSES~

*NASHAWNA

tyra you are beautiful at any age. you should be proud of yourself.

Tyra You rule I admire u so much girl you have no idea. you are a good romodel cause you belive in what you can acomplish not what others see you as. therefor keep up the nice work, on and off the Tyra Banks Show. I hope you get to read this personaly. also want you to know that I watch you show on fox at 11 AM and 4 PM. also at 8 and 9 PM on the channel Oxegen.

Dear Tyra,
I am very happy for you for going back after ten years to see if your bathing suit used in Sports Illustrated could still fit. You look just as sexy as you did ten years ago. It's women like you who inspire other women like me to pursue my dreams. Good luck!!!!

Tyra i think you are so beautiful and I would love to be on your show so if you could please send em a message to. I live in canada and would love to be on your show to talk about how sad it is too lose a parent. I lost my mom when i was 12 years old , she passed away with breast cancer and i would love to come and talk to you about how it feels like. And i love MIlEY CYRUS so much i would love to meet her and would do anything to meet her so please read this and please have me on the show!!! LOVE CHRISTINA, send me an e-mail if i can come on the show, , and of course i would love to meet you , you are my biggest role model, and miley cyrus is my second well you both are my first!!!!

Congratulations on your accomplishment "10 years ago...swimsuit".

You asked if we had something we liked looking back on. Twenty five years ago I danced to Lionel Richey and the Comidores at a Holiday Inn near our home.

I love to dance. Sometimes others are shy and don't get up to dance...there wasn't one person who could stay in their chair. It was magical.

When people ask if I could go back to a special time in my life, I think about the kids, when I fell in love with my husband, our wedding and I secretly remember that most beautiful night and get a little tear. So many moved by such tallent.

Bet you love Lionel Richey and dancing too.

Hugs for being real:0)

Hey Tyra!
Just wanted to say that I'm sure you're style tha bomb in that swim suit from 10 years ago! I'm so pround that you'are remaining fears! Keep on the good work and keep on smiling girl!

Hey Tyra,
I think that it is so cool that you are re-creating what you did 10 years ago. i don't remember much 10 years ago in my life. Probably because i was five then. The one thing i can remember is thats when i learned how to ride my bike without the training wheels. i was so excited then, but now its like wow thats not that big of a deal. You know that i will be watching your show on monday and its great cause this time i dont need to tape over a episode because i will be home. no school because of presidents day!! im most likely going to hang out with my friends though. I hope you read this. i have a favor to ask though. If by chance you get this message can you email me?? i would really enjoy it and thank you. i love you soo much.keep being exacly who you are because you are amazing and you are my role model.
~*Amanda*~