Hi tyra, i'm sixteen years old, and I recently had an abortion. This wasn't exactly my choice. I never would have wanted to have to do that to my baby, I became so attached to it immediatly. I knew I was pregnant before I even missed my first period, I repeatedly told my boyfriend but I think he was just in denial and didnt want to believe that. I do not have my lisence and neither does he. So it took us about a month and a half to two months until we were able to get an at home prenancy test. When I got the test results came back positive, my boyfriend said he did want to keep it and we were gonna be ok. Then i told my mom the next morning. My mom was not mad she said that she would support us and help us in anything we decided. Then when he told his mom that night, she said if you have the baby, im kicking you out and i will not help you guys at all. I love my boyfriend more than anything and I couldnt let him get kicked out and I need help and if he doesnt have anything he cannot help myself and the baby. When i got the abotion i was almost 3 months pregnant. Ever since im even more self conscous I have a problem with my weight now even though im only 116 lbs. I have a problem with breaking out and acne scars also and it has become even worse since. Im constantly thinking about the baby and what could have been and how i wish i didnt have the abortion. even though the abortion is a much bigger issue one i cannot say so what about. I want to be able to feel good about myself. I want to be able to say so what about my weight and my break outs and scars, but I want them fixed so badly that i cannot simply say so what. please help tyra.

Hey Tyra. I'm Jamila :)! I am from Singapore! I love you! I am 13 this year and I weigh 169 pounds. I'm only 13! I am now trying to loose my weight. I have been insulted for every single day abt my weight and size. I had a tag on my blog. It said something like.. Omg! Jamila cute?? I vomit.. bla bla.. and you know what? I didnt care.. I simply replied.. spam spam lah SO WHAT?! Tyra I've wished so many times for me to be dead. I want to become famous but my dream dies day by day... For once you've made me laugh at an insult. I'm only 13. this insults have gotten so bad.. I feel I;m worthless. even in an attempt to solve a maths question, i cried so bad cos I could not figure it out... I started hitting myself. and when i eat something fattenign like ice-cream, I cry before I go to sleep. Thinking about how horrible I was to eat ice cream when I'm so fat even though i havent ate it in a whole month. You've gave me something I have been dying for. I love you Tyra. Thank you!

Hi Tyra, I'm Gina, 22 this year and I'm a dance teacher, in sunny Singapore. As a modern asian woman, we haven't been spared from the weight war. Better yet, as a dancer and teacher, I face my weight and size issues daily.

Due to the fact that asian women are smaller in size, with my weight at 121pounds and standing at about 5"3, I'm big. Yes, quite big actually. I was always the back line in when I was still in dance school and always the reject when it came to ballet partnering class.

And up-to-date, I still have a whole list of things I WOULD NOT wear cos a part of me believe that they'll make me look bigger than I should. The includes heels most of the time and being an active swimmer gave me broad shoulders and that does not help at all!

Upon watching your show, I did the impossible. I actually printed a "So WHAT?!" tee and wore it with my weight printed together with the phrase I walked down town with my head held high, feeling really good! Thank you Tyra, for going that far mile to making women feel accepted and promoting the essence of true beauty!!

And I will never forget what you mentioned on the show. Do not look left or right at others, but only in the mirror and being the best YOU can be.

Hi Tyra!!! I wanted to tell you that you have inspired me and a few friends to start our 'Baby you're Beautiful' campaign. It's a program where we try to raise the self esteem of young women. We are going to have assemblies at our school, fund raisers, T-Shirts, and surveys galore!!!! YOu are so inspiring to us all, and we are making you our number one example! You truly are a beautiful person both inside and out, and I thank you so much for trying to make young women feel beautiful, no matter what size! We think the standards that are set are ridiculous, and nobody looks like that in real life! So that is what Baby, You're Beautiful is all about. We show young women that average is beautiful. And most of all, to love themselves. Thank you so much Tyra. I am a huuuuuge fan of you and your show. I hope one day my friends and I make it onto your show so we can broadcast our program to a larger audience, and make young women listen up!!!

hi Tyra!
I really admire you in the courage that you put for getting back with those unruly paparazzi.They're the type of people who would love to see you when you're down.You are a very beautiful person inside and out.Before when i haven't watched your show my confidence and self esteem was very low. Growing up in an asian country where being thin is what they consider sexy and beautiful.plus fatness is also another term for ugly. i'm 22 years old now, and i've been overweight for almost 3/4 of of my life...You're the only person that made me realized and helped me to appreciate and loved myself for what i am. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TYRA for inspiring us women and that no matter what we look like, what race we come from, what our body type is WE STILL ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL INSIDE ABD OUT, JUST LIKE YOU TYRA.=)

LOVE,
CAMILLE OROSA from THE PHILLIPPINES

Hey Tyra!
I was just looking through the site for some information on the SO WHAT campaign because i'm doing a research paper for my college english class on eating disorders and the media and all the negative influences it has on women today. I'm putting you in the positive influences part, if thats ok, because i believe that you give strength to women everywhere...and by the way i am with everyone who says "So what my thighs rub together when i walk" i know where they're all coming from...ttyl tyra much love

LOVE your show topics and you are absoultely awesome as a host! After coloring my hair for more than 20 yrs. I had a SO WHAT moment when I saw the greys creeping up (2 wks after coloring)! Early (mid 20's) total greying runs in the family. I thought, low lights, highlights, streaks, color chunks! I'm done with this! Keeping up with hair coloring, to look younger more powerful, or competent is what social "norms" expect us to follow. Especially when working in a formal busniess enviornment. It wasn't easy to let it go after soooo many years. A couple of my co-workers even considered it to be the focus to tease me. "Hello Pepe Le Pew", or "Your 2 inch roots are showing". I have even been nicknamed "Greta Garbo" SO WHAT!!!!! I stuck it out and now it's at a 75% level of positive complementary comments. Hey, some have even asked when did I dye my hair (no tease this time). I am so glad I took the plunge and stopped conforming to what others expected. This is ME!!!! I love it! I still have a couple of months for the total transformation SO WHAT! I can't wait. I'm truly enjoying my inverted highlights!

I;ve got stretch marks on my legs from childhood obeseity, that havent gone away since I lost 80 pounds. SO WHAT. I have a gap in my teeth that rivals Madonna. SO WHAT?!?! And I have split ends, but who cares? I'm fine the way I am :)

so trya... in reading some of these first i noticed... "tyra got so much mail to read.. and a lot are long!" then i thought, these ladies have alot of strength to say "SO WHAT" i wish I could say it, but i cant, when one isnt healthy, one cant just shrug it off and make one's self feel better by saying "so what". i mean, can they? do u think saying so what can help one become healthier? or would it give them a right to stay un helathy?

Hey Tyra, Im a 17 year old proud single mother of a beautiful 1 year and a half old baby boy and after giving birth to him all most of my baby weight stayed on i went from a size 0 to a size 7 i felt pressured by eveyones opinion that i should lose weight to be as thin as I was before but 1 year and a half later i say SO WHAT!!!! I realized my body went through all these changes to give life to my son and i would give anything for him even if it means gaining 100 pounnds hes worth it and SO WHAT i still have baby weight but i gained so much more than that i gained the feeling of giving life and brining to life my gorgeous son Jose Gonzalez and im very proud your the insperation i neede to open my eyes beauty comes from within

Hi Tyra
U R BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY, so don't let the tabloids make u think u r not.
The only thing I have to say is "SO WHAT I LOVE TO EAT SO WHATTTTTTTTT"!!!!!!Who doesn't!!!!

It is easy for Tyra to say so what about weighing 160 pounds, she is very tall. Be real... It is not that easy...

Hey Tyra!

Everyday I'm told that I'm too fat. As a Chinese person, many people are skinny and not as curvy. So what if im not!!! I am born in a multicultural society, I'm not the only one with my body figure. I love how you tackle the issue of race and weight issues.

So What?! if..
-I'm not a size 2
-I don't have huge boobs or a huge butt
-I wasn't extremely attractive as a child
-I'm almost 6 feet tall
SO WHAT?!!!

HEy Tyra!
I weigh 125 pounds and im proud of it! But i don't fit into dresses becasue my hips aren't 10 inches bigger then my waist. So one size is two small and one size is too big!!
Please help me ms.banks!

"The average size of women in the US is 12/14," yet every day I would go to school and see that I was the only girl who was size 14. As a child, I was catching lizards and snakes while my classmates were playing in their mothers' high heels and makeup. What I looked like never crossed my mind. Early in middle school I developed an incredibly negative attitude toward exercise because it was forced upon me so immensely by my coaches at school. After that, I looked at exersice as torture, and athletes as conceited. I ate all the time and became 'addicted' to sodas. At age 12 I remember going through a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper in less than one week. This continued for 8 years. After graduating high school, I was relieved because I no longer had to be surrounded by skinny girls every day to remind me that I was fat. At age 20 I was accepted to SMU, a school known for it's beautiful & sexy students among other things. The first semester there, I became very depressed because of my image, but I hid it well from my family and friends. I would practice with myself how I could talk to someone about it, but every time I opened my mouth I would sob. I skipped some classes and avoided talking about my feelings because I was so exhausted from crying. One day I would dry to look nice, then the next day I would rebel and try to make myself look dirty and frumpy. I finally wrote to a teacher (we hardly knew each other at all) and explained to her why I didn't come to her Health class. She then offered to lend me an ear and a hand as if we were best friends, and suddenly I felt free. I learned from her that being skinny isn't the important thing; what's important is to be healthy. All the health statistics I heard growing up never affected me, but for a reason I can't understand or explain, this teacher whom I hardly knew changed my entire outlook. Although it was extremely difficult at first, I reduced my soda intake from 2-4 a day to 0-2 a week, and started an exersice routine which only consists of walking comfortably on a treadmill for an hour a week. From that alone I dropped a size, which is awesome but it's not the main point. I am a size 12, still the fattest girl in the room, but now I can say I'M GLAD!!! SO WHAT?!!! There is not anyone I've seen that has a body quite like mine, and that's hot to me. My boyfriend LOVES my curves, and now I realize he's not just saying that to make me happy. I see the skinny girls next to me in class and think, "how boring is that?!" I guess my main point is that whatever you look like, how you take care of what's inside (body and soul) makes you glow on the outside. Okay girls I know that sounds incredibly cheesy but it took me 9 years to realize IT'S SO TRUE! I've got thunder thighs and a spare tire? SO WHAT? I'm taking care of myself the best I can without completely changing my lifestyle. How can you enjoy life by starving yourself, working out hours a day, or completely blocking out one of the best things the world has to offer: sugar! It's okay to have a chocolate bar, a soda, or ice cream. Just don't eat them all together at once!

Tyra "so what" was the most insperational show ever! People need to love people for who they are! Not what they look like. I have always been "thin". What i've noticed is when people say comments about my wieght it seems to not matter if it hurts my feelings. They say are you anorexic, or belemic,or you should eat a tub of crisco. Or other things. Also many women make fun of my breasts. I have a small C cup but they act as if i have none. My point is this... It hurts to make fun of anyone, wheather they are small,large,or niether. I'm with you Tyra "So What" I am thin and my sister is solid and we are both beautiful regardless!ladies dont atack eachother other with comparisons. Celibrate Diversity! Thanks Tyra you are empowering!

Hey Tyra!

i loved your "so what show" Im in my teens, 5ft 7in, and weigh like 140 pounds. i always worried about my weight, becasue all of my friends are really thin and small. people would make fun of me becasue i have alot of muscle. i was so self consious even though i know its mostly muscle because i am a highly competitive synchronized swimmer and i train at least 4 times a week. to make matters worse, my mother and father try not to let me eat as much because they fear im going to become overweight.its upsetting, because i have to sneak around the house after a 4 hour practice to grab something to eat. but ive decided so what. who cares that im not 120 pounds. I know that im a great person and that i have way more important things to worry about than my weight. besides, im a strong girl and eating some chips after an intense practice will not make me gain 30 pounds. I need to eat, and im begining to llove the skin i am in. you are an insperation to women every where!

love you tyra!

meg

PLEASE TYRA HELP ME!
hi tyra i watch your show all the time, i dont wish to put my real name so you can call me MRS. O. i'm just wrinting to you to ask you for some advice and help. i've always been a thin girl with very good curves 108 #'s. i was a teen mommy at age 16 in 1999, i gained 69 pounds with my 1st son and was able to lose all my weight, i had my daughter at age 17 in 2000 the very next yr, and gained 72 pounds since then i have not been able to lose weight.i've taken every kind of diet pill, laxetives, i've gotten prescribed pills by my obgyn and have not been able to lose weight. in 2003 i started to lose weight well 5 pounds but that was more then what i had been losing, just to find out that the only reason i was losing weight is because i was pregnet with my 3rd son, after i had him i tried everything again to lose weight i had another baby girl in 11/2006. i recently turned 25 and over weight at 225 pounds i'm only 5'1 and not a real big eater as a matter a fact i think i eat only 1 real meal a day and just snack if i have a chance to on apples and bananas, special k cereals. drink green tea almost everyday. now i've joined a all girls gym before and left after 4 months for the simple fact i did not lose no weight but gained 5 pounds. i was so mad i paid them just to gain weight. i've tried alot of other things i'm still nursing my baby girl for two reasons her health and because they say you lose weight when you nurse, and that is soooooooo not true i havnt lost a single pound. for some odd reason i lose and look alot skinnier right after i have my kids i look (picture a dog after giving birth to a litter of puppies all skin and bones) just like i did back in the day i take care of myself listen to my mother and grandmother myths about wearing a girdle and wearing sock, dont let the cold air hit dont walk over puddles of water (you know us mexi-CAN women) during your 40 days. and i still blow up 4 weeks later. even if i just eat healthy food WHY? why is it i just cant lose weight? i'm going to be getting married to my high school sweetheart of almost 10 yrs in 5/08 and i want to lose at least 60 pounds PLEASE i beg you please give me some advice and tips on how to lose weight. i've listen to you talk over and over about to love ourselves the way we are but i'm sorry everybody is lying to you when they say they feel good i cry every single day because of my weight, i cant wear a style of clothin that i like because it dont look good on a heavy set girl. i get tired right way playin with my kids i got to rest. i try to move around do things around the house just to keep my self busy trying to sweat some calories. i have not bought myself clothin since........... dam girl i cant even remenber wait a minute i bought myself some maternity clothing thats the only time i dress good. i could go into the dressing room with 20 outfits and maybe come out with 1 shirt that fits me. Then to top it off the mirrors they got in the dressing rooms just make me get depressed i stay in there crying wishing for a miracle. i've gained 117 pounds and all i want is to lose 60 for my wedding. and thats even if we can pull this wedding off with our budget. PLEASE TYRA HELP ME

PLEASE TYRA HELP ME!
hi tyra i watch your show all the time, i dont wish to put my real name so you can call me MRS. O. i'm just wrinting to you to ask you for some advice and help. i've always been a thin girl with very good curves 108 #'s. i was a teen mommy at age 16 in 1999, i gained 69 pounds with my 1st son and was able to lose all my weight, i had my daughter at age 17 in 2000 the very next yr, and gained 72 pounds since then i have not been able to lose weight.i've taken every kind of diet pill, laxetives, i've gotten prescribed pills by my obgyn and have not been able to lose weight. in 2003 i started to lose weight well 5 pounds but that was more then what i had been losing, just to find out that the only reason i was losing weight is because i was pregnet with my 3rd son, after i had him i tried everything again to lose weight i had another baby girl in 11/2006. i recently turned 25 and over weight at 225 pounds i'm only 5'1 and not a real big eater as a matter a fact i think i eat only 1 real meal a day and just snack if i have a chance to on apples and bananas, special k cereals. drink green tea almost everyday. now i've joined a all girls gym before and left after 4 months for the simple fact i did not lose no weight but gained 5 pounds. i was so mad i paid them just to gain weight. i've tried alot of other things i'm still nursing my baby girl for two reasons her health and because they say you lose weight when you nurse, and that is soooooooo not true i havnt lost a dam pound. for some odd reason i lose and look alot skinnier right after i have my kids i look (picture a dog after giving birth to a litter of puppies all skin and bones) just like i did back in the day i take care of myself listen to my mother and grandmother myths about wearing a girdle and wearing sock, dont let the cold air hit dont walk over puddles of water (you know us mexi-CAN women) during your 40 days. and i still blow up 4 weeks later. even if i just eat healthy food WHY? why is it i just cant lose weight? i'm going to be getting married to my high school sweetheart of almost 10 yrs in 5/08 and i want to lose at least 60 pounds PLEASE i beg you please give me some advice and tips on how to lose weight. i've listen to you talk over and over about to love ourselves the way we are but i'm sorry everybody is lying to you when they say they feel good i cry every single day because of my weight, i cant wear a style of clothin that i like because it dont look good on a heavy set girl. i get tired right way playin with my kids i got to rest. i try to move around do things around the house just to keep my self busy trying to sweat some calories. i have not bought myself clothin since........... dam girl i cant even remenber wait a minute i bought myself some maternity clothing thats the only time i dress good. i could go into the dressing room with 20 outfits and maybe come out with 1 shirt that fits me. Then to top it off the mirrors they got in the dressing rooms just make me get depressed i stay in there crying wishing for a miracle. i've gained 117 pounds and all i want is to lose 60 for my wedding. and thats even if we can pull this wedding off with our budget. PLEASE TYRA HELP ME

heyhey!! Tyra
I loved your show about "so what" but I still don't feel great about my body I am 13 years old and I am like 5ft tall and 103 pounds I get made fun of alot at school about alot of things but some of the guys call me fat and I don't know if its a joke or not but it really gets to me I can't stand it! it hurts me so much emotialnaly that me cofidance is really low!! help plez e-mail me back with help!! And I would love to be on your show!!

Tyra, babe, thank you for defending us chicks that aren't 5'11 or size 1. I'm 16 years old and I like to see people that stand against the obsurdity of having to fit into a specific mold. :)

Tyra,your such a strong woman and a inspiration.
I can relate to alot of things on your show.I watch your show everyday and get a little more inspired everyday.I may be young but i have opinions to.

Im a little over weight and after i watched your show and got all those girls and woman in those bathing suiuts with there weight on bathing suts,and i have to say i was very inspired.i have no more problems with confidence and ive gained alot of it from watching your show and i dont let anyone put me down anymore im a person just like them,and lerning to stand up for what i believe in.

If they try and put me down,talk about me,my opinion im just something great for them to talk about.

Thanks Tyra.
God Bless You.
-Kayla Norris.

This my sound weird but SO WHAT!! I fought like crazy to lose weight. After I became pregnant with my son I told everyone love me for who I am or ... you fill in the blank. From the end of my senior year of high school and maybe before if I liked someone I would starve myself to lose weight. Then I started working full time at a pizza restuarant, favorite food ever, (even when I worked at a pizza place), I ate it like it was never going to have a pizza again. I ate other things but pizza was a there food. Love it still. My first year there I weighed close to 300 pounds and wore a size 24W-26W. I lost 120 lbs and dropped to a size 16W. Just walking the resteraunt and worrying that something would go wrong on my shift. When I left there I was a size 18W. Yes I gained some weight back. After about a year from leaving the pizza place (DOMINO'S, I was pregnant with my now 5 yr old son. I gained 35 pregnant pounds, and 50 eating pounds. I didn't care, and today I way 240 or so pounds, my son loves me the way I am. So What if everyone else thinks that is fat. I love ME!! Take me or leave me. FAT WILL ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL!!!

TYRA!
OMG! I just wanted you to know you are an amazing person! I watch your show everyday. You have brought me to tears so many times because you are such an inspiration. You're the strongest woman I've ever seen. I love your confidence! You built my confidence up. I used to be bulimic. When I started watching your show, I was not bulimic, but I could relate to the stories. Your words are so powerful and you inspire me. I love that you are not judgemental and you are so openminded. I LOVE YOU. hehe =)

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love americas next top model!!
:) sincerely samanth!!
p.s. jlsb lias sgyfd7t

Tyra;
I just wanted to tell you that I watch your show everyday and I feel you are the most honest adn caring host i have seen.
The So What campaign is something I wanted to comment on. I was in a very abusive marriage for 10 years and I finally got tired of it, I left him with my 6 year old daughter and never looked back. I was on my own, no family to count on. Guess what I made it. So What I never have money for luxuries, I am on myown and safe. My daughter is safe. It has been almost 10 years and I still struggle by myself,but SO WHAT. I am happy!!!
I just neede to say that, because I have never said it before.
Thank you for the opprotunity. Tammy

Tyra I am semi-tall and I have a small waist but I got hips that show. They are only 32 in. but I have people telling me you have such big hips. Now my jeans are getting smaller and then I saw your "so what" campaign and I was like so what my hips are getting bigger and so what my best friend tells me how big they are. so what she is flat as a board and yah I don't have the thickest curves but I love the curves I have. Thank you Tyra

Hi Tyra!

I really don't know if this is the right way to say anything to you, but i'm gonna try it anyway.

I'm a girl from the Netherlands, and watch your show every day, of course we are far behind, but to me it doesn't matter because your shows are always great to watch!

I really need to tell you that ever since I began watching your shows my life has changed. I respect everybody, I think a lot more before I say things that can hurt people, and I hope that everyone will see your show someday and become more nice to each other!

I really want to thank you for all that you've given me, I like myself more than ever now!!

You're great, keep up the hard work!! One day it will pay off!!!

Kiss
Toossie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA

this video is a MUST see.

Hi Tyra,

I just wanted to take the time and say a big thank you for what you are doing to help with girls, and women's self esteem. You've inspired me so much when it comes to helping my daughter. My 9 year old daughter is overweight. She has always been a thick built girl, while her younger sister is just long and lean. It breaks my heart when she tells me that she wishes that she could look more like her sister. She layers clothes to try and hide her body. I try and help her pick clothes that flatter her figure, but it still bothers her that she cannot wear those cute little clothes that other girls her age wears.

Then I remembered Mia, and Liv Tyler. I performed a websearch and showed her the two sisters who are equally beautiful, and very successful. This gave her a big lift! For other moms who have little girls who are plus size, I would suggest doing a web search for Mia Tyler, and Camryn Mannheim. And I just love Camryn's fighting spirit. And I cheered when she accepted the Emmy saying that this is for all the fat girls!

I reminded my daughter that women, and girls come in all shapes and sizes just like Christmas presents, it is what you find inside that makes you special.

It is just wonderful that you are shining the spot light on "real" women! You are right we are more than a number. I loved that episode. And those words "So What" have stuck with me ever since. I'm never going to be a model, I have a hail damaged booty, thunder thighs given to me by my mom, and will never be less than a size 12. As a teen, and young adult I struggled to love myself. Watching a model as beautiful as you say that you have your flaws just blew me away. You are helping so many women, and I wish you luck on the success of your talk show, and America's Next Top Model. Again women come in all sizes, and I know that you have talked about getting some heat for having your modeling show. For the women who are like my youngest daughter who have no butt, hips, thighs and are naturally skinny they too need someone to look up to.

thanx tyra,

finally, the light comes on 4 them.
i'm watching tv and a dove commercial comes on
i think they "meaning society" got it
they had curvy women in the commercial
so do you think your "So What" testimony from Good Morning America and your very on show itself had anything to do with it?

Uuuumm - LIKE HEC YEAH !

So again, thanx Tyra. I think they're (again, meaning society, because - yeah, we're our own worst critic but they are the ones setting the tone here for these young girls) finally getting it. We're talking healthy curvy women.

it was truly a pleasure to see!

Well Mrs Tyra why do you have so many Fat ppl on your show is it to make you look thinner now?BTW i am milato and i am more Blacker then you,do you really think you can Dance?

Maybe you need to spend your $$$ on a personality and maybe you can keep a man or maybe guys are turned off by your weight go fig!!! Your not largest Fan. P.S. XOOOXXXOX

Tyra...
That episode was especially inspiring to me! There are so many women out there that are not accepting of their bodies. The best thing you said on that show was that don't look at someone else and expect to look like them. Your body was made the way it was and find a weight that is comfortable for your body. That's how i feel. I am 5'8" and i weigh 150. I think that is good because I've even been told if I am any skinnier I would look too skinny. So, I loved that you said that on that show. That show made me want to get up and jump. There was so much energy and I felt it through the T.V. I Tivo your show and watch all of the episodes. You truly are my inspiration. I am proud of you and how far you have come. It just goes to show......NEVER give up!!! Thanks a lot TYRA!!!!

Dear Tyra,
My name is Rachel i'm 14 years old, and I live in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. I hope you will read this, if you dont i understand. I just wanted to say I love you soo much. Your an AMAZING role model for all teenagers.
I watch your show everyday after school, and one episode I thought was really good was the " SO WHAT episode " it made me cry because I realized something, I should love myself for who I am and I shouldn't care about what other people think and what I look like.
My so what statement is..
I may not be skinny like a model, SO WHAT! I am me and I love who I am. I'm not going to change for anyone no matter how pressured i get into doing it. I think its wrong that the media writes storys about all the celebritys and the way they look, its so wrong. Like all celebs are beautiful weather they're fat or skinny. Personaly I think there should be more plus size models in the modeling industry, I think its soo good that on ANTM you have plus size models. Thank you for that Tyra :) I want to be a fashion designer when i grow up i have TONES of scrapbooks filled with my designs. If i pursue my dream in designing, i am going to design clothes for women all shapes and sizes. Thats something i truly believe in.
Well i am going to go for now, keep up with the show, i'll keep watching everyday.

byeee.
LOVE YOU! (L)

sincerly,
Rachel.

Hey Tyra! You such an inspiration and I absolutely adore you. But I have a question and I really need your help. I don't remember what episode it was, but on ANTM you had your hair in a copper medium length hair do. It was layered and bounced so beautifully. I really want my hair like that for my senior prom on April 14. Please if you could send that picture to my email I would appreciate it so so much! I need it to show to my hairdresser

Hey Tyra,
I am from Germany and I'd so love to watch your show here. But unfortunatly there is no chance. So I keep myself posted on your site.
I love what you do and who you are. You inspire me everyday.
llllLLLLLots of Love
Gudrun, Germany

HI TYRA you are truly my role model. You have done so much in your life and have been so successful with your modeling career as well as taking on the T.v. world I love your show and Americas Next Top Model is my all time favorite. I am 18 and I want to model it has been a pasion that I will always have heart and desire to do, I just dont know how to get started is there any advise you have on helping me with that. THANKS, LOVE JACKELYN

I am a mother of 3 and i have gain 50 pounds im only 23 but i wanted to say SO WHAT I have gain so much weight.

HI:Tyra I watch your show everyday if i am not at home I record it watch it when I get home.I am writing you about the lady I love dearly. we just had a seperation, after 4yrs.6mo.It hurt.But I would love for you to make a dream come true. I need your HELP, you are the only one who can make it come true.She has this proable with her weight. She always says she is FAT and AUGLY. She has a nother promble about the way she looks.Could you {PLEASE} help her. I Have seen where you have made so many women happy and self confindence in there self. I all so have a daughter that got hit by a car going 70 miles an hrs.as she was walking down the side the road. The Dr.Said: she had at the time said she would not be walking by the time she is 40, she is now 31 her legs are starting to brother her now,she has never had a make over.Do you think she might need one.These two people I love Dearly I would love for a dream come true. I would love to see these two, have a surprise for them.Could or would you do this for them. I have a fixed income a month if i could aford it I would pay for it myself. Thank you for your time.May god bless you in every way he can.May all your dream come true: A Fan of your for ever. Joseph B. of a little town with one red light of HOLLY POND of al. Thank you, keep the good works up.

Hey Tyra,
My names Eric and I'm 18. The day I say your So What!? episode I was smiling so big! I know you inspired women across the country, but also guys, like me. I'll admit, I'm overweight and have moments when I don't like what I see in the mirror. To get rid of all the negative thoughts I just think back to what you said, "it's ok to be who you are." I alwasy get a extra boost of confidence. I just don't understand how people can look at you and say you're fat. That makes me feel so horrible, if you're not ok with the world, then I must be a monster! I just wanted to say thank you. What you did was a GREAT thing!! Keep up all the wonderful things you do!

Eric (From Burbank)

I was a relieved to see tyras initial reaction the tabloids that talked about a "fat" tyra banks. I remember feeling better about myself that even though the stupid pro-anorexia media thought a HEALTHY woman was fat, we were able to see the truth. I was a little sad to see Tyra rebutting it so hard, though. Suddenly I started to feel like maybe it wasnt okay to be over 100 pounds if im 5 foot 6. That maybe it wasnt okay to be average or more than average. I just had a baby a few months ago, and was feeling very down about myself until tyra spoke out. It would be nice if us normal people could be portrayed as normal and not "fat." They can all kiss MY fat a**... i know that... :)

Hi Tyra,
My name is Taylor Thompson I am a upcoming singr and I wonder if any of your singer freinds you know ever share with you where they draw there inspiration from when writing songs. I hope you get this you probably won't I wouldnt expect t but It fells good to talk to someone who can actually help you with your problem. Thnx Tyra, you have aheart of gold god bless you. I'm so proud to see that there are people in the world care so much for people and there problems even though you have problems of your own. YOU are a role modle in the lives of millions of little girls. Peace out. TAYLOR THOMPSON

Hey Tyra! I just wanted to say that watching your show and seeing all that you do truely inspires me. I love you and think you're wonderful. You're not only gorgeous you're smart too. I've always dreamed of being a model and I've done stuff here and there. I look up to you and hope that maybe I could look as good as you and become something GLAMOROUS! I wanted to let you know that you're doing a wonderful job on your show.

~Katy

I feel like I'm the fattest girl in the room all the time.

Hi Tyra, My name is Susan and Im a 47 yo nurse in NY.I absolutly love your program which is the first thing on the TV when I get in from work. I think you are a very positive initiative for women and I support you girl!!

Tyra,
I don't even know where to start. I'm 15 and I've had problems with my body since the 5th grade. I remember the exact day these issues started. I was walking with my first “boyfriend.” [which truly was being just friends with that title of boyfriend-girlfriend title.]
On my way to go home and this boy come up and asks him, “why are you going out with her? She’s fat?” It was traumatizing.
I went straight home and cried. Other than that, I’ve never truly been made fun of about being fat. The only time it came up was if I was in a fight with someone. All the person could say were fat comments and as ignorant as the majority of these people were, it got to me and it’s scarred me. I am not a fat girl, I know this, but at the same time it’s so hard to believe it.. if that makes sense. I am 5”1, 135ish pounds [it changes], and have a little bigger than D size breasts . I am constantly criticizing myself and afraid that even though people aren’t saying anything about me being fat, they’re secretly thinking it and making fun of me behind my back… it seems kind of childish and like I am too worried about what people think, but it’s true. The funny thing is, I don’t even know why it matters so much what people think because it doesn’t really make a difference in my life, but everyday I still continued to wear big sweatshirts and jeans thinking it hid my curves. Then one day I saw your show. Tyra, to tell the truth, you are the most amazing person; beautiful from the inside-out. For many years people have told me the same things that you are trying to get across, but for some reason you have such a bigger power then all of them, and when you speak, I believe it. I feel as if I know you because I watch your show each day after school, like I can just call you up and be like “Hey Tyra!” You seem so down-to-earth and caring. When I saw your video where you were saying “to girls at home, to girls at work… etc. etc… kiss my fat ass” it literally brought tears to my eyes and I was starting to believe that this was true. You are inspiring and you’re making such a big difference in society. I just want to thank you for changing my personal self-esteem and for all the other girls you are bringing confidence to.

Hi Tyra,

My name is Mary Northrup and im soon to be a mother of 2,i must say that watching your show has really helped me, before i had my daughter autumn who is now 2 i was 140 pounds and still thought that i was a eye sore to look at i tried so hard to lose weight after having my daughter i thought it would make me happy, when all it did was make me mad because i would work so hard and lose nothing, so then i would wonder what was wrong with me, you see all these pretty women on tv and they have the perfect bodies you just cant help but wonder why thats not you, well im 8 months pregnant with my second child and before i started watching your show i was already trying to figure out how i was going to lose the weight after this one, i was even thinking about having surgrey after the baby is born.i watched your show where you and all your guest wore their weight on their bathing suits, that show really helped me because i realized im not in high school anymore and im not 140 pounds but so what,im proud of every pound ive gained because i have a loving daughter and new baby on the way to show for it. so thank you again

~mary northrup~

Hey Tyra,
I just want to say i am so proud of you!! i always watch both your shows and i have always admired you and i just want to Thank you so much for being so strong!! i knew i wasnt alone but no one says so what!! most people just try to hide it and girl i am tired of hiding it this past year and a half have been really hard for me i have always been kinda heavy and about two and a half years ago i lost 60 lbs i was so proud of myself!!! then november of 05 i got pregnant and i gained 100 lbs with my pregnancy and i have only lost 40 lbs i am right back where i was and i have been really down on myself a i cried so much even though my daughter is the most important thing in my life!!! and i really can relate to the woman that was on your show that said she contimplated sucicide but wanted to time it right for some one to be there for her children i was in the same place and none of my friends or family know any of this because i dont want pitty and i didnt want them to worry about me. but i cant think like that anymore!!

i am saying SO WHAT if i havent lost the other 60 lbs from my pregnancy if thats the price i have to pay for my little girl society can kiss my fat a*s!!!!!!!!!!

tyra, im not really a big person but ive always been uncomfortable about my stomache because when i go to the beach there are so many girls that have prettier stomaches than me but after watching your show about so what i dont even care any more and this is what i want to say " yeah my stomache jiggles when i run down the beach SO WHAT!!!"

Hi Tyra,

I know you do not have time to read these emails personally, with such a busy schedule. I justed wanted to say Thank You Tyra for making time to do the tyra Show.
I love your show.I look forward each day to watching it.

Your shows have helped many women in ways you will never know. I call you a True Angel Tyra because you reach out and help others and never ask for anything in return.

God picked this life for you, and you made him proud by being a caring and giving person. That is what life is all about, giving and helping and not asking for anything. Seeing the joy on people's face knowing you made a difference is the gift you get back.

Keep up the good work Tyra, and please make time and do something good for yourself, because girlfriend you deserve it. I do not know you personally, but have much love for you as a person, and for what you do for others. Keep being real and staying true to yourself. You are someone I would love to hang out with because you a good heart and I can see that you have such good energy surrounding you. Plus you would be crazy like me girl. I love to laugh and be silly. Thank you for taking time to read this.

I know you have many friends, but if you ever need someone to talk to that is not someone you know, please email me. I am here for you. I am not asking for anything, and I am not weird, just another Angel like you.

Have a great day!

eh there tyra,
dam i never thought i would be doin this but it will help my confidence. woo here it goes. ok im 15 and really short and i do not have a flat stomach, my thighs roll n jiggle a lil n my butt is pretty dam big but my butt is kinda my trade mark i guess but i rather not have the rolly jiggly thighs or the stomach but to my but thighs n stomach to u i say SO WHAT !! bam there i hope that helps later tyra talk to u again soon!

Dear Tyra,

Hello my name is Laura and I live in a small town called Cranbrook, Britich Columbia in Canada. I love watching your show, yes even people in Canada watch your show, even better people in small towns watch your show. You have helped me to be myself when I watched the episode where the whole audience was wearing red bathing suits it made me feel empowered and not so scared of what my body looks like. I weigh 154 pouds SO WHAT!!! I now love the way that I look and I'm not gonna let what other people think decide who I should be. I don't want to some skinny, blonde chick with fake boobs. I like who I'am. SO if anyone should be reading this and your feeling down and I know that I'm just another person from some small town in the middle of nowhere just know that you are not alone, we are all here together. Us women must stand strong against adversity, we will pervail and get through any obstacles that stand in our way. Tyra has shown me that its ok to be who ever you are. My list of So What's
1). So What that my inner thighs rub together.
2). So What that I have a very round tummy.
3). So What that I weigh 154 pounds.
4). So What that I'm not some skinny chick with big boobs.
5). So What that I have my dads big nose.

Thank-you Tyra Banks.

Much Love,

Laura

Tyra,
I was actually looking for the link to e-mail you, but I couldn't find it, so this is the best I could find. I want to tell you that I never really was a fan until I saw your talk show. And, the more I watch your show, the more beautiful of a person you become to me. You are the one I compare myself to when I talk about losing weight. I'm 5'3 and 134 lbs. I have a 4 year old daughter, and I was 120 when I got pregnant, and have not been able to get those last 14 pounds to budge. I always think "I need to lose weight. I'll feel so much better about myself." I worry about what people from high school will think- I'm 24 now. SO WHAT?! WHO CARES?! However, almost everyone I've seen from high school is now chubby. But, I'm used to being the "stick girl" and now I've got the post-pregnancy body S T I L L, even after 4 years. As I'm feeling bad about myself, I see a magazine cover on you when you're saying "I weigh 161 lbs!" And, I thought "How beautiful is that?!" I saw an episode of your show about anorexic and bulemic women, and at the end, with tears in your eyes, you said "This is to all the media critics, this is for all the women who work, go to school, take care of their children, and get harassed because of their weight.... you are beautiful. So, everyone else can kiss my big fat ass!" And, my eyes immediately welled up with tears, as they are right now. You have given me so much courage to feel secure in my body and know that I am beautiful. I have given life to another person and for that alone, I am beautiful. And, you- my dear- have inspired me so much to realize my self-worth and my own beauty. Thank you Tyra. You are an extremely wonderful, positive and beautiful person, and I love you for it all!!!! Thank you so much. Take care.

hey tyra my names angel and im 15 years old ive been through so much i cant even think about my past anymore!! or even believe that that was me and that ive been there in those situations!! i just want women to know all over the world that no matter how old you are you need to be you and respect yourself you need to respect your body your relationships and evrything else im just sayin that ive been through situations where i lost everything i had no love and was going threw 3 different kinds of abuses (trust me im ok now and always will be always have!) girls should have a drive to live and the strength to handle any situation wile alot of my down time in my life i watched americas next top model cause i knew tyra was a depressed person but you could see on the show that she was a strong confident person!! tyra you are my inspiration!! to all the women out there if you are in trouble reach out for help because you need to believe in yourself and you are worth living for!! and always remember that things will get better and that you can always change things around you can be whatever you wanna be!!

Hi Tyra,

I know the chance of hearing from you is so slim because you have so much mail to go through but this is regarding a post on here by a woman Jessica. Thats the post date stamp of her post.

Posted by: jessica | March 12, 2007 01:47 PM

She has a remarkable point about thinness because i was once there. And i had no eating disorder. It was as i discovered later an unbalanced metabolism which i've since corrected by taking B complex... but yes thin women go through social rejection too and are referred to as skeletons and being less of a woman because of lack of curves. Attacked and accused of having eating disorders when some of them don't. I was down to 105 1bs in most of my 20's... I am now 137 at the age of 37 at 5'5". I think it is a great show idea and am with jessica 100% on it. maybe you can have women like her still going through it and women like me who've overcome the problem. Please please please Tyra post my mail and please respond to me if you can! I would love to hear from you. Thinness is an issue too and not as an eating disorder issue either but as a social ostracism... I love you!!!!!! Even if you don't post this please email Jessica and ask her to try the B Complex vitamin and see how it helps her weight. Pleeeeeeease... and could you let me know if you do that? Thanks...

Dear Tyra,

I believe your "So What" campaign is very encouraging for women everywhere, however I feel you left guys and or Teens out. As a GAY teen I deal with alot, probably more than alot of people will deal with in their life time. It's hard to take bullying and words that scar your soul forever. I wish I had the strength to say "So What" but it seems to hurt so much. Maybe you could a show about being a gay teen? a coming out show? or coming out stories?

Just a suggestion =)

Love ya,
Joseph

P.S I Don't wanna seem like all these people who ask for your help and etc... I just felt it would be a good story topic.

Well Tyra, I am 21 years of age and sometimes I don’t know what to think no more. I want to become a model and do some work in that industry and I hate how it works. Yeah I am tatted up "SO WHAT"!!!!! I mean I have two big ones, one on my left arm and one on my right and then one on my ankle and one are my chest area. SO WHAT. I know people don’t think that tats are cute but they are not bad tats at all. Oh wow. Also yeah I am not big and I am not small but so what on your size. I have a little stomach not to much fat but SO WHAT. I just tired of my dreams getting shot down just because the next person thinks of me. I mean some of these models I think shouldn’t be up there doing what they do just based off looks and personality but I am not the person who can judge, man it’s just my opinion right. SO WHAT if others don’t want to see them. SO WHAT if people think they are ugly! SO WHAT if people don’t like their shape. I THOUGHT MODELING WAS ALSO ABOUT BEAUTY WITHIN AND PERSONALITY LET OUT AND FACE MOST OF ALL FACE AND IF THEY HAVE THE TALENT TO DO IT. SO WHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING. SO TYRA HELP ME OUT TO FIND OUT!!! SO WHAT IS NEXT IN THIS WORD???? SO WHAT tamieka dawson

Tyra,

Frist I just want to say that I think that you are such an amazing person. I am 21 and married to a soldier. Since he has left for Iraq I have put on 20 pounds, and I was so scared of what my hubby was going to think when he saw me with the extra pounds, until I saw your show "so what." It made me relize that I am still sexy and my hubby will still find me sexy too! What I am trying to say is SO WHAT I am 5'2 and 145lb, I am still hot!

Dear Tyra, I just saw your "So What" show Monday night, and I've got goose bumps just thinking about it, again. My friends and I were just discussing Women's body image after our Yoga class that same night. This was because we all have friends that would like to join Yoga class but think they're too fat. Well, I got home and turned on your show and there you were with your whole audience wearing red swimsuits with their weight in big white numbers. My husband said,"See Tyra doesn't worry about it. You shouldn't either. You're beautiful, too!" Well, this got me to crying because I do worry about weighing too much. I'm 44 years old and I can barely remember a time that I didn't worry about being fat. Maybe when I was 5 yrs old before I started school. Then you introduced the "So What Bracelet" to your audience, and it was like the icing on the cake. I would love to see a sea of Red "So What' Bracelets where ever I go. I would love for you to get the "SO WHAT" message out to ALL women. I would love to be able to buy the red "So WHAT" bracelets for me and for all my friends. And for my friends daughters!!! I might even get two for my sons so that they can support the important females in their lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the next generation of women were raised saying, "SO WHAT" and believing it! God Bless YOU!!!

Dear Tyra
You are the most inspiration person. My name is Julia and i am 16 years old. I am not a small person and iwill never be a small person. I have a full chest and very full leg and they do touch. So What. I have a stomach and a butt. So What. I am a size 14 so what. I am healthy. Before i saw your show i was a comeplete and total mess. I used to wear big and baggy clothing to hid my figure. I can say now proudly that since that show i wear close that show off my assets instead of hids them. I have noticed that since then i have also became more confident and people have responded in a positive way to that. Black, green, purple, blue, size zero or size 40 everyone is beautiful. You helped me think of myself in that way
Thank you so much.
Musically yours
Julia

Tyra...I have to tell you that while I am old enough to be your mother, I really admire the way you talk and the things you say. I hope you really cherish all the time you have with your mother, becaust it's gone too soon. That said, I truly wish I could go along with the 'so what' campaign. My weight has spireled out of control, and due to diabetes, lymphodema, and other issues, probably my own lack of self-control, I have ballooned up to a size that I am horrified at. I am litterally 'beside myself' when I look at the scales, and wish there was a magic pill. We have decent insurance, but even the cost-share is out of the question for surgery, so I guess I just look for a rack to stretch me to the 8-foot-6 I should be. I'm not really sure that being thinner would bring me the sense of wanting to be around for another 20 years...at this point the idea horrifies me, but I want to encourage all the others to keep on keeping on. Make yourself feel good about YOU first, then you will know what your 'so what' is. (ps...I'm 54)
-Cheryl

Hello Tyra
I love you're show and how you inspire others.I am almost the same weight as you and I would like to become a model.The thing is I don't know where to start from.I signed up at this booth at the fair.Last wenesday I recieved a call from them, which was the Casa Blancas modeling center and they schedule an appointment with me.I went on Friday night and they told me that, I had to get training, which is $2,600.Tell me what should I do, I can't afford it.I would love to go on "top model", but I want to graduate first,I'm only a junior in high school.Please help me Tyra!!=)
Thank you for taking to read this.
~xoxxoox~

Hey Tyra!
I just watched a rerun of your "SO WHAT!" Campaign show. I am 17 and I get teased for being "fat" or "ugly". Well, I may be those things to others, but SO WHAT. I think I am beautiful!!! You are the best Tyra!!
Much love,
Amanda

Tyra,
I'm sure you've heard this enough already -- Your "SO WHAT?" campaign ROCKS !!

That's the best thing I've seen in years!!! I'm 47 and have fought the battle of the bulge for years. Now I'm concentrating on HEALTHY. I think it's important to be healthy, whether you're 90 lbs or 300 lbs or anywhere in between... or whatever Race or disability, etc.

Tolerance! You Go, Girl!!

i am a first time mom. I went from a size 12 to a size 16. SO WHAT?

Tyra,

I loved your "SO WHAT" Episode. I am the mother of three young girl, and I want them to grow up loving the skin that they are in. It is hard my four year old already knows about "FAT". I get really depressed about being "Fluffy" Sometimes I think what if I don't eat, or what if I throw up my food, I even looked at those pro ANA and MIA sites. But I really think that you have a good point so I am a little fluffy "SO WHAT" I think that you are beautiful and a great person for standing up for women that cannot love the skin they are in. Thanks Tyra.

Tyra, I love you as an actress (especially on your Fresh Prince days), I love you as a model and I love you even more as a person! You are real and you don't care what is said or who says it! I love your attitude! You are an inspiration to others.

I am a 24 year old Army wife and mommy to an amazing 19 month old little boy and currenty 9 weeks pregnant with baby #2. Anyway, I LOVED your "so what" episode. It made me realize that everyone really does have flaws. I am tall, and that's ok. I am thick, and that's ok. I have booty, and that's ok. I have a belly that gets bigger more and more everyday growing something beautiful inside and I have stretch marks all over...SO WHAT!!! My stretch marks are my mama battle scars and I wear them proudly! It doesn't make me a bad wife or mommy or person. It doesn't make my husband or children love me any less. It doesn't change who I am inside. I HAVE STRETCH MARKS...SO WHAT!!! Bring them on!

I wish there was more inspiration like this 10, 12, 15 years ago when I was just a young girl and teenager. I have a 10 year old stepsister who already is worried about her body and wears cover-ups in the summer over her bathing suit...even in the water! I have passed on the "so what" philosophy to her! Thank you Tyra! Keep up the good work!

Hi Tyra! Im a young female that has struggle with weight issuse for almost half my life. I wasn't a chubby child but when i was rounnd 10-11 that's when I started to pick up weight. With my weight issues was my self-esteem issues and I thought that no guy would want a heavy female like me. I was told in my face by a male that i was to fat for him. When he told me that I cried and cried. I was so close to suicide because of my weight. I would hide knifes under my bed and just cut myself with the knife because I didn't want to live no more. I talked to my sister which you heard of her before Coko from SWV and she talked to me and just encourage me. You and her are the reasons why I didn't kill myself. I just THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH! Your words of encouragement to the people that come on your show has helped me so much. Im always telling my self that I want to give you a big hug just because who you are as a person. My sister as and can get anything she wants because she's a celebrity but I just want to thank her in a special way and you as well. Thank you, tears are about to roll down my eyes but just thinking about how I couldn't be here today because of the negative thoughts i had about me and my weight. THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH TYRA. Everyone that knows me knows you are my role model and my IDOL! Even though I don't have a SO WHAT video but I do have my SO WHAT quote. "MY BOOTY JIGGLES WHEN I WALK......SOOOOOOOOOO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you Tyra from the one that looks up to you:-)

Tyra,
I want to thank you for this movement. I am an 18 year old Native American who has always struggled with my weight. People are always calling me fat, ugly, or telling me I should diet. my only respose to them has been "Bite me" but now I say "SO WHAT?!" "SO WHAT?!" I am a size 14, and weigh 216 lbs, but I make it look good! to quote my boyfriend "there's a size zero? wait... dosn't that mean you don't exist?" I look at some of these women and feel sick because all they think of is their weight, the intake of the food. Thank you, I feel free to be myslef.

Hi Tyra,
Thanks again for caring about those you don't even know. I am a young woman who has been through alot, and picking myself up is so hard but I realize I'm still here able to do things most women can't, but your shows help out alot. Its hard for me to see some shows so I have to go to the site just to find out what I missed, but when I sit and watch sometimes I cry, laugh cause u crazy girl, or get upset with how people ack or what they may say so believe me you help my life alot...
Thanks
Christina

hey tyra i love your show and i'm really glad that their is still people like you who know and feel how most of the society is going through about their wight but unlike me who i an naturally skinny and wouldnt mind to gain a few pounds and that people wish to be like me or either think im anorexic, which dose hurt but yiu really helped my sister so thank you very much!!!
i love you tyra

hey tyra!!!! i love your show and i'm really glad that their is still people like you who know and feel how most of the society is going through about their wight but unlike me who i an naturally skinny and wouldnt mind to gain a few pounds and that people wish to be like me or either think im anorexic, which dose hurt but you really helped my sister so thank you very much with her self confidence and She wanted to let you know thata she wights 158 and SO WHAT!!! THANK YOU ONCE MORE TYRA!

I'am 16 years old and come 4rm a mexican family.I just want 2 let u know that u are a role model 2 many girls specialy me.It might soung crazzy 2 people but today's show really changed the way i think about life and myself.You really showed me that there is more 2 what people think or say about me since i have always been over weight.I understand that I'am only 16 and people have told me that i dont know about life because im still young,but trust me Tyra i have been through alot of bad things in my point of view this past 2 years because i feel less pretty and bigger than the other girls, even though some people say im the oposite of what i think about my self but some people is not enogh for me i want everyone 2 see me normal.I used 2 be a real quit and shy girl with no confidence.Now im a loud not shy girl, that's a good thing dont get me wrong but what hurt me inside is what made me like this.Now im still over weight,but with anger and sadness inside.You can say i have done some "real stupid" things 2 loose weight,feel good about my self and fit in, but all that did not help me it just hurt me real bad and changed me in a oposite way.A way that i cant take no more i dont even know who I am, my family doesnt know who i am either. I scare my self and hurt the people that love, me my parents.Since im the oldest doughter of 4 children i feel i have no one that understands me,but in todays show you made me feel completly different about my self.I feel that u understand me and know where i'am coming from even though u dont know me.I just want 2 thank u 4rm the bottom of my heart and thanks 4 caring 4 ur fans and understanding us.Now i have something 2 live 4 seriously now i want 2 live life 4 me and not careing what people say.I'am me and "so what"!!! i love u Tyra and thanks!!!

Tyra! I'm only 14 but have been called fat everyday since the 2nd grade! I'm 5'5 and weigh 135. My feelings get hurt and things go through my head about should I quit eating, should I go to a different school. By watching your show about the "So What" campaign and reading your People's Magazine article, I've learned to stop caring. I want to thank you for doing this and let you know you truly did inspire me!!! Thanks you SOOOO MUCH!!

I am a mother of 3 boys. My belly has a pudge and I have stretch mark. SOOO WWHHAATT!!!! I got 3 lovely kids out of the deal!!! thanks tyra for opening my eyes.

tyra, you are truly inspirational. i love how you are going against what is in, and telling society the TRUTH.
but i have something i want to bring to your attention.
it's true that there are women who are dying to be skinny.
but what about females like me, who are NATURALLY skinny, but are healthy? and then people see them.. and think "oh, their skinny.. their anorexic."
it hurts.
i hope i'm not the only one going through this.

Hey Tyra! I love your SO WHAT? campaign. I think it would be awesome if you sold the red SO WHAT bracelets on your site and donated the profits to a rehab facility for eating disorders or some place like that. Wearing that bracelet would help remind women everyday that they are beautiful just the way they are and no one has the right to put them down. I know I would sport one! Thanks for the great message and keep up the great work, I love your show!

Tyra for years i have been unhappy with my weight. I have always tried to find ways to lose it and if i couldnt lose it i would cover it up wearing the big shirts and jeans with jackets. It wasnt till you tv show and article that made me realize so what if im a size 10 and i dont have the wash board stomach. For the frist time in my life im not scared to eat when me and my boyfriend go out or at home. It feels good. THANK YOU SO MUCH.. YOU ARE A TERRIFIC ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE AND I HOPE ONE MY CHILDREN WILL HAVE A ROLE MODEL LIKE YOU!

well i think the SO WHAT campagian is so empowering. Everyday on television we see women considered "beautiful" and we then try to make ourselves look like those women...i have to remind myself constantly that the people on tv are made to look perfect. ITS NOT REAL...true beauty is on the inside and im so glad that we can say SO WHAT...who cares what they think..we need to make ourselves happy.

Tyra,
It's not that easy. My name is Stephanie B. and I am 16 years old and weigh around 125 lbs. I'm only 5ft2, so that weight looks really bad on me. It's not that easy to just say ''so what''. Everytime I look in the mirror I am reminded of how disgusting I look. Everytime I eat something I am reminded of how I got this big. Last year I lost a lot of weight and during the summer decided I was going to try to love myself without running 700cals off per day and I gained all of that weight back, plus 10 lbs. Now, I'm enormous. So, there is no way I can just say ''so what'' because everywhere I go or everything I see I am reminded of how disgusting I am. I can't go to dinner with friends, or spend the night with friends, or go to the beach, or wear a bathing suit because I'm too disgusting. I can't just say ''so what'' and do it anyways, because there is always those people that are thinking inside their head ''why is she wearing that?'', or ''she shouldn't be eating that''. I feel like if I don't weigh less, or if I don't eat less, or exercise more I'm not going to amount to anything because everyone just sees that fat that I have. I want to be skinny so badly that is consumes my every thought. I go through school and I count calories on my paper when I should be paying attention in Biology. Or, I can't focus in English because I'm planning the exercise I'm going to do that night. It's even gotten to the point that I can't even get up on stage and act anymore like I loved to do, using to hope to be an actress. I can't just say ''SO WHAT'' and get up on stage anyways because I know I don't look as good as others. I watch Americas Next Top Model and for days later I feel like complete crap because I am not as skinny as they are, or as tall as they are, or .. as anything as they are. I will not ever be good enough because of the body I am in. I can't just say ''so what''.

Your the only one I have told this to.

Dear Tyra,

I saw your show's topic on weight issues, and believe me I can relate! I am 5'7-5'8 and weigh about 228-230.
I have felt like a cute Latina, but sometimes I have days in which I just feel like the biggest whale in the world.
However, after watching your show today I realized that I should not be ashamed of my body's weight nor should I be proud that I was eating unhealthy.
When I saw that different TV gossip shows, internet sites were calling you fat I was apalled and angry.
I could not believe that the superficial world would consider you fat!
In my opinion I think that you are one of the most beautiful woman in the world, and your body is ideal compared to those skinny sticks that the media hypes so much!
I admire women like you, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Salma Hayek,and so many others that have the courage to to tell the world "SO WHAT!"
Thank you Tyra for having a topic like this on your show. I hope that people that made fun of big people in high school or school realize that they hurt feelings!

Denise

i'm just here on behalf of all the other men-- YES, MEN!-- who love large women. big and beautiful, if u will.. yeah, so i enjoy a little meat on the bones. maybe even a lot of meat. maybe i want her to be bigger than me. maybe she can even rebound like dennis rodman and eat like the missing conehead sister. SO WHAT?!?!?

Dear Tyra-

after watching your show so many times, I have many things to say about the "weight issues" you surface basically everday.

I am so proud and I love what you are doing for "larger" women- making them feel comfortable in their own skin. It really is about time that so many women tell eachother to be comfortable.

BUT BUT BUT

I do not like the way you and/or any one else on the show, and in this world in fact, have been treating "thin" women.

I am 5'2 and 93 lbs. I'm as healthy as can be and I don't diet, I eat what I want, when I want. My favorite food is cupcakes. It's my gift and curse I guess cause I can't seem to ever gain 10 pounds. It's just not happening with my body and I've tryed alot from birth control to different eating routines.

I've had the anorexic story pitted on me for years now. I've had nearly all my friends tell me to shut up when I make a comment about my weight when we joke around, apparently I can't joke about my weight like other people. And now I get those "fuller" women telling me 'You're not a REAL women if I dont have CURVES'

This is the most hurtful of all. I feel lower and lesser just for being healthy, skinny, and boney unlike them. Why is that??

I think it has to do with all this weight hype. If you are going to address the weight in america, think of the weight of the world instead- where many women are thin and as beautiful as any other women.

why are those "real women" trying to set us against eachother, and divide us more?? 32A vs DD?

Real women are women who stand with eachother, fight for whats right, believes in themselves and every other women who is kind hearted. Not who is a size 0 and a size 10 (which is fastly the new goal in America I guess. I can't even gain 10 pounds, so I guess I'm not cool or real?)

I think you should do a show for the thin and healthy women. Please, it would be very helpful to us to help our own self esteem go up and have some one, a "real women with curves" be able to say 'you there with the hipbones are a real women too.' treat us with the respect as well please.

SO WHAT

IF MY COLLORBONE SHOWS AND I HAVE JUTTING HIPBONES AND MY THIGHS DONT TOUCH AND I'M A HEALTHY SIZE 0.

SO WHAT!!!!!

Tyra-

I'm an almost 15 year old girl who is very heavy chested and a little over weight.But, after watching your show and hearing about all those women out there that have went through what I'm going through, it gave me hope and strength to accept myself for me.Yeah, I'm big chested and have a not so tiny waist, So What? You've taught me to never look down on myself and I want to Thank You for you standing up for us Not Size 2 girls and showing us that we Are beautiful.No Matter What.

Thank You.

dear tyra
i am 19 years old and i weigh about 125 to 130 i am bout 5;3 i have always felt that i was fat and everyone gets quit mad at me for the way i feeli saw ur show about the so wat campaign and i thought about it alot i need to change the way i feel i mean nobody is perfect it is all about how you you see your self and how you feel .please write back when you can .

Hi Tyra,

I just finished watching your show today on the "so what?!" campaign. It was a repeat episode; I never saw it when it originally aired. I want to say "THANK YOU" from the bottom of my heart. I suffer from severe depression and body dysmorphic disorder, and I obsess about my weight. I carry a lot of hatred towards myself for being overweight, but now every time I look in the mirror and want to cry or insult myself because I hate my thighs or my gut I will say to myself "SO WHAT?!" This is huge, because I constantly want to kill myself, because I feel so ugly and fat. I have tried to kill myself once before. I have already started to practice this mantra, and guess what? IT’S WORKING! This brings tears to my eyes! Instead of crying and hating myself when I see something I don't like in the mirror, now I say "SO WHAT?!" and laugh it off. This is huge for me. I now have a technique to divert the mental beatings I give myself daily. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Earlier today I had eaten six doughnuts, and I was cursing myself out and feeling really bad about it, but after watching your show I said to myself "SO WHAT?!" it's not the end of the world. I was so mad at myself because I promised myself that I would start my diet today. After telling myself "SO WHAT?!" I reassured myself that I can still continue on with my diet, but I don't have to hate myself if I am not perfect. It takes time to eliminate all the junk food, so I just need to be patient. This is huge progress for me, because I have extreme body dysmorphic disorder and I have not left my home more than ten times in five years. I feel so ugly and fat that I don't want to be around other people. I am a 23 year old female, and I have been wasting the best years of my life staying at home and being depressed. I live with my parents, and this month they got a psychologist to have a session with me weekly. She comes on Wednesdays. Last Monday, I was determined to start dieting. When I failed miserably I felt that I was to fat to see my psychologist, so I cancelled our session. I would probably have cancelled this week’s session too, if it wasn't for you. Had I not seen your show I would have told myself that I am too fat and ugly to see my psychologist, but thanks to you I now think "so what?!" she is not coming to judge me, she is coming to help me. Thank you so much Tyra. With your words you have literally changed my life, as well as thousands of other people too. Bless you! :)

Hey, Girl.... I love you. Me and my friends watch you everyday.. You give me streangth becuase all my firneds are like 0,5,and 3 and i am a 15 and i say " SO the Heck What ". We all love you stay strong! (L)

First of all let me tell you how much I love your new show! I don't get to watch it that often since I am at work when it is on. I am off today and watched your "so what" show! I loved it, it made me cry and laugh. My so what moment was when my fiance and I were recently at the Dr. for a check up since I am pregnant with our second baby. I was so scared to let him see the scale, but he saw it and joked a little about it! Now I look back and say "SO WHAT!" I won't be scared to let him see it any more!
Have a great day!
Chrissy

Coincidence, Irony, .... Something is going on for sure!!!
I am single mother to 3 fabulous girls (12, 3, and 8mths). I'm also a full time student. I had made up my mind to start my diet this morning when I saw your "So What" show.
I was a size 5/7 and 5'7 in high school and at certain times after. However, with my last two children the weight has not melted away miraculously like it did after my first at age 18. I am now a good size 16. My goal this morning with the commencement of my diet was a size 10.
After watching your show, I realized that-I weigh 200 lbs. SO the hell WHAT!!!!! I'm still going to start eating healthier and excerising. I'm an intelligent woman and being healthy is the intelligent thing to do. But I AM NOT worried about what size jeans I end up in.
What I am worried about is that my girls know that I love them no matter what size they are, that they know that education is important, that they know that who they are will ALWAYS trump what they looks like!!!
Girl, I am a 200 lb, size 16, corn-fed Iowa Girl!!! SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!
Tyra~keep on keeping on!!! You rock!!! We love you!!!

Tyra I have always been worried about my weight and everyone tells me I am beautiful but i just could never believe them. The pressure to me skinny has always been too high. My so what moment was when I became tired of worrying and and making myself sick and crying over what I looked like and decided it is just time to have fun! I am an artist and for my art show I decided to make my main focus on issues with women. So I stripped down and took a tasteful picture showing off my curves along with two of my room mates who are also beautiful. I did a whole date rape campaign with it. I am always covered up and for that show I wore a short skirt and some sexy boots and let me tell you heads were turning!!! My main goal in life has been to empower women and change the face of advertising. I thought it would be too hard to do on my own but there are so many women that think the same as me and I realize that now. You are truely a role model and are well respected and have now helped me realize that I am one step closer to reaching my goal for women!

Im curvy and love it! SO WHAT Tyra!!!

SO What1: I created a group on facebook.com entitled SO What?! I listed some of my friends so whats?! and a few of my own So whATs?! I have short hair, but still look good in extensions, I acutally have frontal alopecia which was cause by wearing hair extensions. Because society makes such a big deal out of hair, I would glue, braid-in, and sew-in extensions, eventually all of that stress cause bald spots all over especially in the front. I have been wearing wigs for over a year, and after watching Tyra so what?!, My call to action was that I took my wig off in front of my boyfriend(he's a ER DR. and my friends were so skeptical about me doing it cause they thought he would break up with me) and we are still together. And now when I come over I just pull my wig off and we cuddle…
SO What 2:By sophomore year, I had become a product of Michigan State University’s 24-hour McDonald’s. The figure that once walked the campus during freshmen orientation had become a memorable silhouette. My best friend had become McDonald’s two chicken sandwiches with cheese, a double cheeseburger, medium fry, a fudge sundae with extra fudge, and a large coke to soothe my sorrows. This best friend was there for me during three close-family deaths and freshmen transition period. Being obese and diagnosed with high blood pressure was old news to my family. After the doctor’s recommendation of weight loss to prevent more health conditions and determination to cross my legs again!!! Realizing this gluttonous act was a mere remedy to fill the void of sadness; I ended the unhealthy relationship with my best friend. I was 200 pounds then, I am now 145. I'm 5'7" and always had a dream of modeling but I thought I needed to lose 10-15 more pounds. So what I didn't lose those extra 10 pounds. If its meant for me to model the right company will take me as i am.........Call to action:I started applying to some ad's on craigslist.org. And I have done a few promotional model positions and I have been ask to do a fashion show for a local Detroit designer. I
I have a pic in a bikini saying so what when I was over 200 and me saying so what 55 pounds smaller. I've learned that you can't please everyone's perception of beauty, I have to be satisfied with myself at the end of the day......

I posted my before and after photos on website facebook.com as a source of motivation When I receive emails I provide encouragement, and teach them that weight loss is a gradual process which requires commitment to oneself and healthy living.

I really admire where Tyra has taken this topic of which could have been a negative and she took to a totally different level and made it one of the most REAL topics which the majoriyt of women go through. Women of all races, all economics and ages go through tis whether they want to admit it or not. I really feel that Tyra has a golden opportunity to go even further with tis issue and be extremely successful at it, by using a tool which she has and thats the top model show she has. In that show you see the judges being guilty of glorifying the skinny of models by saying that they have a gorgeous body when infact we know that the television is given them an extra 10 pounds and they look too thin. I have always believed that the average size is 8 and yet it has never been glorified, its laways eihter been a 2 or 12 and above. What has happened with one of the most popular sizes of which clothes are always running out of in size 8. She needs to have a model not a skinny or plus size but one that we can all really relate to. She needs to have the cellulite and non fake boobs, the bad hair, the bad skin and show how becoming a model and have this as a career is not just luck but hard work. So I really hope that this comment doesnt get lost and gets to her ears. I am very supportive with ow she has expressed herself to the media which can eithe make you or break you and in the manner of which she has reacted.

Good Luck Trya!!
Dee

Tyra,
just like many people I am applauding you. When I saw your cover proclaiming the battle cry for rational thinking about women I stopped dead in my tracks and had each of my kids take a look. I have been waiting for someone with a powerful voice to take this stand and I, just like many others, stand firmly behind you. I am writing to send you another encouraging note but to also ask you if you would consider taking this further and starting a magazine. please please please. Everything you bring up is so important and you could make a huge impact by allowing a different image to be shown in a popular magazine that yound women and men alike can use as a role model. I am proud to say my 12 year old son smirks at the weight loss commercials and values women of all sizes but we need more of that in our culture.
My family loves you Tyra!!!
Thank You

Hi Tyra,
My name is Brittany and I'm 16 years old and a Junior in High School. Your so what movement has inspired me in so many ways. You made me feel that it's okay for me to be confident about who I am no matter what ppl. think. I'm am confident about my body shape and the fact that I have cerebral palsy. Thank you sooooo much.

Tyra,
I love your show! I am thirteen and in junior high being pretty is being a size 3 and wearing only Abercrombie and Hollister. You give all of us "not pretty" girls hope to become whatever we want to be, despite our image. You have given me self confidence and the belief that beauty is on the inside not the outside. SO WHAT? I am not a size three and I'm darn proud of it!

Thank you for helping us girls and everyone in general know that is okay to love ourselves for what we are. We shouldnt have to compare ourselves to societys standards and you helped me with understanding that.
Keep on doing what you do , you'll always have people who support you.

Tyra -

I'm moved by your So What! campaign. I'm a 30 yr old mother of 3 soon to be 4 (7 month old). My 20's were spent having babies and breastfeeding, and while I don't regret that decision it has taken it's toll on my body. I'm so thankful that I acknowledge that and therefore have decent self-esteem. My pregnancies are always difficult and I become so weak during them that excercising is out of the question. I've promised myself that after this one is born I'm going to make efforts to get "healthy". I've always been turned off from dieting, getting on the scale daily, pills and ideal weights based on height and age. I want to change my eating habits, and make sure that just because I need something fast, it can be healthy! After seeing you face the media and say "I'm 161 - SO WHAT! I was moved to say the same thing. My body has spent that last 8 years creating life and it has signs of wear - SO WHAT!! My 30's will be so different, I can't wait to make some positive changes. Thanks Tyra for being strong enough to give strength to those who need it.

dear tyra,

i am 16 years old and i had a promblem with my weight. i had a problem with the fact that i was over weight or thought i was over weight, but when i met this boy he made me feel pretty and important. well a few months ago he broke my heart and left me for my friend. He told me i was not his type and that he need someone who could look good when we went out. well after that was depressed and acually began to starve meself due to the fact that i thought i was fat an not pretty. so when i began to watch this show i began to feel better about myself an move on with my life. that day when the show with the women with there red outfits on made me relize dang i don't need him and i need to feel good about my self now. So every morning i wake up and say
SO WHAT.... and pick somthing i don't like that day and that helps me through the day. And i just wanted to thank you for giving me back that confidence and let you know you really are a great role model

HEY TYRA, AFTER WATCHING SO WHAT! I PUT ON MY BATHING SUITE AND TOOK A PICTURE. I POSTED IT UP ON MY SPACAE, SO EVERYONE ACROSS THE WORLD CAN SEE ME. I'M 161, SO WHAT! IT'S HOT OUT HERE AND I AM GOING SWIMMING.

Dear Tyra,
About 10 months ago I had my daughter Mia, after her birth I did begin to lose the weight I gained, but then I went on birthcontrol and oh man did I look pregnant again. I gained 20+ pounds. I got depressed and didnt want to go out because none of my clothes fit me and i didnt want to go buy a bigger size. but after i watched your show one morning you inspired me to go out and i bought some new jeans size 18. thats 9 sizes higher than what i used to wear before i got pregnant. and ive joined weight watchers and made it my goal to drop to a size 14,just to be healthy. but i want to thank you for inspiring me and many other lovely ladies.

Hi Tyra,
I am a 27 year-old Africian Americian woman without curves and without the booty. At times, I find it difficult to fit into a family of women with curves and the BOO-TAY, however my take on it now is SOOO WHAT!

Erin

Tyra-

I am 20 years old and am a Sophmore in college. I just recently attended a body image event at my school. A woman was talking about how she had an eating disorder and how women should be proud of their bodies. She went on about how models and advertisments are airbrushed. What got me mad is that I think most women know that those models are airbrushed. The people who don't know and don't understand are men. And I think these types of speakers should not just talk to women, but talk to men too. It is not just women who are bringing it down upon themselves. Men look at Sports Illistrated or Maxium or Playboy and think the women in those magazines really look like that. I have a lot of guy friends and we look at the magazines. I say things like "that cant be her real stomach. It's probably airbrushed." They respond with "They aren't airbrushed. Why would they airbrush a model." I think that the problem is not just women. It is men who don't understand that women do not look like magazine models. That those women in the magazines are airbrushed and in real life are not perfect. So why not have a speaker or do a show directed to men to educate them?

I'm 17 married & pregnant. But, SO WHAT! I am proud of the person I, the woman I have become and the mother I am soon to be. I've been married for 9 months, i'm 7 months pregnant. My husband is 21 and supports our family. I go back to school in September and start training to be an ultrasound tech as well. Believe me, people judge me all the time, but thanks to you Tyra, i learnd not to let it get me down. I am going to be the person I whether people like it or not. I'm proud of who i am.

Dear Tyra, I watch your show every day. I always thought Sophia Loren was the most beautiful woman in the universe, until I saw you. I am a 64 year old mother and grandmother, totally straight. Just wanted to let you know how I think of you. You are so common, ( that's a compliment) you seem like a person who could just walk into anyones home, sit down and talk with them, like you are part of the family. Tyra, I dealt with an anorexic and bulimic daughter, she is so beautiful. I did everything to help this girl, but after getting married and having 2 children, she has straightened up. She still has eating prob lems, but not like it was in her teenaged years. I am raising a 11 and a 9 years old now. They are not her children, they are my sons children, who decided meth was the only way to solve his problems. The mother of these two girls abandoned them when they we 3 and 8 months old. ( Lord, I could write a book.) So you can see I have had my share of the problems, but I don't consider them problems, I consider them fruit. My mother passed away in August 2006, she was crippled and she raised us 6 kids virtually alone, including a blind son. But my mother always had a saying for everything. She would say, "God doesn't plant fruit on limbs too weak to bear". So my problems are my fruit. When ever things start getting too hard, and I start feeling sorry for myself, I think of another one of her sayings, I remember" I wept because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet". What I am saying Tyra, you are a lot like my mom, please keep incouraging people, and keep the "Down home" attitude that you have. Because you are an inspiration, even to us old folks. God bless you. Patty

Tyra,
I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself and others. I think people that look down on others because of the way they look has a problem within themselves. We should all be happy with who we are. You have to love yourself before someone else can love you, or you will keep rejecting the love that you are being given. It starts within, if you love yourself then that's all that matters. You are an inspiration to all women. Keep empowering women to love who they are, not what other people want them to be.

Tyra! I looved this show.. I have struggled with my weight for a long time!! & always felt heavier than everyone else.. And not as pretty.. But each one of your shows helps me personally grow as a person and feel more confident about myself. and i looove the fact that you are doing it with us.. Your not one of the people who sit back and say 'oh yeah you should feel pretty'.. Your helping us feel pretty & sharing your own personal things too..
Yesturday i was in v.s. and the manican they had her sooo skinny that her hip bones were sticking out.. ON A MANICAN!.. I was just in shock!! they couldnt have a flat stomach or anything, her hip bones were sticking out! And although i was,and still am, in shock over it, I think so what i dont look like that.. SO WHAT I"M NOT AS SKINNY, OR AS PRETTY AS OTHER GIRLS, & SO WHAT THAT SCENCE I GOT OFF DRUGS I GAINED 40 POUNDS!!! SO WHAT! AT LEAST I"M HEALTHY!!! I looove you tyra thanks for ur help!!!!!!

Dear Tyra,

I love your show everytime you talk about beauty from the inside. And I absoluteley agree with that.. The thing is sometimes you are broken... it's not just having a low-selfesteem, it's about believing what always have been told you..
I've been mental abused in my childhood. It's a fact that I'm ugly, stupid and not able to do anything right. But always missed en yeah I still miss it very much, is a mother who gives you a hug and tell you that she loves you. And I think that that is the biggest damage that I had... Not just mental abuse, because you will get a time you will believe all those things. But the pain from the inside, the love you've missed will always making you feel NOTHING WORTH!

Tyra, your show is amazing is wonderful to see what you do with those girls/women! You have a beautiful inside and outside! Thanks for being a rolmodel for so many girls!

Bye, much Love, Salima

thats right so what is what i say everyday. im a big girl and loving every single pound on my body. so what!!! love yourself before anyone or anything. tyra you aint fat you good girl dont listen to no one just keep doing what you doing. eat them ribs girl. im gonna eat them with you lol loving you girl
head held high SO WHAT!!!!

dear tyra

i am 14 and i go to brown middle school in hillsoro oregon.i watch your show as much as possible for the this week i have been sexually harased at my school by threee boys in my pe class they have been calling me fat saying to got to weightloss places and calling me la fitness and jenny craig and everyother things i have been crying almost everday about it.i have broke down in the middle of clases.but yesterday(march 6)i hit rock bottom one of the guys sayed im a bi@%*& and no one likes me when i have plenty of friends .i stayed home today because of it.people also dont belive when i say im half puerto rican and half german
the only reason why im white is cause of my daddy and my mommy is the hispanic one.
i have been called fat and ugly before but i blew up.the only reason my i have been acting like a bi*$% is because im sticking up for my friends.i dont know what to do my mom had my teacher vice principle and principle talk to them
help me
and no one should ever call you fat because you are a strong fierce beautiful women and im up w/u 100billion%

w/ respect

steph

Dear Tyra,
I've been watching your show for about 2 weeks now and you have really helped my self-esteem grow. Every show you do really makes me think about different ways of how I could make my life better, how I can help others and a lot more. I just wanted to say that you are my rolemodel and a rolemodel for so many other women on this planet. Your just amazing and just continue what you're doing because you make such a difference. I love you so much and thanks for everything.

TYRA
BEFORE WATCHING YOUR SHOW MY MARRIAGE WAS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND AFTER THE SECOND ONE I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING RID OF THE BABY WEIGHT...BUT YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME TO BE HAPPY WITH MYSELF AS LONG AS I AM HEALTHY AND I AM...BUT I WOULD NOT LET MY HUSBAND SEE ME WITH OUT ANY CLOTHES ON YES EVEN IN THE BEDROOM, BUT KNOW I AM LIKE YOU LOVE ME FOR ME SO WHAT IF MY BELLY SHAKES A LITTLE BIT:)

hi tyra i'm 13 years old. i just have to say i'm behind you 2million% and i go through the same thing everyday but it wasnt until last night that i watched that episode and i knew how to handle it. my mom and i watch you every night and i have to say i love you so much, and i dont care what the tabloids say i love you and you are my rolemodel.

Tyra
I just wanted to say you are such an insperation, I admire the way you are and i wish i could just have your beauty, confidence and such a good heart. I watch your show "EVERY MORNING". And i keep in mind every message you make. I'm 19 year old mother. And for the longest time i felt ashamed, a disgrace, and FAT. I love my son and he means the world to me, But the father of my son made me feel worthless, ugly, fat, and well like crap, for a year i hated everything about myself, my life, and the mistakes i have made. For the past year i hated go out, i hated dressing up, i hated my husband for looking at other girls in front of me and making me feel like crap. i would pray for god To just take me away. To top it off my parent moved out of state and my best friend joined the air force and left with no one to turn to. And to top it off i got fired from my job and had trouble paying bills and before my eyes my life was falling apart. I could have sworn God was just punishing me. Now that i'm a stay at home mom i started watching your show at 10 every morning and i new you were the answer to everthing. You tyra changed my prospective in Everything and now i actully go shopping and buy clothes and dress up. I work out and i no longer think about suicide, divorce my husband cause i feel bad that he has to look at me, and i look foward to watching your show and see what message you've got to say. Now all i say is SO WHAT i got pregnant at 18, SO WHAT i'm 60 lbs fater, SO WHAT..I love my son, i may not be the beautifull girl my husband wish he had,fat, but my son loves me and nothing is better then giving birth. Thanks Tyra

!SO WHAT!
IM 17 YEARS OLD AND MIXED WITH BLACK AND WHITE. I HAVE A WHITE MOM AND A BLACK DAD. AT HIGH SCHOOL BLACK GIRLS WILL BE LIKE UH LOOK HOW SHE DRESS. THEY THINK I DRESS LIKE A WHITE GIRL (THEIR WORDS). THAT MEANS "HOLLISTER, AMBERCROMBIE, AEROPOSTAL, ETC." THEY THINK THAT IS FOR WHITE GIRLS. THEN ON THE WHITE GIRL SIDE THEY THINK IM FULLY BLACK CUZ I GOT A DARK TAN AND I GOT BLACK PEOPLES HAIR AND IM SOMETIMES LOUD!! ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE ALL THESE! IM SO SICK AND TIRED OF IT BUT YOU KNOW WHAT SO WHAT WHO CARES WHAT I WEAR AS LONG AS I LOOK GOOD IM FINE. I REALLY DONT CONSIDER MY SELF BLACK OR WHITE. AND SO WHAT IF IM LOUD,TAN IM LAUREN AND I AM FOR WHAT I AM. ALL I KNOW IF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT ME AND TALK ALL THAT BAD STUFF ABOUT ME THEY ARE JEALOUS AND SOME HATERS. AND THEY IS JUST MAKING ME FAMOUS EVERY SECOND IF THEY ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT ME! SO TYRA WHAT SHOULD I DO? ALL I KNOW IS THAT THEY IS JUST HATING ON ME! HAHA.!
THANKS!

"So What" that i am a 20 year old female who has a 2 year old son and a little girl on da way. To some people this may be bad but I have my own place, pay my bills, and when need I help my sister who is in college. I may not be the best at everything I do, but I can say I try. I am pround to say I do have my high school diplomia because most females where I live does not. "So What" this is my life and I am in control of it. Thank you for doing this because this let youngwomen on my age know that yes we made bad choices, but we can turn it into a good.

I saw your show today on your "So What" campaign and it was great. I heard you also mention you are adding another "plus size" model to your Next Top Model show. I wondered, when are we going to be able to drop the prefix, or title, "Plus Size" before the word "Model"? There is no prefix or title for the thin models. You wouldn't say "I've added 1 more skinny model to the contest". Can we just use the word "model" if that's what the person is?

Tyra,
I just wanted to say what a great show you have. My 13yr dtr and I watch most of your shows together. You are a great role modle for women. It is nice to see a star be real/honest about issues. It makes us think if Tyra has these issues/concerns it is no big deal. I have as a grown women recently learned to love my curves. No one but a dog wants a bone.=:) Thank you for a soul touching hour of tv. Keep up the great work and I wish you greater success then you could dream of.

omg Tyra...
i am a 15 year old hispanic girl in high school everyday i feel like people judge me because of the way i look.It hurts me alot but i deal with it everyday.I try to ignore it but its hard sometimes.I live with a family that loves food.Ever since i was little i have always been bigger then other girls.i have i hate it soo much but u helped me love what i have thank you soo much i love u alot..ur my role model.Tyra i watch ur shows everyday.They make me love life even though i have alot of drama..well i just wanted to say thank you so much for helping every girl with curves..
luv
Vanessa Garcia

I debated a long time before writing to you. I just celebrated my 50th birthday this pass January. I’ve been watching your show and became a devoted fan. I want to applaud you. Your topics are inspirational to me and all women who see the show. I shied away from writing simply because your audience is younger than my daughter.
But then I realized that everything you talk about has happened to me or someone I know. From self-esteem issues to weight gain, relationship and much more at one point in my life I had experienced it. Your recent project of “so what” really got to me. My entire life I had self-esteem issues, I never thought my hair was good enough, never thought my shape was good enough and I could go on forever. But your show was inspirational. I haven’t been able to find the People magazine to read the article but I have read some the comments made by those who did. I got the jest of the article - so what if my hair is curly, so what if my body has some roles, so what if I gain some weight. I feel good.

Trya, my Thanks to you for helping me find my confidence.

Respectfully,

Tyra, I just want to say Thank you for saying what you're saying. It is helping EVERYONE feel more confident in themselves. Luv ya!!!!!!!

First, Congratulations on having talk show with a purpose, Tyra. May you continue to motivate women (and men, can't forget them) towards achieving 'greatness' in their lives. Your show has created a source of media which teaches tolerance. For that, thank you.

I wanted to comment on your 'So What?!' campaign.
I wrote this one day when I was at a intersection of fed up and the realization that I needed change. It describes certain aspects of my life, but more importantly I realized that when I let other women read it, they felt a little 'So What?!' in them too.

Today I pretended…

Today I pretended that everything was okay.
That I really don’t walk or swagger this way.
That I don’t owe the government more money that I own
And everything is gravy with my family back home.

Today I pretended that 2000 calories don’t mean a thing
And ate a homemade red velvet cake with double the icing.
I put on my sweat pants, a shirt that didn’t match
And walked out the door with my pink n purple hat.

Today I pretended that I stood 6’4” tall
And I painted a colorful mural on my wall,
A butt-jank nekkid, hairy macho man
Feeling crappy wit his head so far up…in the sand.

Today I pretended that my name was Esperanza
That my house was still on Mango Street
That my complicated life could be written so simply,
And Sally doesn’t have to laugh while she dreams.

Today I pretended so many things
And I had a mind-blowing day
Maybe I should pretend more
Or just live this way.

Hopefully, someone sees inspiration in this. This was my way of releasing my thoughts. Maybe someone else is at this same intersection and can use some understanding.
PEACE, LOVE, AND HAPPINESS, BUT ABOVE ALL HAVE HOPE AND FAITH.
Daisy

I am 23 years old and i have always felt bad about myself. My family always told me that i was fat when i was a teen, but the truth is that i wasnt! I am married and have 3 kids now and after having my 3 kids i am heavy now. I look at pictures of me back then and really i looked good and healthy! Now i am not confident at all so today i am going to curves to start myself to a better feeling and more healthy person! Thank you so much for staning up for us who feel we cant even stand up for ourselves! You are a great person and i love the fact that someone is willing to go out there and speak for all of us and make us get motivated!!!!

Tyra! First, thank you. Thank you for your beauty (inside and out of course), your intelligence, and especially for all the sensitive issues you touch on. As I read the previous postings, I feel proud, yet envious of these women who’ve reached their “So What!” moment. I’ve had little “so what” moments that lasted long enough for me to have that piece of chocolate or ice cream I’ve been craving. Then, the panic kicks in. I’ll be 25 in May and for 16 years, I’ve been struggling with my weight. I weigh myself everyday, several times a day. I constantly have something to say about my weight or how I look. My friends and family have learned to ignore me. My husband is at his ends wit with me. About 18 months ago, I lost over 30 lbs, and about a month later, I found out I was pregnant. The first thought I had was, “Oh God, I’m going to be fat again then I’ll have to start over!” I am blessed to have given birth to a beautiful baby boy 9 months ago. Now, to get back to my pre-preggo, post-fatty weight, I need to lose 15 lbs. Can I just say obsession?! I’m tired of obsessing. I’m tired of weight and body-image controlling my every thought and action. I too would love to get to my very own “SO WHAT!” moment.

Hey Trya I first want to say that I think you look great. The hell with what people say. I weigh alot less than you and let me tell you i wish i looked the way you did cuz at the weight that i am now i look bigger. so again i want to say **** what people say about you. They are just hating. Please excuse my language. Anyways i want to say so what to me not having a humongus booty. My boyfriend is always talking about me now having a booty. I think i do but this is for him so what. I think you are a great inspiration to all women. Hope to hear back from you.

My so what moment. I've had a few over the years but this is my biggest "SO WHAT" moment. I'm 33 and getting married on March 17th. At 28 I worked for a year to lose 70 pounds and got to 164 pounds. Over the next couple years my weight has crept back up to 180. Well with the upcoming wedding I told myself 6 months ago I was going to get back to 165...guess what it didn't happen. I was beating myself up because I'm worried about my hair which I don't know what to do with and I'm just hoping the stylist does a good job. I can't afford to hire someone to do my makeup so I'm relying on my usually competent self, but worry because I know makeup for the camera is different from makeup for every day and am stressing about how my makeup will look, how I'll look with the bit of back fat I have in my strapless gown, how my arms are not quite as firm as I'd like and everything else. Did I mention we just bought a house and in cleaning and moving my hands and nails are dried out and cracked.

Watching your show last night I decided, SO WHAT! I AM a pretty woman, I may have a few jiggles I don't want, I may have hair that falls half way through the night, and my makeup may wear off before the end of my reception but I'll be marrying the man I love and I'll be marrying the man that fell in love with me at 180 pounds and thinks I'm HOT at 180 pounds. Therefore: SO WHAT if I don't look perfect on my wedding day. I'm still gonna be gourgeous in my incredible gown and I'm gonna have the time of my life.
Thanks for the campaign Tyra!!! You've just made another fan.

Hi Tyra, I am a 51 year old woman who tapes your show on a daily basis. I love your show and you are an inspiration to me as well as a lot of women in the world. I am a person who never is happy with her body. I am 5’10” and I currently weigh 171 pounds. I joined Weight Watchers in January and I have lost 10 pounds. Before joining WW, I was always on some type of diet (Movie Star Diet, South Beach). Most of my family and friends did not understand why I joined WW. I clearly understood because I wasn’t happy with myself. When I lost my first 5 pounds on WW, I was ecstatic, but none of my close friends could understand my excitement. My son said “Mom, theirs nothing wrong with you”; I don’t understand why you are trying to lose weight. My ultimate goal is to lose 8 more pounds. Your show has inspired me to love and embrace who I am. I have also realized that I am not young anymore and that I look good. My “So What” statement would be “So What I am 51 years old, I Look Good”.

First off, I would like to say that I love your 'so what' campaign. You are going to start a revolution Tyra! You really are and I admire you for all of your work! I am doing my final project of the year on eatting disorders and I was wondering if it would be possible for me to send money and recieve the SO WHAT wrist bands that you handed out at the end of the show... I am going to close my presentation showing part of that show, and the one based on People magazine, and I would love to give everyone in my class that wrist band so that they can remember to forget what society thinks; it is what is on the inside that counts! Thank you for your time!!
So what that I'm heavy, I'm me!

Hey Tyra, I saw your episode with the "SO WHAT" braceletts and I was wondering if you would be selling them on your website. The campaign is so empowering and you are such an inspiration to girls and women all over. It's so refreshing to hear you speak on girls body images. Thank you so much Tyra!

Im 163 pounds SO WHAT! Im not a size 2 SO WHAT! I love myself and its because of you Tyra. You helped me love myself and my size 8,10 and sometimes 12 pants and I want to say thankyou. I still sometimes feel ugly and fat but everyone has there moment when they feel the biggest in the room or the shortest or whatever everyone gets inscure. You are a truely inspiring person.

Tyra,
I saw the People magazine show. I loved it. I read the article and I just want to commend you for what you are doing. I think it is wonderful that such a public figure is putting herself out there telling young girls that they are beautiful no matter what Hollywood may say. But not just the young girls have been inspired by you. My story is not as moving as others reactions to your article, but you say that you like to here from fans, so I thought that I would let you know what you've done for me.
I'm a 22 year old college student. And i have spent so much of my life concerned about what I look like. I dyed my hair to look better, i got fake nails, i am toiletry fanatic...if there is a new product that might improve some part of me, i'm there, I will by it. But a huge part of my self esteem has always been on my weight. When I went to high school I was 14 yrs. old, 5 foot 10 inches and weighted about 90lbs...i was self conscious and got made fun of all the time, called anorexic. There was a time when my mom even thought maybe I had an eating disorder. So that got it into my head that being thin was something people were concerned about. If you are think everyone looks at you, you get attention.
But as girls grow up and develop, we gain weight and get curves. And I was always ashamed of mine. I didn't like being "curvy." I didn't like the extra weight that I had gained. I felt fat. I feel like for the past 3 or 4 years I have been always trying to lose "10 lbs." that women all over the world struggle with.
After reading your article, how honest you were with women across the country. It takes alot to be able to love yourself for who you are right now. I've always though if I could be 10 lbs lighter or if I could be just a little bit prettier, I love myself more. But you helped me realize that I don't need to fit the mold or live up to the size 2 standards that Hollywood puts up for women. That at 5 foot 10 inches and 153 lbs, I am beautiful just as I am.
So Tyra this is for you....I can't fit into a size 2 or 4 or 6 because I have curves and big hips...SO WHAT!!!!!
Thanks for everything, keep being the role model that you are inspiring girls and women that inner beauty is more important than what people see on the outside...
Becky

Thanks Tyra!!! You are so great. I love the "so what!" campain. I have had herpes for about 10 years now. I have always been uptight and nervous about telling my partners/lovers but now SO WHAT!! I don't care what they think and I don't care if they get it! SO WHAT!! I feel so liberated

Hey Tyra, I was watching your show the other day and your "so what?!" campaign really captured my attention. I am 21 years old and I gotta tell you, I have been put down because of my weight. Especially after having a baby, my weight never went back down,and I will admit its hard. Anyway, what I really wanted to say is that I go to the Art Institute of Dallas for Digital Film Production, and for one of my portfolio pieces, i want to do a commercial for your campaign. Its just for school and I think it would be something great to put out there. I just thought maybe you can give me some ideas or maybe just your opinion about what you think. I have a really good feeling about this one. &hearts Shaila

Hey Tyra, your new phrase " so what " have become my new phrase. I use it everyday for everyday stresses and it helps me a ton. I am not a size 2 SO WHAT!!! I dont have perfect skin SO WHAT !!!! I dont have perfect teeth or a perfect smile SO WHAT!!! I dont have big boobs SO WHAT!!!!! and I am not a model beauty SO WHAT!!!!!!!! thank you for my new phrase inspired by you........ never stop being an inspiration XOXO

I'm 27yrs old and have 2 beautiful daughters and 1 handsome son. i'm 5'2" and weigh 120lbs. I have stretchmark and lose skin "SO WHAT." Tyra you are beautiful and amazing. Keep doing what you're doing. WE ALL LOVE YA.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, "SO WHAT" if I'm an African-American, dark-skinned woman because I'm still the most fabulous of them all.

I'm so proud to be black and a woman especially right now and at this time. All the other races, especially whites, put so much energy into discriminating against black people so I choose to think it MUST be something fabulous about us. Why do they put some much energy in bringing us down and no one can deny it because I work in corporate america and I know for a fact it's true. I don't go around shouting out "the man, the man" but I see it every day and have even gone through it. Our courage and bravery, our regalness and pride, our ageless beauty and strength is why I feel that all the other races stand back and try to figure out how did they survive and still hold their heads high. They can't find the words but I know what it is. Our heritage is so rich in every way and we can ONLY survive and that's what they don't understand. We were made to withstand anything and come out ok! Thanks for listening.
p.s. I love your size now better than when you were skinner anyway. I thought you were too skinny. I loved turning 30 and gaining weight. I feel like a real woman with my curves. I love them!!! Also, you wore a jean jumpsuit on feb. 22, 2007 and we are the same size, can you bless me with that cute suit. I cannot find one anywhere.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, "SO WHAT" if I'm an African-American, dark-skinned woman because I'm still the most fabulous of them all.

I'm so proud to be black and a woman especially right now and at this time. All the other races, especially whites, put so much energy into discriminating against black people so I choose to think it MUST be something fabulous about us. Why do they put some much energy in bringing us down and no one can deny it because I work in corporate america and I know for a fact it's true. I don't go around shouting out "the man, the man" but I see it every day and have even gone through it. Our courage and bravery, our regalness and pride, our ageless beauty and strength is why I feel that all the other races stand back and try to figure out how did they survive and still hold their heads high. They can't find the words but I know what it is. Our heritage is so rich in every way and we can ONLY survive and that's what they don't understand. We were made to withstand anything and come out ok! Thanks for listening.
p.s. I love your size now better than when you were skinner anyway. I thought you were too skinny. I loved turning 30 and gaining weight. I feel like a real woman with my curves. I love them!!! Also, you wore a jean jumpsuit on Jan. 22, 2007 and we are the same size, can you bless me with that cute suit. I cannot find one anywhere.

Tyra,
I just love your show. I really loved the "So What!" show. My husband thinks you are cute as a button. Anyway. I have battled a weight problem all my life. At one point I took off so much weight that I looked like a walking dead person. I'm 5'2 1/2" tall the last time I weighted I was 165 pounds. Now I'm down to I think 130 pounds. I.m a brain aneurysm survivor. After being in the hospital 18 days they had put 35 pounds on me with all the meds they had to give me. Now I'm fighting to get back to the size I'm comfortable with. But after seeing your show, it chaged the way I feel about myself. I called my bestfriend and told her about your show and to watch it also. She is having trouble with her weight now after having 3 children. Both of us have learned alot from your show. It's okay if we aren't a perfect size 4. That we love ourselves just the way we are.Thank you so much for your insight on weight, seeing that you are a very top model and we don't have to be perfect. Just be ourselfs. We would also like to know how to recieve one of your So What bracelets. We want to let the world know how we feel about it. Thank you so much again. Debra from New Castle, Indiana

Hello Miss Tyra! I know, I'm so late on this, but I just seen the So What episode, and I LOVE IT! I'm a big girl, 5'1" and 180 pounds and I'm eighteen. I look overweight, but I'm told I don't look that overweight. I've always worried about it, but I think I'm beautiful and I'm healthy, so, SO WHAT!? So what if I've got a booty, so what if I've got a few rolls, SO WHAT IF THAT GUY DIDN'T WANT MY CURVES! Because you know what? I'm going to find a man that will love me for who I am. I am a new person because of your So What campaign, and I love myself now. You're wonderful and thank you so much!

Dear Tyra,
I just sat down tonight and watched your "SO WHAT" show... I have to say I loved it... I am 5'9" and wiegh around 179 pounds! I havent wieghed myself in along time!!! Anyways I always feel fat, I often feel like people are looking at me in public because Im the big girl! When Im at home and get all dolled up and look at myself in the mirrior I think I am pretty... Then I go out to the mall and seeing all the skinny girls shopping... I just feel like they're judging my every move, and I feel sooo fat. But you know what watching your show I feel alot more confident... I know that Im pretty and "SO WHAT" if I have a little jiggle in my tummy I am still beautiful!!! Tyra I just want to say thanks for making me take a double look at myself and be able to look past my thickness and feel like I have the confidence to go swim suit shopping this year... I havent done that in almost 3 yrs!!! I havent been swimming in almost 2 years!! So thanks Tyra your an amazing person!!!

With Love,
Treshia

Hello Tyra,
I started watching your show alot recently and I wanted to say how beautiful you truly are. You are real, you speak of the truth and you are an insipiration a true humanitarian. I like the so what campaign because it makes me think about my life the past 10 years and celebrate. I am 32 and a mother of a two year old little boy and a 11 month old little girl. I went to college when I was straight out of high school but, decided I wanted to travel and dropped out (for other reasons too) I always wanted to continue though. I have to say I did travel but I always wanted to go back to school. Now I am in my third year of college and a full time student, mother and wife.
I have lost 60lbs because when I was 23 I gained alot of weight 5'6 and 167lbs. I was a good....size 12. But you know Tyra? I felt fat, not because I wanted to be but because eveyrone made me feel that way. I lost it, and I went down to a size 0 at one point with now being a size 2. Do you know what I want to celebrate GAINING SOME WEIGHT ON ME!!!! I want to be 120-5 LBS. a good healthy weight!!! my other accomplishment is I recently quit smoking...a show you should definalty do because so many teenagers today are picking up that cigarette and years later still smoking. Its the worst addiction.
Anyway these are my accomplishments Tyra, and I am proud of them. I thank you for letting us see that.
With much love,
Maritina

I hate to say this but this whole tyra in the bathing suit is getting out of hand.It seems that every ten seconds she is trying prove how fat she isn't..it's crazy. If it's okay to be a little over weight then why is she trying so hard to prove she isn't?(btw..there's no way she is 161..more like 181) I think tyra has some personal issues with her body. I person feel that skinny is better..I'm 5'7 and 123lbs..and i still have weight to lose. She is just reminding me how much weight i need to lose. I love tyra..but she needs to stop talking about weight

Hi trya am 24 yrs old and a mother of 3 beautiful kids. I just gave birth to my last baby 2 mths ago, and i weighted 200 pounds, I've always struggled with my weight,and i now wieght 172 but still feel bad about myself, but when i watched yur show, i felt good of being overweight, i used to feel depress alot, cuz i would always say i look ugly. But after watching your show i dont get depress about my weight, anymore THANKS TYRA u look great dont let anyone bring u dont. We women have to be strong and keep our, heads up and be proud, of the way we look, dress, and feel. luv u very much big THANKS. MUAAA bye

Tyra
I'm so glad you did this show, and the first one about the people mag cover. its so amazing what your doing, and that there is actually a POSITIVE role model out there for girls. with all the celebrities out there now partying and flashing everyone their lack of underwear, its nice that your actually something good in the mdeia. and your SO WHAT campaign is amazing. and u should totally sell those bracelts! my room mate and i were watching the show and we want one!!! love your show and thanx for everything you're doing!! :o)

Tyra, I loved your "so what" show. It brought me to tears to know that there are people who are proud of their weight. So my "so what" is... I gained 50 lbs after high school and my belly is big, and my legs rub together when i walk well "SO WHAT"!

Tyra, I am 15 years old. And stuck on my weight. I am 5'2'' And I weigh 127 and I think I am fat. And I have reciently been in the hospital for being sick with a temperature of almost 104. And I have been using my sickness as an excuse to not eat. To lose a few pounds. And well here I am sitting up late cause im not going to school tomorrow cause of my Virus. And Im watching for the first time....THE TYRA BANKS SHOW. Well it happend to be the So What one. And You at the end of your show Had me convinced. I am beautiful in my own way too. I feel good about my self for the first time in years! And On wedensday when i get back into school. Im going to take your challange! Im going to tell every one how much i weigh....and I am going to feel happy about it. Your show really helped me out so much and I am totally going to wath it again! Thank you for helping me Tyra.

Amanda Brown

ps. Your not fat their dumb. Your beautiful. =D

Hi Tyra!
I just wanted to say that I loved this show. I saw your picture in a tabloid paper (the swimsuit photo), and I was in shock that they attacked you like that. I am so glad you fought back! I watch your show occasionally, and I really love your attitude and how you don't exploit people (like so many talk shows out there) and seem so humble and loving. I cried too when you cried with the woman who was contemplating suicide over weight issues. I think what you are doing is great. What an inspiration you are to all of us out here!

Hey tyra i love how u came up with the campaign of "so what", i watch the show the other day and and made me think so what if i love my body how it is right know. And know i dont care if people say oh u look fat. Now im like so what that im a little fat, i dont care if they try to put me down even if my own sister. I love the way i look and their is nothing their to change. So know im like i thank you and god that im a happy 18 finishing my school year feeling good. so take care and lots of love and love ur show.

lots of love,
Esbeillde(California)

Your "SO WHAT" Campaign is focus on women who are feeling fat, but what about those women who are always told that they are too skinny??? I am 19 years old 5 feet tall and I weigh 97 pounds and it took me so long to get to the weight that I'm at. No matter what I did I just couldnt put on any weight. Its very hurtful when you hear people call you anorexic when you know your not. I'm standing up for the skinny girls and saying, I DO wear a size 1 and yes I am a little boney, but SO WHAT!!!!!

Dear Tyra, I've always been a fan of your show. The "so what?" episode really helped me feel good about myself, and not just my weight, but my skin too. I've always had acne and always felt bad about it, but you know what millions of people have it and it's okay not to have perfect skin. I don't have flawless skin or anything even resembling it. SO WHAT?!

I stayed up way later than I normally do to watch the rerun of the "SO WHAT?!" show. I spent most of it in tears because it's something I've been dying to see and hear for years. I've just recently entered into therapy for the self esteem issues that I've had for the past 11 years. I'm 23 years old and I've hated my body for so long. I know that I'm pretty average looking and not as overweight/fat as I think I am. I'm 5'5 and 135 lbs. But, for so long, I have detested every aspect of my body. There is always something I can work on. There is always a trouble spot. Even if there isn't, I'll find one. I have finally reached a point to where I am just too tired of being so angry at myself for not looking like the girls in the magazines or tv. I also starting thinking about developing an eating disorder just so I could lose the weight. But, my logic always talked me out of it saying 'you know it's not a temporary thing. you may not be able to recover from it.'
As I'm watching the show, I honestly felt like Tyra was talking directly to me saying that it was ok to not be perfect. I'm slowly learning to embrace my body. And watching this episode, just bolstered a lot of the positive things I'm learning about myself through therapy and my friends. So, thank you Tyra!

"I'm 23 years old, and I have cellulite and spider veins. SO WHAT?!"

Hey Tyra!!! My name is Crystal and I watch your show faithfully!!! I must say that the "SO WHAT" show has been the most inspiring to me!! I am a 19 year old girl that weighs 210 pounds, I haven't always weighed this much. I used to weigh 110 pounds, but "SO WHAT" I'm big and beautiful!!!! I realize that now because there are so many women that I can relate to after watching your show and I think that it is wonderful to see someone with your status standing up and saying that you don't have to be a toothpick to be beautiful!!! Tyra I want to tell you personally that you are B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L!!! Remember that everything happens for a reason because if that Tabloid had never been released, then you would have never been able to inspire so many girls and women in the way that you have!!! You have let women know that they are not alone when it comes to the matter of weight!!! Tyra my butt and thighs have cellulite, but SO WHAT!!! Thank You SO MUCH for standing up for women, you are a great role model for young ladies like me around the world!!! Thanks Again!!! May God Bless You!!!!

I am about to turn 28 years old and I'm not happy with my body. I saw your People magazine episode tonight and I'm proud to be a woman in this country. We are now in an age where women are starting to realize that they don't have to fit in the same mold as everyone else. I now weigh more than I ever have in my life. It happened so fast that I let it destroy my confidence. I gained
65lbs in 3 months after I started the depo-shot. I cried for a long time over this. The man I love tells me how sexy I am and how beautiful I am to him. I was happiest at 140lbs. I want to be that again. Its hard with three kids and the stress of our situation to lose the weight. I also can't find clothes that make me look how I feel before I look in the mirror. I feel sexy and full of life, but when I look in the mirror and try to buy clothes that feeling fades away. With that being said here is my
"so what", I can't find clothes to fit my booty and my breasts
"SO WHAT!"

Tyra,
When i saw your show on "So What" I loved it. I'm 19 and live in Ga. I am the middle child of three and I'm the only one who is overweight. You are so pretty and ur show made me believe that i am too. So to all the haters I say "So What"!!!

dear tyra, i'm going to be 16 years old in april and right now i'm supposed to be on a "diet" but i just finished watching your show and remembered what i thought last time i was on a diet and my sister told me "at least your doing something about your weight" i realized that i wasnt doing it to be healthy but to be skinny and i always tell my friends " strive for health not to be skinny" well today i decided i'm not going to be on a diet, i'm just going to eat healthy that means no skipping meals and no watching calories, i just grabbed a few hershey kisses and i'm going to eat the ...SO WHAT!!! thank you for standing up for women all over the world ... my idols used to be just mariah carey and destineys child, because i love to sing, but when it comes to my strong opinions on things such as weight .... you're my #1 idol

hi, my names Cyrena I'm only 13 years old and I just got done watching the first So What show of Tyra's. And I loved it! It would be awesome to be on there, and also I would like to say people call me fat because I'm tall I'm 5'6" and I'm 135 pounds, but SO WHAT! I don't care what people think about me, I think I'm beautiful and I'm pretty good at expressing my feelings. And this is a special thanks to Tyra, not only my idol, but someone who doesn't care what people think about her because shes knows shes beautiful! And thats the #1 thing I love about her. And I want to be just like her someday!

Dear Tyra Show,
I just got done watching your So What show and it made me cry. I am a girl who has been considered overweight by most, but most of all I have let my weight take over who I really am. I was in the Navy and at my best I still weighed 155 and I was considered to be on the high end of my weight bracket. After seeing your show... I realized that I have lived my entire life around losing wieght and I have not really learned to love myself as I am today. I wanted to thank you for opening my eyes and teaching me that there are more important things in life than to obsess over my weight. I have a wonderful husband who has always loved me for who I am and I am starting to look at myself in a whole new light. I am 5'7" and I weigh 175 lbs and SO WHAT!! Thank you so much for your show.... you have touched more lives that you will ever know. Thank you again and God Bless

Three years ago I was put on steroids for a back injury that was caused by cheerleading (a fractured vertebrae and a ruptured disc). This injury was serious, almost leaving me paralyzed. From the steroids I gained around 30 lbs within a few months. I was also told that I could not keep up with my normal work out regime because of my injury. My self-esteem was already horribly low and this just made it worse. Not too long after taking myself off of the steroids, I started college. My weight has gone up drastically since I was the size 2, 115 lbs in high school. I am a 20 year old, Junior pursuing Education in college, coaching high school cheerleading and waitressing to help pay my bills. My boyfriend of 7 years has seen my body go through all of the changes. He has seen me from what I used to call my "pretty days" to "present day." He has always loved me for who I am, but I still felt like I needed to measure up to all of the celebrity body types. I have just recently started a healthier diet and workout schedule with the love of my life. I was scared to start working out again because I am afraid that I will never get back down to my old weight. After watching your show, I feel that I can still be the pretty Heidi that everyone knew in high school. You have inspired me to concentrate on being healthy and not trying to be super skinny. You are a positive role-model (I often try to refer your show to my cheerleaders, because they are going through similar events). Tyra, you are beautiful and amazing, and so is your So What campaign! I am no longer 115 lbs...I am 5 ft 2 and I weigh 180 lbs...SO WHAT!!! :) That felt good!

Tyra,
My "so what" remark is. I am a mother of two, one of which is only 8 months, and my body isnt what it used to be when I was a teen, SO WHAT!
Yes I am trying to get back into shape but that is for me and noone else. I want to feel healthier not lazy. I am 24 yr old I am 5'4 and 158 lbs. I dont care to lose weight I just want to look good to myself. I really dont care what others think. I got myself in a little rut over the yrs and got lazy, my New Years resolution is to get off my lazy behind and work out at least 15 min a day. I want more energy to play with my 2 1/2 yr old son. He is so cute he loves to run and I just cant keep up with him. My baby is growing fast and soon there will be 2 boys wanting mommy to play. So I have got to get into better shape for that reason. I do have to say that my husband is wonderful and he is always telling me that I am beautiful and the only reason I need to change is if I want to. He supports me and is always there for me. He is my hero as well as you are. You are a beautiful woman and a great role model. You will always have my support and prayers. God Bless You, Tyra

Dear Tyra,
I would just like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you're doing for women everywhere. At age 16, I've already dealt with an eating disorder for a few years during middle school, and occasionaly still struggle with it. The fact that you tell the world your weight and are happy with it, really encourages me. After watching your "so what" show, I'm finally begining to see that all bodies are beautiful, and rather than compare myself to other girls around me, I should just love my body. Thank you so much for being such a brave real woman everyday on your show. You must be the first to ever remove makeup, wear a bikini, or host a panty party, on your national show-- and for that reason, I am begining to think SO WHAT? Allpeople have things they don't love about themselves, but it's about those features we DO love. I love you Tyra,
please continue all the work you're doing to help with the problems in today's media.
Lauren

a year ago i was in my senior year of highschool and had just started eating meat for the first time in my life. my body obviously couldnt digest it very well and i gained alot of weight. at only 5'0 i weighed almost 140lbs. now thats fairly average but it is still considered "overweight", and throughout my whole life i was always the skinny girl, so being a bit heavier was a big shock to me. a year later i've lost over 20lbs and now weigh a healthy 115lbs. my "so what" moment? because of my weight gain even though i am back to being skinny and having a slim body, i've got stretch marks all along my thighs and hips, and for the longest time i was always too ashamed to wear shorts, or a bathing suit, or skirts, anything that would show my thighs, and now i can say, "yeah my legs arent perfect, i've got stretch marks, but its hot out and i wanna wear a skirt, so what?"

Wow, you are one of my ultimate heroes. Tonight, I was watching your "so what" campaign who with the People magazine update. That, along with the one on anerexia and tabloids have given me so much courage. I've always felt bigger than my friends in the stomach. I'm 5'1 1/2 and about 105 lbs. I know people wouldn't consider that fat, and now neither would I. I'm almost 14, so I'm at the hard stage in my life to fit in, and to be thin. The thing I never felt comfortable about is my hips which look huge because I'm a 30-32 'A' in bra! Now, after watching all the battles with anerexia and seeing it around, I'm not afraid to stand up and just say SO WHAT! Now I feel like bigger is better and more beautiful. I see my friends around me thinking they are fat when they are very thin looking. That makes me mad, when they say they are fat. When they say, " Rachel you're way smaller than me, when they know I'm not, and I'm not afraid to say it, admit it, and take it if someone says it to me. " I honestly don't care anymore! My so what: I have a pear shaped body; big hips and small boobs, but SO WHAT, I'm over it!!

Hey Tyra,

I'm currently watching your "So What" campaign episode with my 7 yr old son & 9 year old daughter....and we're loving it!!!...I was a part of the "DOVE" Commercial for REAL WOMEN (30 yr., curvy freckle face) and I'm so happy to see the doors opening for Real People...As I observe Commercials & TV Shows I'm amazed at how far society has come in just almost two years....

I'm excited about your "SO WHAT" campaign and know you're making a difference for so many people-

It's so important to encourage positive self-esteem in the homes, at school and every where else, so that these little boys and little girls can embrace and be comfortable with who they truly are...in this truth unrealistic expectations have very little if any, effect on the spirit!

Tyra,
I cannot express how grateful I am to you. I am in college, and have started to experience the dreaded "freshmen 15". I am not a small girl to begin with, so I was very depressed to see that I was gaining weight. I started working out for hours at a time, starving myself, and popping weight loss pills like candy. I felt so disgusted with myself... I had low self-esteem and sense of self-worth. My friends at school tried to talk to me, but I just denyed it. My family, being hours away, remained oblivious to the problem, but knew something was wrong. I went through boughts of depression that almost consumed me. At one time, I was too weak to go to classes and said I had "the flu". I almost lost my best friends (who hated what I was doing to myself) and lost my sense of self. I saw your article in People Magazine, and it completely turned things around. I looked at your pictures, and read your story, and I thought to myself... "she is beautiful, how can people say she is fat?" I then began to look at my life and what I was doing to myself. I broke down, and realized that I couldn't keep going down the path I was. Your strength and courage has touched me so much. You have been a HUGE impact in my life and I thank you so much for it!!!
I am NOT a skinny girl... So What?!?
Thank you so much Tyra!

Hi Tyra. Im 15, a junior, about 5' 6", and 107 pounds. Growing up, I was always the right size, not too big, not too small. Then puberty hit. While I got thosehigh cheek bones I always wanted, my weight dropped so much. People started thinking I was anorexic, bulimuc, etc. They started talking, and they still do. I try to just brush it off but it always gets to me. I'm sure you know that in the black community, thickness is good and skinniness is bad. So to me, your body type is exactly what everyone should want. I really just wanted to give a voice to every skinny girl watching the tv looking at these beautiful women just thinking "how could they ever be unhappy with the way they look?" you really are beautiful Tyra, and i'm so happy that you are giving a voice to everyone looking at all the little girls thinking the same thing. Keep up the good work.

Tyra,
I just seen your so what show today and I was Bawling. Im 20 years old and I had a daughter 1 1/2 years ago. Before I was pregnant I weighed 135 lbs. And the crazy thing is, I thought I was fat. Now, I weigh 198 lbs. Im 5'4" and it hurts to look at myself in the mirror. I cry, alot. I have considered doing things that would leave my daughter motherless. But everytime I think of her I realize that I would rather be 1,000 lbs then leave her without me. I appreciate what you have made me realize. I have realized that I may be bigger, but I can still be beautiful. My husband tells me that I am all the time, but to see your show, I know that I am not alone. Thank you tyra. For everything.

First of all I wanted to telly ou that you are absolutely beautiful. So for a beautiful and strong woman to stand up and talk about your own body image and thoughts is wonderful. I sit here and wish that more people from my high school would watch your show, especially this one. This has been the greatest idea I've ever seen about weight and body images. Thank you for constantly standing up for women and being a strong role model for girls and women of all ages. Bravo!

Hey tyra,
My name is rachelle i'm 10 years old and almost 11 years old. I am the height of 5'5 in I wiegh 72 or 70 pounds. When I went to my docter she always say that i'm under weight for my height. So she's making me eat more in she put me on these diets so I can gain more weihgt. This is just to let you know that I would do anything too be like you when i grow up to be a young woman. Because i'm sooo tierd of being pict on because i'm skinny. you are my heroand my rolmodel. And I wish you luck.

I just wanted to post a comment for that woman Mary who was on the Red Suit show (her husband's name was Keith, I think). MARY, YOU ARE GORGEOUS!! Girl, you look like Catherine Zeta Jones would look if she didn't have hair extensions and a personal chef and a personal trainer, so don't even sweat it. You are absolutely beautiful, your skin was just glowing and your eyes were so sparkly!!!

Hey Tyra! I just wanted to let you know that I think you are so brave and amazing! I love your show and whenever Im having a "fat day" I just put on your show and it always cheers me up. You are a real inspiration to me.

I love your SO WHAT campaign. It shows women of all sizes and shapes to embrace who they are. I have always been small and dont care. It has its advantages. I am 5'3" and 112 lbs. I say whatever size you are embrace it. Even if its small sized. People who are skinny get made fun of too as well as if you're bigger. I've had this problem my whole life pretty much and say to everyone "SO WHAT" Im not nearly to the state that Nicole Richie is, but I still get some shit about being so slim. Keep on showing everyone that it doesnt matter what you look like, how much you weigh, what your hair looks like, or whatever else. You are a strong woman and I give you mad props for that. You are not just some former model. You have many things to say to the world. Love ya......

Dear Tyra,
I LOVE the way you look! You look healthy and not FAT at all. I would die for a body like that. People dont always pick on the people that have gained weight but have also picked on the tiny people. My whole life I have been a tiny person and its been hard for me to gain weight. So half my life I looked to skinny and people would said " Get some meat on those bones or why dont you go eat a burger" I would reply " I eat alot its just I eat healthy and Im always active." I see the same thing in the media. They will pick on some people with losing some weight and say they have an eating disorder. Some people just cant gain the weight like myself and I hate the fact people dont think I eat. So Tyra you look beautiful like always and the media or people will never be happy with what you look like because they envy you and just arent happy with themselves. I realized people that talk about others or insure about themselves so they try to find flaws in others. Keep you head up and I love the show!

HeYa Tyra! i love the idea of "SO WHAT?!" i had a beautiful son 6 months ago and gained a bunch of weight, at first i was not happy with myself, and that made things rocky my relationship, i bought a gym pass and worked out for a month. i lost weight, but i just dont have the time to do it anymore. i'm a big girl so..SO WHAT! i dont care, i think i look good. i love my curves, thanks to your plus size models! i love my curves! instead of those skinny little sticks in the magasines girls like ME should be in there, FLAUNTING OUR CURVES! they are natural!

Tyra you are such a wonderful insperation to me so many other teens. You always have such a touching show that everyone can refer to. You are such a great role model and I look up to you so much.I am only 15 years old but you have taught me alot.At one time in my life I thought I was fat, and was going to go on a diet even tho I weight 105 pounds and 5'6 and a half. When I saw your "So What" show and you visiting the eating disorder clinic It made me really think. Do I really want to do this to myself?? I would always look a model and say I want to be that thin. But in the end it is not worth putting yuor life in danger. You have changed so many peoples lives around and saying that you don't have to be thin to be pretty.I love your show ANTM.I was sad to see Kathleen leave.Thanks Tyra!

Brittany(Canada)

Thanks again Tyra ..Much Lovexoxo

Tyra,
Recently, I went to the gym to start a new workout and diet plan. I told my trainer that I wanted to lose 40 lbs. This would make me weigh about 100 lbs and be a size 1 or 2. After embracing your "So What" campaign, I have changed my mind about my weight loss goals. I have realized that I don't need to lose that much weight. I can lose 10-20 lbs instead, and be happy with being a size 5 or 6. This is such a more realistic goal. This would make me a healthy weight for my body shape and size. I don't need to be a size 0 to look good. So, my so what for the day is "So what" that I am not a size 0. Thank you so much Tyra for making me accept and love who I am and giving me the self esteem to fight those negative self image thoughts.
Lots of Love!!!

Hey Tyra!!

im only 15 and i feel like everyone is staring at me because im fat. u are my biggest role model and u have taught me that i am a beautiful girl and SO WHAT?! what people think about me. i luv wat ur doing and i hope to meet u some day. keep up the good work and keep lookin FIERCE!!!

Hey Tyra!!!
Just wanted to say that I absolutely love your new campaign. So what!!! I now live by it! I have it posted on my white board. I'm 25 and have 3 wonderful boys. I have been trying to lose some weight and get rid of the baby fat, then I really listened to what you had to say. I completely believe in it! I'm 5'4" 170 lbs and have stretch marks from boobs to knees...SO WHAT!!! Thank you so much for everything that you do for every woman and girl out there. When I finally have a daughter of my own I will teach her all that you have taught me. Thanks again!!
~Joanna

Hey Tyra!!!
I love the "So What" show. I really love how you are showing people that it doesn't matter what you look like or how many pounds that the scale says you are it only matters that you feel good. I also really like that you are teaching people that they need to feel good in their skin and not care what everybody else thinks, I really appricite that you are sending that message.
Thanks

Hey Tyra, I watched your show with Molly Simms. Im younger then most people who have wrote on your blogs but I am very uncomfortable with my weight. All of my friends are so much skinnier then me and they keep telling me "Girl your not fat", I dont think Im fat but I think I could be skinnier. I think that anerexia is a disgustin disorder and I am not that unhappy with myself. I know what anerixia does to a person because one of my best friends wieghs 75 pounds and thinks she is fat. She was close to becoming anerexic. Thankyou for everything you do!!!

Tyra,
Thank you for doing this show. I have been overweight since I was in the 4th grade and while I am trying to loose the weight, it still sucks to be fat. I am 5foot 8inches and I weigh 248lbs. People judge you by the way you look, and when you are fat people think you are UGLY, STUPID, and MEAN. I am not any of these things, and I hate when people judge me because of the way I look. Watching your show and seeing all these other women, some of whom were so skinny compared to me saying they felt fat, and their thighs rubbed together made me feel less alone. Thank you for this, and for standing up for women everywhere against the unfair immages we are supposed to live up to.

Hey tyra my name is Helen and im 18 years old. I weigh 140 lbs and im proud of the way i look. Ive been feeling like i aint pretty enough but SO WHAT?! Ive been watching your show everyday and I feel better about myself and I dont care what anybody has to say... Thanks to you, Tyra I realize that we are all human beings and we are all different shapes and sizes and nobody should bring us down. Thank you so much.

Hey Tyra!! You inspire me more and more every day. I am here to say "SO WHAT!" I am a 23yr old African American woman that is curveaous and proud. ALl through my high school years I was 115 lbs. And since I graduated I have blossomed into a full grown woman. I run into old classmates and even family members who ask me what happen to you, you were so skinny. All I can tell them is my man loves every dimple. He has been by my side through the skinny and he is still here through the thick. So I know he truly loves me and we both say "SO WHAT!"

Hey tyra i loved that you did this show b/c so many girls think that they have to be stick skinny to be pretty. Im not big but im not small im 5'5 and i weigh 126 but my best friend is a couple inches smaller than me and weighs about 10-15 pounds more than i do but shes the prettiest girl i kno. It doesnt matter how big or how small you are as long as your happy and celeberties think you have to be tinny and it makes girls our age think you have to be and your show just shows us that we dont have to be!! and i just wanted to say thank you!!

Dear Tyra,
My Name is Samantha and i am 18 years old and I just had a baby and i am at the lowest point of my life. I love my baby girl so much and I feel so bad because i am depressed all day long I used to weigh 102 pounds before I had her I think i am weighing in at 150 and I look disgusting. I saw the new season of Americas Next Top Model and there is a girl on there that looks fantastic for having a baby 7 months ago and my boyfriend always says if she can look like that why cant you. My boyfriend doesn’t find my attractive at all anymore and it really hurts when people tell me how bad I look. Tyra Please Help Me!!! I need to lose weight and I want to feel good about myself Again. I just wanted to tell you but you probably already know this you are the most inspiring women of today. I watch your show twice a day in the morning and at 5:00.I love you Tyra!!!

hello,
Tyra im 20 years old thanks to you feel a little better about my body image, its still hard for me to say "So What!". I try to stay strong but its very hard, I have been ask do I model or people would tell me that I should model. I know that I would make a good model, but for me I have so many things holding me back its not just my body image its other things as well. I will try to keep my head up and think postive.

Love always Nancy
Thank You again Tyra!

Hi my name is Lori Ann and I 28 years old and I weight 187. I am very proud of the way I look and I don't care what people say because I feel pretty and sexy in my body and with my weight. My friend thinks I need to loose weight and to be like her skinny but I just tell her that I am very comfortable with my body and also with my weight but I don't have to be skinny to feel good about myself because I already do feel great about myself. Trya I think you are a amazing person and you are helping alot of people out there who are not really comfortable with there body but they can be. Thanks...

Hi Tyra!!!! I LOVE how you are inspiring so many of us around the world!! Weight has DEFINATELY become an issue to all women. Especially when we see beautiful actresses/models on TV and want to be like them. But I am now fine with my weight. I have a 2 year old daughter, weighed 125 before I got pregnant, and am now 140. I have been really discouraged about my weight. I don't get looked at like I used to, not only because I have a child. But everything is wider and more saggy than before! :) HA! Totally worth it though!! Just found out I am pregnant with my 2nd. Hopefully after this one I can lose the "baby weight". But even if I don't, I know that it doesn't matter what I look like and how much I weigh! THANKS TO YOU!!! :) Thanks for seeing the beauty in women instead of looking at the outside. You are a true inspiration!!

Hey Tyra,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for doing this show I am a 12 year old girl who is currently struggling with my weight and after i saw this show i felt so much better about how i look. Thank you so much now i know that you dont have to be skinny like all those models you see on tv you just be the weight that suits your body thank you so much again thank you, you are my role model i luv♥ ya Tyra,
Charlene

hey tyra! my name is kimberley, and i'm 14 years old. alot of ppl call me fat and alot of ppl doesn't so who should i believe? if you ask me i fill like i'm too heavy for my age i weigh between 120-125 pounds. alot of girls at my skool weighs less. i fill bad sumtimes watching tv seeing how girls weigh like 110 pounds. and i'mm like 10 pounds over the normal weight!
anyways i hope you will reply

Hey Tyra, my name is Moneka and im a big fan of yours! I loved your "So what" show because I am 14 years old n i weigh 170, and i am 5 7. No one really teases me but i couldn't let myself be free around others, but finnaly this year i hav felt "me" inside my skin, i love my body! I hav curves! I'm tall! N im a bit over weight, but i love it! Cuz im young and i hav time to lose it! I wanna say thank you, b/c u helped other girls love the skin their in!

I just want Tyra to know how proud I am of her and for her to do what she did on this show....and to continue on b/c women need to know that we should be respected not b/c of our size but as women no matter our sizes....i should know this b/c I am 4 10 and i weigh 200lbs and it hurts when people treat you different b/c of your size...i just want to tell Tyra thank you for inspiring me in so many ways ....we love you Tyra keep on keeping on....

I just had a baby 4 months ago, my first one! And I'm really happy....but ever since I had him, I've felt bad about myself and my body..I weighed 118 before got up to 175 and am now 145, I know it's not a bad weight....but's it's depressing...and it's really not the weight that bothers me...it's all the STRETCH marks, on my stomache my legs...everywhere ...I don't want to wear dresses or shorts or anything that will show the stretch marks..it makes me cry, and at first I actaully thought to myself maybe if I just didn't eat I would loose the weight...and I just wont go swimming or wear anyhthing like that....but ever since I started watching your show, I'm starting to feel better about it....what should I do, is there a way to reduce the look of stretch marks...PLEASE help me...becuase of you I'm starting to say SO WHAT...but how can I possibly get rid of them?

I'll admit I've always kinda been dissapointed with my build and weight because a lot of my friends are really thin. But lately I've just been thinking "SO WHAT" I'm healthy and Im just a big girl. I have a bigger build and no one else seemed to have a problem with it except for myself. I'm 5'8 and 152lbs and I'm proud of it :)

Hi Tyra,
Reading all of these posts made me cry, because you have made ALL of these people realize that their weight doesn't matter. You Tyra, must be very proud of what you've done here. I am proud of you, and hope someday to help others like you have done. I come from a family of big belly's, i'm 5'2" almost and about 150lbs, it's all in the belly. The thing is, I used to be 100lbs, before I had my child 11 years ago, and I didn't like all the attention from guys, because they only wanted one thing. A guy once told me it looked like I was gaining weight, and I told him "ya, I'm gonna get fat, and try to weed out all the A**holes." hehehe it works!now when a guy wants to talk to me, it's because he wants to talk to me, nothin else. and thats so great. Thank YOU Tyra for letting us all tell the world...My body is not perfect....SO WHAT...my personality ROCKS!!! and it will STILL ROCK when I'm 80 hehehehe woohoo

Hey Tyra
I am 17 years old from Quebec, Canada and love watching your show and TVO it when I don‘t have the chance to catch it. I am in my first year of college and had one of the lowest points of my life. Coming from a small town it never really hit me about being so over -weight. I always knew that i was not “skinny” but it didn’t really bother me until I came to college. Seeing that most the population of girls at my school are toothpick thin i freaked. I hated being my self i became shy and never voiced my options .I had the fear of being looked at & remembered as the “fat girl from the coast who got a big mouth” . Now I have a different memento on life “SO WHAT EH !” I have back fat, a flat bum and a belly that can talk back, and a mouth to go with it. Tyra after watching your show and seeing you stand all proud with your cellulite in front of millions of viewers and audients , I too have the courage to walk in the doors of my school and voice any option that i feel should be out there. Marci Marci Madame Tyra tu est une belle fille et un grosse inspiration.

P.S Keep up the great work. My love always Holly (i to would love to buy a SO WHAT bracelet)

Tyra,
Thank you so much for showing us woman not to care about what others think.Family and friends kept pointing out to me how I still look pregnant.I had my daughter by c-section a year ago
and I haven't been able to loose the wieght "SO WHAT"! At one point I was obsessed with my weight now, I come to realize that at least I'm healthy.

SO WHAT!! I love it.I am tired of people making comments about weight issues PERIOD. I have been on both ends. Up until about 5 years ago I weighed 110-115 pounds and everyone thought I was sooo skinny. Asked if I ever ate. NOW I weigh 160, and now I am getting asked why I am getting so fat. What's it to you? So I'm not a size 5 anymore
SO WHAT!! I loved it when you said that. Made alot of us smile again. Thankx.

Tyra;
I am 28 years old. I am recently married and my husband and I are expecting our first child. My whole life I have been considered an "average size girl". I have stressed about weight gain for as long as I can remember. As you can imagine when I got pregnant one of my first concerns was the amount of weight I would gain. I know that sounds like a horrible thing to say considering the miracle that I was about to be a part of, but it's so hard to re-program your mind to say that it's ok that your scale is going up..after all you are carrying a child so no matter what you do you will gain weight. Well I now have 2 weeks left until my due date and I have gained about 45pounds. SO WHAT! I have an amazing, supportive husband who tells me everyday how beautiful I am and we are about to have a brand new family member. If I have a daughter I can garantee you that I will teach her how to say SO WHAT! I think it's wonderful to see all of these women coming together and being proud of who they are. After I have the baby I plan on taking care of my health, but not worrying anymore about the number on my scale. Thank you for reminding me that there are much more important things in life than a number.

Hey Lady Tyra...It's me that almost 52 year old 5'2 175lb mother of 5 grandmother of 13 watching and enjoying the Tyra Banks show, and A N T M, from the very first shows of both todate, doing my best never to miss either...not even for Idol..So what I still look good and feel Godly blessed, thank you for letting me get that out...So what
Love Val

Dear Tyra ~
i think that you are an amzing person and drop dead gorgeus and what you are doing is GREAT!! i watch your show daily i love it i never miss a show! when i seen what they said about you i pissed i was like how can they say that about you they made it sound like you weighed like 500 pounds or some crap i think that is so wrong of them to do that. my niece and her best friend was reading what they said about and my miece's friend asked me if she was fat just because she has love handles i asked her why would you asked me that and she said well these people and saying the tyra banks is FAT and she isn't she is so pretty
and then went on to telling me that she needs to lose 15 pounds so that people wouldn't think that she was fat i was so shocked that she thought that and i told her that she was perfect just the way she is. i told her that what those people said about you are wrong for saying that. the day people came out with your story in it i grabed it and took it over to my sister's to show my niece and her friend and made them read it and my niece's friend started to cry and then you had the (SO WHAT SHOW) after she watched your show she stood up and said i have love hands and a belly on me so what im pround of meself and my body and it doesn't matter what people think or say about me! so tyra i just want to so thank you for doing the SO WHAT show. Joanna V 24yr old. of Warsaw IN

You are amazing Tyra!! You should really start selling those "So WHat" bracelets because I am always surrounded by peer pressure around me. In school and out of school kids will always try to offer marijuana or a cigarette and at parties there is wayyy too much drinking. If I had a bracelet I think it would remind me to say no! And say "So What" that I don't drink or smoke. And also I see skinny people everywhere, in school, tv, and magazines and EVERYTIME I see those images I feel disgusting and worthless and I need something to help me feel good about myself which is why I think the bracelets are incredible idea. Tyra I don't think you have anyyy idea how much you've impacted people's lives!!! YOU'RE TRULY A ROLE MODEL AND SOOO AMAZING!!! Thank you so much. :)

Hey Tyra,

Thank you very much Tyra for saying it out load " SO WHAT" We as women are all beautiful because we are created by a GOD who is beyond what is so called beauty. No matter how you look like or what size you are or even color you are BEAUTIFUL. Believe in yourself and know that you are a very special creation.

Tyra you are one heck of a special creation GOD BLESS YOUUUU! I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU TO DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHH oxoxox

your number ONE fan!!!!!!

tyrabanks4life

hey tyra my name is stephanie allen i am 148and i feel really fat aroundmy friends because yhey all are really skinny . but when i was little where i could not find clothes but you know what SO WHAT . because now the style is thick not skinny

Tyra, Thank you so much for starting this! You help out so many people, your a wonderful role model.I'm a freshmen in college and I have strugled with my weight, diet after diet for the last fews years and its hard but i'm realzing that someone will love me for me. MY STOMACH ISNT FLAT BUT SO WHAT? THANKS TYRA!

Tyra,
I'm from Australia and I have FOXTEL and i watch you everyday, and i think your so beautiful inside and out. I'm currently 145 lbs and i'm only 15 and i feel extreamly fat! I hate my body, i hat mydelf and i don't respect myself. My parents are divorced and i have 2 brothers and 1 sister. My sistes has a disorder called Fragile X and it makes her uncontrolable no matter what mood she's in, and continually calls be a fat B**** and keeps harassing me about my weight. Since my parents divorce, I tried to commit suicide. But what made me actually think about what i was about to do was a family friend that i didnt know exists, went to my school, i became friends with him and i fell in love, and thats what made me think. Also my mum went through a breakdown and she wanted to kill herself and my brothers and sister and myself, and so i need to just say "SO WHAT".Cause i dont care no more! Love Chantel.

Girl you need to sell those bracelets!!! I LOVED your show. What a great message to all of the women of the world. For as long as I can remember (33 years that is) weight as alway been an issue in my life. That is now a thing of the past. Now I am only concentrating on my health and I am no longer concerned about the number on the scale. Thank you for saying it out loud "SO WHAT?!" if I don't look like an airbrushed picture! We are all beautiful in the way God created us. Tyra "Thank You" for telling it like it is...

Tyra,

I am 13 years old and I weigh 121. I feel fat especially aroud my freinds because all of them are skinny except for me and another one of my friend sometimes I say to my self "why am I fat"but then I relize that thats the way god wants me to be ...well there is this guy at school that says he likes me but I get confused because then he says "dang Tanya you are fat ,but thats how i like you" he has asked me out but i dont say nothing because i am confused but i really like him too.what can i do????? ]]"I may be fat but guys like me like that..."SO WHAT""

love, Tanya

Hey Tyra, I am a 17 year old girl who lives in Missouri and i think that what you are doing is amazing. i think that you don't have to be skinny to like your self my sister is less than a hundred pounds and i am 172 pound "SO WHAT." I am still happy. i think that you are an inspiration and i think that you could change the minds of others. Big girls are fun to. Thanks for being an inspiration and leader for me.

Hi There Tyra,

I am 15 years old and I watch your show all the time and I love it! I just wanted to thank you so much for telling women and young girls all around the world that is it OKAY to be who you are and not to worry about what others think. Thank you so much!

Love,
Baylee Jo

dear tyra,
i want to start off by telling you that you are very inspirational person to a lot of people and i really love but you i do. but i can't help but think that you are a little hypocritical. I think this because you do nothing but preech that you can be beautiful no matter what size you are, and you can, but then for you to turn around and allow people on Americas Next Top Model to tell Anchal from cycle 7 (i think it was 7) that she is not fit, and she should not be a runway model to the point where she just didn't care anymore about the compotition. i love her i thought she was a gorgeous woman and she was not fat by anymeans. And i know that you have 2 plus size models on your show this season but i don't know if i am the only person that thinks this. dont get me wrong i love your show and what you do i just think that what you are doing with telling girls that size doesn't matter and then telling Anchal she is not fit enough to be a model just doesn't make sense to me

Dear Tyra,
You are truly an inspiration. It brings tears to my eyes when I see you standing up for millions of us as women. As a young black woman you make me sooo proud to be who I am. A beautiful size 8...who is fiercely intelligent that it scares most people and sexy and beautiful enough to stop traffic. Keep up the great work. Even though I am only 25 I can say I am very proud you and the way you represent yourself. Thank you with all my heart and soul for being you because in doing so you pave the way for us to do so as well. Oh almost forgot my SO WHAT. My belly has a roll when I sit..SO WHAT! woohoo..that feels good!

hi Tyra! your show is amazing! you are the only talk show host that cares more about being a positive role model than getting the highest ratings, which is why me and my friends watch!
since i was a kid i have struggled with weight issues. they took me off my steroid treatment for my athsma in 3rd grade and i gained around 60 lbs in less than a year. ever since then i just keep gaining. i try to diet, but i just can't seem to stick with it, and when i do as soon as i quit i gain it all back plus more. i loved your "so what" show. i tried to kill myself in 6th grade bc i had no friends and everyone made fun of me, all of high school was horrible and i have been used and cheated on by every boyfriend i've ever had bc of my low self-esteem. i am 21 now, and still a heffer. your show meant a lot to me, i wish i could have been there with my "206" proudly displayed. i am 206, and my thighs rub, and i have back boobies... SO WHAT! I AM WORTH SOMETHING, I AM BEAUTIFUL! thank you again Tyra, you are my role model!

Hey Tyra,

I love your new ''SO WHAT'' campaigne it really moved me and i wanted to contribute to it. Im 15 years old just starting out in highschool and i have peer pressure all around me, its hard sometimes to deal with all of it and sometimes it really gets to me. But the hardest part is when people around me are pressuring me into doing weed or other drugs and wanting me to having a couple drinks but really they just want me drunk. Of course i say no to all of that but they just dont get it. So everytime i say no i get really bad negative feedback from them like '' omg your such a loser, everyones doing this'' and '' this is the only fun your ever gonna have so you might as well do it''. Its scary sometimes when you dont know what to do. So...i guess my so what is '' so what'' if i dont drink and smoke drugs i have fun withough being out of controll of myself.

Thanks Tyra for helping me get throuh all of the hard timse in my life you really inspire me to do better and get through my life feeling confident.

Love always,
Nicole xo

Dear Tyra,
I am fourteen years old and I just wanted to thank you for doing this show! You really need to see your "SO WHAT!" bracelets! I would buy one! I love your show and thanks to you I have now changed the way that I look at myself. Here is my "SO WHAT!" I am a white girl with a big butt and wobbly arms, I am healthy, so SO WHAT!
Love always,
Your biggest fan,
Samantha

hi Tyra-
i am always up very late at night, so this one night i saw one of your re-runs.
It was about anerexic models or something like that. the part that got me was when the skinny model called the other model "FAT"
i felt that she was so rude. you were so cool about it. you said that she didn't need to justify herself to that model who called her fat. that show really got to me. at the beginning of your show was so powerful. it got me tearing. i am so happy that i can finally look up to some one who is in the fame business. you are so real. that is why i love watching your show. you inspire me alot. you help boost up myself esteem after watching that show. now! i am proud to be myself,maiLee yAnG. instead of trying to be some one for others to like me. like getting skinny or something like that. because they can kiss my big ass! you mommie is so cool also! thank you Tyra! if there could be more poeople like you in this world, there wouldn't be no need for war and animosity! i hope i spelled that right! hahahaa! love lots Tyra!

~maiLeE

Hey Tyra!
Wow, you are such an inspiration to me! I admire you so much. I loved your show on Monday and I absolutely love the "So What" campaign. I was wondering if you are selling the red "So What" bracelets. I think it would help people so much because when they wear it, they can be reminded to stay strong and not give up. I know that I struggle to get by day after day and sometimes I just feel so horrible about myself because I'm constantly reminded of my weight. The girls in my school are pretty much all so, so skinny. And I think that if I had one of those "So What" bracelets, it could help me and remind me how amazing you are and when I'm feeling alone or self-conscious about my curviness, I can just glance at the bracelet and say "SO WHAT!" I truly hope you start selling the bracelets Trya! You have no idea how much it would help me get through my days. Thank you Tyra for making me feel good about myself.. THANK YOU!!!!

hey tyra how u doin?,
u inspire me so much. ever since i was 5 i use to walk and twist and pose for the camera. now that im 15 im still modeling. i think im fat. but when i seen ur so wat show it inspired me to eat and keep dreamin. show that i have high self exteem. i love my body. i want to kill my self because i thought i was to fat because boys didnt like me and the boys who did wanted SEX. i couldnt live that life. now that i've have an so waht i have my life back. i've heard of an model thing at dillards and other places. but i dont know how to get my porfolio together. and i dont know how to apply for the modeling events. "so people call me fat, so people say im not goin to get no where in life. SO WHAT!!!!!" im goin to keep tryin and keep livin the dream im in.
love your model always jhnia.

u inspire me so much. ever since i was 5 i use to walk and twist and pose for the camera. now that im 15 im still modeling. i think im fat. but when i seen ur so wat show it inspired me to eat and keep dreamin. show that i have high self exteem. i love my body. i want to kill my self because i thought i was to fat because boys didnt like me and the boys who did wanted SEX. i couldnt live that life. now that i've have an so waht i have my life back. i've heard of an model thing at dillards and other places. but i dont know how to get my porfolio together. and i dont know how to apply for the modeling events. "so people call me fat, so people say im not goin to get no where in life. SO WHAT!!!!!" im goin to keep tryin and keep livin the dream im in.

Hey Tyra,
I'm fifteen years old and i'm a sophmore, I love your show and i watch it everyday i don't think i've ever missed one...But i love when you have shows on eating disorders and when you stand up for women and yourself because of you i don't feel "fat" anymore...i like my body and at my age it's hard to except myself, my best friend weighs about 95 pounds and still thinks shes fat and that used to make me feel like i was huge! But becuase of you i know i'm not i am at a healthy weight for my age....and i am all for your "SO WHAT" campaign and what i have to say is

yeah my freidns are really skinny....so what i know i'm beautiful thanks to you.....

thanks Tyra

hey Tyra,
I am 5 2 and weigh 145. Many of my friends are REALLY small and that's fine... but its not for me! I was very small when I was little.. now I am getting some curves and my family and people I associate with seem to think it is a bad thing!but since I have seen your show I am more confident wearing the cloths I want to and not what is big to make me look small! I don't care what people think anymore it is not important and many high school students think someone else's opinion of them means everything... but that's not me! Thanks for doing the show!!

Hey Tyra,
I'm 19 years old and weigh 190 lbs. Im not quite happy with my weight, but i think your campaign is great, and it gives me the courage to ignore people when they say something about my weight. I appriate everything you do and i love your show! thank you Tyra!
love you!
meghann

This is for you "So What" campaign. I thank you for your efforts. My wife is concerned about her weight, but i think she is beautiful.We've been married for just over 3 years. I always tell her that I don't care how much she weighs. Your show has lifted her spirits more than I ever could.I don't think that pencil thin women are attractive.If a man wants booty, then get booty. I love my wife as is. Thank you for what you are doing.

Hey Tyra, I am 17 years old and recently moved in with my father. We watch your show everyday. I lost my mom four years ago and I started eating to deal with the depression. I was starting to lose the weight but then i was sent from living with my aunt to live with my dad. I started eating alot then. I've gained alot of weight in the 9 months i lived with my dad. But "so what" if that's what makes me feel better than fine.

Tyra,
I am 20 years old, 5'8'' and used to weigh 130lbs, growing up in small towns i was always made fun of i for not being in the "In group" when i came to college i met an awesome guy who i had known for years and who i dated and had a daughter with. When i was pregnant i felt so beautiful and began to feel confident for the first time. i was a very fit person and lost most of my baby weight after birth everyone tells me i look so good even tho i still have 15lbs to loose. i think one of my biggest insecruties now is that i have stretch marks, but after your show all i can say now is " I had a baby 3 months ago i weigh 145lbs, and i have strech marks... SO WHAT!!!"

Hey Ms.Ty
U're amazing and have an amazing body. I'm 100% for the "So what" campaign. I'm 5'4 and weigh 192. pounds. I love my booty. Love the curve and the rounded BUTT. I'm lovin'it. I think you should come up with a "so what" Club where everybody post their pics showing their best "So what Pose"
Tell me what U think.
LUv always!!!!!!

Hello Tyra,
My name is Mindy I am 28years old, a mother of 3 a 5yr son, 3yrs son, and a 22month daughter. and I weigh 234 pound I am 4-9, every short. I have been watching your last couple of shows. You are making me feel very happy about my self. My husband says he loves me very much and loves my weight. The day before your SO WHAT show I recored something to show my husband about helping me lose weight. When he got home I said i have something I want to show you and the first thing out of his mouth was Does it have anything to do with losing weight? I just sat there and did not say anything. Because he knows me so good I have no problems with telling people how much I weigh, and I thought I am fine with my self but that next day I would say something about losing weight again. When I saw your show it hit a spark in me. I need to be proud of my self I am a great wife, mother of 3, and a great women and I should be happy with my self and it does not matter what everyone else thinks it should be about what I think and that is it. So I just wanted to thank you so very much on doing this and making everyone awear that everyone is some one speical and everyone is different on the out side but all of us are the same in the inside. I love you and your show.

Love Mindy

So WHAT!! thats my thighs rub together when I walk.....they practicly fight to get by each other! I thick chick ! SO WHAT!! SOWHAT that im a size 8 sometimes a 10!!!

Tyra,

I want to say that you are truly someone I can look up to and motivate me to be a stronger person. I watched this segment on the "SO WHAT?!" campaign & I can honestly relate. I'm a 20 years old & I'm petite, yet I have cellulite already & I'm starting to get rolls. Other girls would freak out , but let me say SO WHAT!? I'm positively proud of who I am, what I am, and what I am about. Sometimes I ask my husband if he cares about what I look like and he really doesn't, but sometimes he does say I could lose a little baby fat. Honestly, I don't care. I'm healthy & wise. It's not about my weight either. It's about how I was growing up as a teenager. I was teased so much that it got out of hand. I was told I was never going to amount to anything. Look at me now! I'm married. I have a great future ahead of me. And I can't to start a new family. I'm happy to be who I am & I want to one day say it on your show to all those who disapproved of me. Thanks for reading & listening. By the way, I love your show! Thanks.

hey tyra, i think what you are doing is so amazing and seeing the girls on ANTM last night (plus sizes) (which i think they look great)was really nice. i have lost all this weight in the last six months so much has happened my dad passed away and it seemed that i couldnt control anything in my life so i turned to diet pills. losing all this weight and compliments i became obssed. but your show has helped me a lot and you know i could keep on taking them and lose the last little bit but you know i like my little belly, i like my little love handles and SO WHAT? i have decided that when summer comes i am goin to buy a 2 piece swimsuit and wear it and be damn proud of what i got. so thanks tyra you have really helped me. you helped me to toss those pills and eat better and just go to the gym. a little sweatin never hurt nobody right?

Tyra. I love your show and try to watch it everyday. Indeed you are an inspiration to women from all over the world. Continue to inspire us, educate us and edify us and continue to be a good role model for women of all colour from all backgrounds. Someitmes it is hard to say "so what". Sometimes it is hard to love yourself for who you are and how you were made. As a black woman I have had to live with the "scourge" of having a flat behind- yes flllaaattttt and you can imagine how unworthy that makes me feel sometimes. You listen to all these songs that glorifies women with apple bottom shapes and you see all the women around you who have these shapes and I wonder "why me?" Especially coming from a country where blacks are the predominant race. I stick out like a sore thumb. I've actually considered plastic surgery but am too afraid to do it. I hope someday I can get to the point where I can say- "my black booty is flat- so what?" I hope someday you can do a show on stereotypes and how they can seriously damage self esteem. Personally I'm going to try and get to that place. Keep up the good work girl.

tyra-
you have been such an insperation to me. when watching your so what show it really made a difference to me. i have been feeling as if i need to lose weight because i think my thighs are fat. i always find new flaws bout my body everyday. but im 5 3" and weight bout 130. but now after watching your show. all i have to say is so what.
thank you,
melissa

Dearest Tyra,
You have been a constant inspiration to me and my life. My Name is Gail Ray, I am the mother of 4 small children, the oldest being 8 and the youngest is 3. Many mornings I wake up with dread of facing the day, until I see what you have to say. I am very uncomfortable with many aspects of my life, my weight, my personal appearence, my income, so many negativities that just pull me down. I don't really care much what other people see except that I am in the beginning stages of starting my own home party, direct ship business, and I feel that my Appearence will hinder my ability to get the customer to trust me. I have bad teeth, and we can't afford a dentist, and I am bottom heavy and really need a backup alarm! LOL.I have concidered joining a weight loss program, or a gym, but again we just can't afford any new expenses. I feel comfortable as far as my relationship with my husband of nearly 10 years, so that aspect of my life is good. But my children are not kind like he is. My 3 year old said to me just 2 days ago:"wow mom, you have a fat belly". Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to improve myself without spending alot of money? I also wiitched your homeless episode- and I cried. Not because of the situations that you were highlighting, but for the fact that I am one of those many Americans living paycheck to paycheck. I really have tried to change this, but I can't seem to come up with a plan. You are the most wonderful person I have had the pleasure of seeing, and I thank you for all the support and knowledge you give to women. God Bless you! Gail

Tyra, I dont even know whee to begin. My wife and I watch your show every day due to the fact that nothing else comes on that early. You seem to act like a high school girl, talkig only about fashon, and asking questions that are so uninteresting they would get Oprah or Montel fired. Have you or you producers ever thought about the fact that nobody cares about fashon. Every day I think, "surely Tyra will have something interesting on her show today". However, day after day, all he hear about is when you were modeling, or what the lives of models are like. WE DONT CARE! Please, I am begging you, Start interviewing your guests like a real adult instead of like a highschool locker room conversation. Montel and Oprah have real shows with real questions, your show has model talk every day, and ignorant interviews. I mean no disrespect, but how did they give you a talk show?

Tyra,

Im 15 years old, only 5'3", I wigh 153 ponds, play sports, and I stay healthy.

I want to say,
I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE PERFECT BODY. YEA IM SHORT AND HAVE HUGE BOOBS, NO BUTT AND PRETTY LEGS. I AM HOW I AM CUZ' GOD WANTED ME TO BE. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE WAY I LOOK, GET OVER IT. I AM WHO I AM AND I LOOK HOW I LOOK "SO WHAT"

Thanks for giving me the stregth to say that. Ive beens a huge fans scence I was 10. With out you I dont think I would be as strong as I am today.
THANKS FOR GIVEING ME LIFE!!

Tiffany

Dear Tyra,

My mother and I watched your "So What" show together, since she is currently living with my while I recover from surgery. And my "So What" moment is a lifetime in the making really. It isnt completely about my weight or body image, even though I did struggle with that for years while I was younger. I didnt think that I was fat, just not small. I didnt feel the need to be skinny, just the need to hide my body from the world around me. I grew up with alot of sexual harassment from the males in and around my life while I was growing up, and because of that I was very insecure about my body and how people perceived it. The harassment led to alot of depression for me and thoughts of suicide for years. I thought that if I could just change the way I looked on the outside, then these guys would leave me alone because they would view me as "ugly". Thankfully, I never tried anything to hurt myself. I had two best friends who made sure I knew I was beautiful and that the harassment I was getting wasnt my fault and it wasnt something that I had to just let happen either. They have stood by me through the years now, and still make sure I know the truth of things. Right now, my "So What" moment isnt about my weight-because I am small and have a hard time gaining weight. My "So What" moment is an every day lifestyle that I live as a single mother of 3 beautiful children(Christopher 3, Sahara 18mos. and Kylee 2months). I am looked down on and talked badly about by so many people because I have had 3 kids outside of marriage, and for a long time I would cry and cry over the things these people would say about me. Being called a no good whore and a slut are very damaging to anyone. And it isnt always easy to just ignore those comments. Because of my two best friends and my fiance, I've been able to gather my strength and look the world straight in the eyes and say " I am a single mother of 3 beautiful children, SO WHAT!"

Sincerely,
Rachael

Tyra,

I am about to spread the news and build a camp of women who are able to break through life's pain and overcome with a "SO WHAT" attitude. When I saw your show, I was on the couch perplexed, discouraged and fustrated--Only to be ecouraged, motivated and influenced to live my purpose. I am a woman designed to reach other women!!!!! SO WHAT, if my circumstances tell me that I will not make it. TYRA, your words, your voice has created a movement...my words and my voice will become one with yours to encourage women of all ages and cultures to live life no matter what!!!!!! SO WHAT!!! I AM & I WILL build a nation of women to live a life of confidence and wholesomeness! No matter what. Thanks a lot sis. love ya!!!!!

Hi Tyra,
I am 22 years old from Sydney Australia. I watch your show religiously every day. You are such an inspiration to girls all around the world. You make me feel better about myself all the time and watching you makes me stop worrying about my weight issues for a while.

I just watched your show on your 10 year celebration for SI.. congrats, you brought tears to my eyes! You are incredible Tyra and I feel so blessed to be able to have u in my living room every day!

I just wanted to thank you for being the amazing woman you are! Your momma should be proud of what she created!

The world is a better place thanks to Tyra Banks.
Much love from down under
x x x

hey girl,
this has nothing to do with any of this but I just
wanted to know if you can help me over come one of
my sef-conciousness.....
its been killing me and i'm about go to go Hawaii soon.. but i might just back
out because of this self-concious body that i'm living in....
ok i'm just going to go straight to it. I have no
butt whatsoever and it kills me.. i always find myself
looking at others people's butts and i just get so jealous....
pleaaaaaaase is there any way to overcome this or get SURGERY at all??? i'm just a 16 year old in need of desperate help.

Tyra,

I just wanted to commend you for this campaign and all the work that you do regarding self-esteem. I'm 34 years old and thought about starting to subtract a year from age and also subtract a few pounds from my weight number. After watching the show from Monday, I say so what that I am 34 years and so what about gaining a few pounds! Thank you for being a role model to women your own age as well as for younger women. Keep up the great work! Thank you!

Dear Tyra,

Thank you for showing me the way real women represent themselves. I'm 16 years old and your "so what!" campaign, is so inspiring to me, and it will become inspiring to my future daughter. Here's my "so what".
People say I've a cottage cheese body, and fat rolls to prove it. SO FLIPPIN' WHAT?!

Thanks again Tyra. Love,
Sarah

Dear Tyra, I watch your show every morning and your message is so great and its nice to see. I grew up bein 5 foot small on top and with as most people say a black girl booty LOL that i cant fit into 99% of pants because of it. I weighed 180 lbs by the time i was 13 and hid everything then by the time i was 20 i was down to 135 still having a big ol booty. Now having a kid whos almost 11 months old ive gained that wieght back and my 3 little tiny stretch marks from being prego have turned into alot since i gained 40 lbs after my son. So my "So What" is, I GOT A BIG OL BOOTY AND STRETCH MARKS ON MY HIPS SO FREAKIN WHAT!!!!! I wouldnt have it any other way my son means the world to me!
Thank you Tyra for inspiring so many people!
xo
Alana

Tyra...
I wasn't sure if i should get on here to tell you what ive gone through.. but i feel like i need your advice. I watched your "So What" show.. and i just really envy you and everyone that was on that show.. im only 16 and the pressure to be skinny is killing me. i want to be like you and be completely comfortable in my body.. but i just cant seem to do it. everyone has always told me "you're no fat, Whitney.. but you're not skinny either" so i have always been self-conscious about my weight.. i hate shopping and trying on clothes because i never look good in them.. i weigh 157 and im 5'3". my legs rub together when i walk, so im always having to buy new jeans. my mom is actually taking me to get some new jeans tonight because i only have one pair that i havent thrown away because of the holes. all of my other pairs have holes where my legs rub together and ive had to throw them away. its really hard to have people ask me why i wear the same jeans all the time or why i have holes there in my pants.. my mom last night told my dad that we had to go get some jeans so i can have something to wear to school.. and she was like "yea.. now i get to go hear her complain 'im so fat.. this is terrible..blah blah blah...'." i do the whole diet thing but it never seems to work.. im on a healthy diet now trying to lose weight so i can feel comfortable and stop listening to what people say about me. some people tell me "wow your belly looks like its getting smaller" and "wow are you losing weght??" and it makes me feel good but i dont see a change.. i still feel fat. i dont feel comfortable unless im in something loose or something that hides my "flaws". Tyra.. i just want to know what to do.. i want to know how to be comfortable and confident with my body.. i try.. but it doesnt seem to work. im sick of obsessing and crying over my weight and the way i look. I just want to feel beautiful like you do.

Sincerely,
Whitney

I just have to say that you have been someone I have looked up to since I was about 14 or 15. You are such an inspiration. I am a 24 year old mother of two. Before my kids I was always very skinny. I'm 5'4 and went from weighing 125 to now 170. This has been very hard for me to deal with. I had fear that my husband did not find me attractive anymore and that he would leave me for a skinny better looking girl. There were many times me and my husband would get ready to go out and I would just break down and cry because I'm not the size I once was and the clothes just don't fit the same anymore. I just felt so ugly and depressed. After watching all your shows about weight I have fianlly learned to love who I am. Come to find out my husband actually likes my added weight better than the twig I once was. I'm not ashamed of my weight anymore, SO WHAT people say I'm fat!! I'm happy just the way I am and my husband loves it!
Thanks Tyra!!

After some thinking, I was finally able to come up with my "so what?" statement.

For a while, I wasn't exactly comfortable with my body image, but after I saw your "so what?" show on Monday, I realized there's nothing really wrong with my body. So here's my "so what?".

I'm not as skinny as the other girls at my school, but so what? I look healthy. I've got curves.

Hey Tyra! Just wanted to start out by saying that I watch the show everyday and I love you. You are such an inspiration to girls & women. I loved your show about weight. All the ladies in the audience and yourself looked beautiful!! I am 21 years young and I live in Upstate NY. I am pregnant with my 2nd child. I have not gained a lot of weight yet...lol. But I have gained and I have a hard time with my apperance. After becoming a Mama it seems that I don't have much time for me but I guess I have to say My man loves me and so do my kids so SO WHAT!!! So to you Tyra...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for just being you. Much love from Upstate NY!

Tell your Mama she raised a fine, fine young lady!

And Tyra....You look AMAZING exactly the way you are!!

Always~

Ericka

tyra, i am ur biggest fan

AS A KID GROWING UP I ALWAYS GOT TEASED PEOPLE WOULD CALL ME NAMES EVEN MY OWN FAMILY WOULD. CUZ I HAVE A DISABLITY I HAVE MILD CP BUT OVER THE YRS I HAVE GROWN OUT OF IT AN EVRYDAY WAS A STRUDDLE FOR ME BECAUSE I AM A DANCER AND ME GOIN TO A NEW DANCE STUDIO BC MY MOM WOULD ALWAYS INBARESS ME BY TELLING THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THAT I HAVE MILD CP. BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE GROWING UP I DIDNT HAVE ANYONE TO HELP ME THROUGH MY STRUGGLES BUT TODAY I AM TAKING A STAND TO EVERYONE AND MY DIABLITY AND SAYING SO WHAT I HAVE A DISABLITY.
LUV UR BIGGEST FAN AUBRIE

Tyra, I respect you soo much. I have been living in Asia for several years working the furniture industry--after all shut down in the USA. Never watched anything but Oprah when I got to come home until now--got injured severly in China and am now housebound. You need to add to your "So What!" Girls " Get Over It".
I was and my sister was sexually abused as a child. But we kept going.
I've been at least 150 lbs to 215 lbs my whole life and never been on a diet.I've had a life only women could dream of--worked my way thru the manufacturing process in a man's world of Furniture and won!--Managed a couple of Furniture Factories in the USA. Went on to manage many Furniture factories in Asia. Only American Woman in Asia at the time in this position, and I was highly respected. I got to travel the world and do my thing. I have very good friends all over the world.
Women can do whatever they want to do--all it takes is willpower. I'm 52 now have 1 great daughter and 1 great son and the most wonderful Husband any woman could ask for..

Love Ya Tyra,
Karen

Hi tyra, I was watching your SO WHAT show Monday and was so inspired about one womans story. She was planning on commiting suicide after the births or her children. I myself am a new mom, only 19 and not happy about how my body has changed after having my son. Before watching your show I was discusted with my body especially my stomach, I hated it when my fiance touch it or seen it. But now your show has changed how I feel about myself. I just wanted to share my so what with everyone. MY STOMACH LOOKS LIKE A DOUGHNUT, SO WHAT. Thank you so much Tyra, you have changed how women see their bodies, and I love you for that.

Dear Tyra, My name is Lindsay. I'm 14 years old. And yes young girls can have "so what's"
" SO WHAT I AM SO SKINNY" I am not anorexic or bulimic. so QUIT saying I'M SKINNY. I'M going to gain some white though.
THANKS
YOUR FAN,
LINDSAY

Dear Ms. Hot Stuff Tyra:

My name is Marilin & I am 34 years old. During my first pregnancy I gained a whopping 100 pounds putting me at 277. After 10 years I have lost 112 pounds. I never had self esteem issues until after I lost my weight. I was at Disney World in FL. wearing a pair of jean shorts & over heard a woman say I wouldn't wear shorts if my legs were that flacid. I was so heart broken. I never wore shorts again. Let me add I live in Miami the shorts capital of the world. I loved wearing shorts & this stranger ruined it for me. My husband bought me a cute pair of shorts about two years ago to motivate me & I never wore them. So here is my so what.I'm wearing my shorts Disney world lady! It took so much work to get this weight off to wear shorts & because of u I haven't! Shame on me! So what if my legs are flacid I am wearing my shorts!!! Prey for me Tyra cause I'm scared of those shorts girl.

Marilin

Tyra,
After watching that show i have to just start by saying WOW and Thank you! the night before the show my husband and i were having problems due to me being uncomfortable with myself. i just had a baby 12 weeks ago so i have a little extra and well me myself i don't like to work out but i do love to eat :) (how american) but even though i did just have a baby you see everyone on magazines so tiny so beautiful and you think whats wrong with me. but when you really sit and think about it the people we see can hire personal trainers, cooks everything and anything, well i can't (to bad) but then i watched the show and that night when my husband and i went to our room and got ready for bed i asked him if he was up for a little love making, as a typical man his answer was yes, but i left the lights on (that never happens) and grabbed his hand and had him feel my belly where i have extra and my hips and thighs and i said to him "i may have a little extra here and there but so what its more for you to love" i felt so good after that its like a ton of bricks are off my shoulders i don't have to act like he doesn't see me when i change so that i think he doesn't know he does and i am okay with that! so..... SO WHAT that i am 20lbs over weight i love me :)

Tyra,

Please sell the "So What" bracelets on your website so all women can show their support of this campaign.

Tyra,

I LOVE YOU!! even men are saying "thank God for tyra!"

I guess my body issues started when I was in fifth grade and my "friend" called me a pig because I ate all the candy, well, six years later, I found myself in the village in with my boyfriend's sister, discussing that one thing we love is food and if we want to pig out now and then, we, as women, have the right to!

years and years of hating my body have past. even when my guy friends called me hot or my boyfriend says I'm beautiful, I never belived them. sometime last year, me and my now best friend were together on our first day as buddies and she told me I was hot, since then I have found that I really do get all of my self esteem from other women, whether it be them putting me down or I complimenting me, I feel more influenced by their opions then men.

Your going to go down in history as the first woman to make women every where love themselves!

thank you tyra! thank you for everything you have done for us and I know you will do in the future. Please help us to fight against this darkness! BRING US, BRING THE WHOLE WORLD INTO LIGHT!!!!!

THANK GOD FOR TYRA!!!!!

peace

the abbie

***a little 16 year old from the mid-west***

tyra i just wanted to say thank you so much for your shows on weight. i have recorded them and made my sisters watch them. my sister in law was anerexic over the summer and now weighs 115 or so and says she is still fat and wants to lose ten more pounds by spring break but she isnt anerexic anymore thanx to family and friends. she wants to look like the models, same as my little sister who wears a size 3. i used to be thin size 9/10. not too skinny but thin and i had many friends who were overweight and i used to stand up for them and now i hear my sisters saying things about fat people and how they never want to look like that. my one sister says that fat people look like hogs and its disgusting. and all i have to say to them is SO WHAT i may weigh 210 lbs but i am happy as i am. no matter what they say or think i should do. thank you so much you made an impact on my sister in law and me i watch your show every day and i cry every time i hear so what comments i think its great what you are doing!

Hi Tyra,
I just wanted to say you are such a great inspiration. I love watching your show and try to never miss an episode, I love top model and try to watch as much as I can. By watching you on tv and watching your ANTM and seeing you are devoted to having healthy girls not just skinny girls it has encouraged me in so many ways. Growing up I was always the big girl in my family. They use to tease me and call me names when I ate like "Vortex" and stuff like that. I always wished I had the devotion needed to be anorexic or bulemic, but i couldnt do either because I love food and I HATE to thow up! I also relized it is not devotion it is sickness. I am now 21 and I had a little boy a year ago. I weighed 178 before I got pregnant and I am 5'9 I felt horrible about myself and just wanted to cover my body as much as possible. Now I try to be as healthy as I can manage. I try to exercise and eat good foods. I now weigh 150 lbs. I still feel fat sometimes and not so pretty but then I watch your show and think "Tyra looks awesom and she looks skinny" and that helps me to look at myself in a different light when I see you being so positive about yourself.
I love your SO WHAT campaign and I wanted to let you know my so what.
"SO WHAT I had a baby and have stretch marks! Its my battle wounds of having a baby and now I can look at them as being a positive thing instead of a disfigurement!

Hello Tyra,
I was hesitant about logging on & sharing my story online, but after seeing all the positive responses to your "so what" champaign I had a change of heart. At a young age I remember my grand-father saying to me, "Jonis, don't you want to have an hour glass shape like all these other girls, like the ones on TV?!" And my response was yes of course, but deep down i didn't feel that I did. Because he is the only father figure I've ever known, his opinion was everything to me. But what he didn't know is that that 1 question started my ongoing struggle with my weight issues. There had been times that I'd been so distraught that I contemplated suicide but with god's grace & through his use of wonderful people like you I realized that I am beautiful and don't need to conform to what society deems acceptable. Now at 26 years old I've accepted the fact that I may never be a size 5, but I can be healthy.So at 243 lbs and being 5ft 6in yeah my thighs rub together when I walk and despite what society may say about that... "SO WHAT!" I appreciate you Tyra, god bless, mwah.

Hey Tyra
I loved the show that you did on monday, I watched it with my twin sister and I yelled out my so what and I said " so im fatter than my sister so what!!" I felt good after word, but then I realized that you did exactly what I always dreamed of doing, I always wish to do alot of protests and I am only 13.0ne protest is about global warming , immigration, and the one you did but it is hard becuase I am a very shy girl and turn red fast. I get so nervous and freak out so i feel that I can't do anything about those things, but thanx for doing the Protest of the models.
LOVE ELIZABETH XOXO

Tyra,
I have been struggling with an eating disorder (anorexia) for 3 years now. It has taken a terrible toll on my family, my friends, and my academic life. Everytime I decided to "get over" my eating disorder, I would see the models in magazines and the actresses on the red carpet and I would feel fat again. It would drive me to eat less and lose more weight because I wanted to be able to look like those glamourous women. I was watching E ! one night and saw that you had been called fat. I saw the photos and heard about the People Magazine issue. The next day I ran out and bought it to see for myself what was going on. Your story really helped put things in perspective for me. As much as I have admired the media, I also hate it for portraying such an image of what women should look like. I went online and created a Facebook group called "If you think Tyra Banks is fat, then I blame you for eating disorders." So far it has only about 120 members, but I'm confident that as time goes by, more people will join. The comments I get on this group are amazing and I hope you get a chance to look at them. Although I am not completely healed from my anorexia, you have helped me feel better about myself and more confident that I can beat this disease. Thank you, Tyra.

So I don't look like model, SO WHAT ? At least I'm no longer dying.

Thank you so much Tyra...for showing everyone you need to love yourself. Years of being called "fat and ugly" scarred me and caused me to go into a depression in my 20's while trying to raise a family. But, getting help from my doctor and finding a way to love myself helped me shed 60 pounds (give or take holiday weight). It has also helped me show my kids that you need to love yourself. Both my daughters have weight problems, and the pressure is so great on them. But thanks to your new movement, both my girls are yelling "so what!".

I still have my moments where I look in the mirror and I try and tear myself down...but now I just remember that I'm not alone anymore.

We love you Tyra!!

hey trya, my name is Kayla and im 17. you are such an awesome person for what you do! i think your SO WHAT campaign is one of the best ideas you have had! well you asked what my so what story was so here it is. when i was in 6th grade so about 10 or 11 yrs old i was diagnosed with IBD(ulcerative colitis) it was so hard accepting the fact that i had a disease, i was in the hospital many times, sometimes for weeks at a time it was so hard. i eventually got healthier but was still way under wieght i was only 76 lbs at the time i was diagnosed and i was about 5'3" i had the opposite problem than most girls my age i was too skiny, i was so thin that it was hard for me to participate in normal activities, even walking up stairs was exausting. my weight wasnt the only problem, there was another more emberassing issue that came with my IBD, the bathroom issue! i was going 7-8 times a day, kids would start to ask why i would leave class so much and i was so young and emberassed that i would say "none of your business!!" this seemed to isolate me even more. now in 17 and a senior in HS ive learned how to deal with these issues, i have gained wieght now in 133 lbs and 5'5". but when i go to the bathroom in public it is still emberassing , you know what SO WHAT! every one goes and every one farts its not an abnormal thing, i just do it more than the average person! SO WHAT that i am a little different than every one else. Im ME and thats the only way i would want it! Thank you tyra for helping me realize its ok to be me.

Hey Tyra,
I think your show is wonderful and I really enjoy watching it. I am 15 years old going on 16 in the summer and I live in Ontario, Canada. I just wanted to say your "SO WHAT?!" campaign is great. I am glad that someone has told women that they don't need to be thin to be beautiful. I always wanted to tell people that thin is not in but never had the voice to say it. I have always thought that if I was thinner that more people would like me, but now I don't want to be thin, I want to be HEALTHY. I really want everyone to know that being thin and healthy are two very different things. I also know what it's like to be tourmented because of your weight, not personally but from a family member. I am very glad that you're trying to battle this very serious issue. Hopefully this issue can be resolved and other issues like global warming and war can be solved. Keep it up and don't listen to those tabloids. I think you are beautiful and a great role model!

Yours Truly,
Krista♥

P.S.-I hope you read this :)

Hey Tyra,
I think your show is wonderful and I really enjoy watching it. I am 15 years old going on 16 in the summer and I live in Ontario, Canada. I just wanted to say your "SO WHAT?!" campaign is great. I am glad that someone has told women that they don't need to be thin to be beautiful. I always wanted to tell people that thin is not in but never had the voice to say it. I have always thought that if I was thinner that more people would like me, but now I don't want to be thin, I want to be HEALTHY. I really want everyone to know that being thin and healthy are two very different things. I also know what it's like to be tourmented because of your weight, not personally but from a family member. I am very glad that you're trying to battle this very serious issue. Hopefully this issue can be resolved and other issues like global warming and war can be solved. Keep it up and don't listen to those tabloids. I think you are beautiful and a great role model!

Yours Truly,
Krista♥

P.S.-I hope you read this :)

Hey Tyra,

Since the show I had an idea through a friend on myspace. She decided to write her "So What" feelings as a blog on her myspace. So I decided to make a "Tyra's SO WHAT campaign through MYSPACE!! " Yes I started a bullentin where it would get passed around more and everyone can reply and repost it to all the ones on their friends list. And when that person shares their "So What" feelings. They suppose to paste the red bracelet that you gave out at the show on their profile. Showing they shared their moment. Now you have your campaign going through myspace. We Love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any chance of those "SO WHAT" red rubber bracelets being available for the rest of us!? What a great visual reminder, that we can have with us wherever we go, of affirming who we are by saying "SO WHAT!"...and just let the pressures and judgements of ourselves GO!

hey tyra my name is chelsey im only 15 years old im 5'5 and i weight 145lbs. when i watched your show it really showed me that i shouldnt care about my body and that i should love me for me...i have been making my felf thro up just to lose weight but when i saw your show it made me stop to think about how stupid i am to even think about it...so im going to try to stope my eating problem...but what i would really love to say is just thanks so much because if it wasnt for u i would be peobably have a really bad eating disorder....you realy saved me!
love chelsey xox

I just wanna say that i'm so glad you can tell the world just how proud you are of your body i just wish i had half of the confidence you have you are a great roll model for alot of women i just wanted you to know that even though you probably wont see this anyway none of my messages ever gets posted but i just thought i would try

my so what is yeah, i have big ears, but SO WHAT! i like my hair in a ponytail!!! I LOVE YA TYRA! u inspire me

I think the so what is good for women. But i dont think tyra has anything to say SO WHAT about. Blowing up cuz a tabloid had shown one picture of her not at her best showed us how insecure she is.

During my first two years of high school I was always really muscular. I started dating a guy and I thought the world was perfect. The first year was. Then it started getting bad. He started abusing me, and I thought it was because he did not desire me. I began to slowly loose weight. After I found the person who helped me break away from this person who hurt me so bad, things actually got worse. I was so addicted to loosing weight that I could no stop. I got down to under 98 lbs. I just stopped eating food, and actually started chewing gum instead of having a meal. I went through a pack a day. I have had a problem ever since, although it has not been as bad as before. I now have a great support system who help me. I watched your show with the audience in red, and it...I dont know. It just made me feel different. I want to be happy with myself. I have gone to a counselor before, but I dont think I was ready yet. I want to say so what, I have love handles. So what, i dont want to be a size zero anymore.

Hi Tyra,

It's so nice to see a successful woman touch so much lives. You inspire so many people and hopefully society will open their eyes. For that I will always be greatful. I want to say to everybody I'm bigger than 7 years ago SO WHAT. I have facial hair SO WHAT. I have love handles SO WHAT. I have dimples on my bum SO WHAT. I have strech marks on my body SO WHAT. I am beautiful inside and out and nothing can change that. You should love a person for her personality and generosity not for the way she looks. My body can get bigger or smaller but one thing will never change...Your stupidity for looking at me differently.

Canada loves what you do Tyra and don't you stop.

Love Sylvie

Hi Tyra I am 21 yrs old tommorow! I wanted to say thank you and your mother for the person that you are its sooo good to see such a great romodle for women everywhere!! I having been going through depression and problems with my self since i can remember, I am Hispanic so of course I am curvy in my hips. Even in high school I was always thin but I always had to were a size bigger because of my hips and thighs, before i HATED my hips and thighs so much i would tell my friend that i wish i were a white girl so i wasn't so curvy! I know it was a stero type i had in my mind, because most white girls i hung around were sizes 2 to 0 so i always wanted to be that small, even when they told me i was beautiful and they wish they were me i knew they were just trying to make me feel better. After I few years out of high school with my depression I gained like 15lbs and then had my daughter a 1 1/2 years ago i weighed 175lbs, I maneged to drop 15lbs and weigh 160 now and until now i never gave myslef much credit for doing it i guess i just wanted to look like a supermodle over night. I still excersice to mantian the weight from climbing and I watch your show every morning so it gives me the spirit to have cofidence in myslef, because before i would not like to go out places for fear that everyone was looking at me thinking how fat i was or how ugly i was, its not easy to be one of the few people in the crowd to not show there belly! But thanks to you Tyra I can say "SO WHAT"!! I might not be the skinny person some people what me to be but i am a damn good baker, cook,mother, wife, friend and sister! I might not be the prettest one in the room but i know I AM BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT! I AM LATINA AND SO IS MY BODY! My daughter is one of the one reasons i want to shout "SO WHAT" so that when she grows up she does not go through what i have and i hope tyra your around for a long time so when my daughter gets older she knows what a real women romodle is!!

i love how you notice and point our the fact that yes, everyone is human. people have things that aren't pefect, and just because they dont look like everyone on the red carpet doesnt mean they dont matter. im only a freshman in high school, but so what? Im capable of learning and i cant change how old i am. My family is a little crazy and weird...so what? i love them. my boyfriend had issues...so what? everyone does. i have small boobies...so what? i have some fat on my tummy and legs...so what? i love foos and im not gunna let what people think stop me from enjoying myself. my hair isnt perfect everyday...so what? at least i always have a smile on my face. i know you hear this all the time, but i love you tyra. ur an inspiration to all.

Tyra,

I watched your show on "So What" and i cried through the whole show. I'm 31 years old and on my 5th pregnancy. I've always had issues with my weight and always felt like i was fat and ugly. I've been so afraid of this pregnancy because i've had two that failed. I was always afraid to eat because i didn't want to be fat after having my children, and it caused me to have two miscarriages. With the pregnancy i'm on now i sometimes force myself to eat 1 meal a day because i know i have to eat. It always grosses me out to eat and makes me want to puke because i feel like i'm getting too fat. Since watching your show i've managed to eat atleast 2 meals a day. It's a hard progress for me and i still have a hard time with it, but i'm doing better. They are very small portions and i limit what kinds of foods i eat so that weight doesn't come on. But i've decided to start a "So What" journal to help me. Every day i write down what i eat and my statement after each food is "I ate .. and so what if i gained weight". Thank you for all the positive things you had to say on your show and for helping me start to over come something i was afraid of. Much love to you and God truly blessed this world when he decided to make you a part of it.

15years old girl and i remember when i was in 5th grade i was the tallest girl in my class kids used to call me a giraffe because i was tall and skinny but now im saying SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHATTTTTTTTTTTT im loving it i love my height and i think its sick when people are trying to bring others down and what youre doing is great. tall and fabulous 126 5'6 or 7 i dont think that really really tall thats what people say but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHATTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM LOVING IT

Tyra, I was so excited when I got to see this show! After watching I decided (along with many others!) that you were right. I posted an entry in my blogs: one on Myspace and one on LiveJournal. The responce has been fanatical, uplifting and amazing. I've had people tell me that they're passing around the entry I wrote, sharing the news. All of my friends, big, little, male and female have read that entry and they all agree: it's time for change!!

Thank you so much for being the strong woman you are to lead us into this revolution of society's standards!

The issue of weight in our society is out of control, and it needs to stop. So many girls look at the scale every morning and are shocked at what they see. We are all beautiful and it's time to realize this. The media is a big factor in why weight is an issue.

Great eposide

hey Tyra,
I have something 2 say "SO WHAT" to everything!

Dear Trya,
I really injoyed your "so what" campaign it expiered me, and everybody at my school and we just wanted to say thnxs. It showed us where beutiful inside and outside no matter what.

I usually wake up early just so I can watch your show but I happened to oversleep that day and miss the show. It looks great so I cant wait until it is played again.

Hi Tyra I love you so much
Oh my god!!! You are beautiful in every way with and without wardrobe Iv'e always wanted to meet
you and tell you my story of me being adopted and how my mom left me and my younger sister I'll tell you when I meet you but let me tell you my so what "So What My Arms Dangle A Little So What!!!" ta ta for now please have an nother serious make over cause my feet stick out like boats Love Ya

Hi Ms. Tyra!

First of all, I just wanna say how much I love you!! And how I love, respect and support everything that you are doing for women around the world! I think that there should me more influential people like you in the world- people that have such a caring heart and a huge impact on young women, because there are soo many bad role models today. Most of them are bad actually. I myself have been inspired by your courage and your determination to be your own person. I have always struggled with the fact that I have very low self esteem, but after watching many, many different episodes of your show, I feel empowered and know that not only does it not matter what other people think of me, but that all I have to do is be myself and people can either love me for who I am or miss out. I also think that it's wonderful that you have the courage to rise up against all of these people who are saying such horrible and untrue things about you, and that you're not only defending yourself, but at the same time, you show all women who are struggling that they can do the same and overcome all the stereotypes that the tabloids put out there. People see that you are such a real person and seeing that you tell it like it is, so to speak gives women strength(not that you didn't already know that). I haven't personally had an experience such as being wronged as you have, but I just wanted to tell you how much I admire you for standing up for yourself and all women.

I don't really know if this counts as a "SO WHAT?!" but I thought i'd share anyway. I'm not a big girl, I'm only 5' 1''. But I've always had a problem with my thighs. I don't weigh much (100 lbs) but I've always thought that I have large thighs. I was always afraid to go to the pool because i didn't want to have to wear a swimsuit and show off my thighs. But after seeing your show, now I have the courage to say SO WHAT?! Who cares if i have a little fat on my legs? So what if people stare? It's who I am, it's my body and that's not gonna change. It's like Ms. Chandra Wilson said the other day on your show, as long as you're fine with your body and you're healthy, SO... WHAT?!!

Thank you for everything, Ms. Tyra! We love you!

Dear Tyra,
As a teenager i struggle with my appearances on a day to day basis, but because of your so what campaign i realize that i need to be happy with who i am. I just wanted to thank you for stepping out there and defending yourself and others.
Sincerely Beca

Tyra, I wish I had the courage to just say "So What!" but I don't have that in me yet. I wish I could be more like you. I suffer with a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS and it's not widely known. It helps obese to remain obese, causes excess hair growth, male pattern baldness, infertility, insulin resisitance, etc. I've been hurt by words over and over and continue to allow myself to be hurt. I wish I knew how to build my self esteem but when you get knocked down so much it is hard. Recently I took a new job and my new boss asked me to file his emails in folders in outlook. When filing his emails he failed to delete a certain email. The email said that one of his partners didn't want to hire me because of the "whole overweight" thing. He also went on to say that the partner thought it would hurt their image with me being overweight but it didn't matter because i'd probably be in a back office anyway. I wanted to quit after I read that. I wanted to cry and crawl up in a ball. How can someone say that when they don't even know me. Why hire me when someone when you know someone already doesn't like them. That's not all the bad things that have been said to me. The acanthosis niagris that is caused by insulin spilling over into your skin that goes along with pcos made my neck turn brown. My own father said I must have the mange. I'd love a new self esteem. I don't know how to go about loving my own self. I would love to appear on the show but don't have a video camera or would make a tape for you. Perhaps i'll see if I can find a family member who has one. Anyway, I just wanted to say if more people were like you and loved themselves then maybe people wouldn't bother saying hurtful things!

I am 22 years old and i have been of a plus size my whole life. I always tell my family and friends that it doesnt bug me at all , but the truth is that i really hate being like this. It tough looking for nice cloths to wear and when i do find cute ckoths i hate the way they look on me. I've been with my current boyfrined for almost 4 years now and he always tells me that i look great but i still dont feel comfortable. I have tried being on diets but i just never keep up with them. I've tried to motivate myself but thats been getting no where at all. Thank you for talking about real things that real women go through on your show, and for making all of us feel good about ourselves.

Tyra,

I think this show was fantastic! I have been thinking about the brave women who shared their "so what" comments. I really appreciate the message of health you are putting out there. However, I would like to point out the irony of your show airing on Fox. Directly after your "so what's," the commercial that aired was for LA Weightloss. I know that you can not do anything to control this. I just thought I'd point out how hard it is for women to hear you say love yourself in a healthy way..then to see an add telling you that you can lose weight fast!

Good Luck

Hi Tyra,
As a young teenager i am faced with the pressures of looking skinny,having great hair and looking perfect I know that can never be achieved but i find myself looking in the mirror every day and instead of saying im beautifull the way i am i only see my imperfections.No matter how pretty my friends say i am i cant find it in myself to see whats pretty.I watched your so what show and I saw all the women in the audience and i thought they were all pretty and i realized that if i saw them as beautifull then why couldnt i see myself that way. I am proud of you, you not only stuck up for yourself but you stuck up for every women in this world and ive got the power and strength to stand up for myself against me and other people and say I AM BEAUTIFULL!
Thank you!

After watching your show, my sister, my dog, and I all wore our weight on our chests. I am 125, my sister is 128, and our dog is 9 pounds. Thanks for your courage! We love you!

Roxy

Dear Tyra,
I love what your doing with the "So What" campaign because there are so many girls that see you feel proud about your body and think that they too can love themselves for who they are. You are truely an insperation to all of us.I think that you should sell those "so what" bracelets and give the money from that to help an organization to help girls love themselves. Maybe you already have this going but i wasn't able to find it. YOU GO GIRL!!! may
god bless you because you have defenetly blessed all of us women.

Dear Tyra,
I really love your show. The "so What " campaign really inspired me to to this. I love to write poems and I wanted to write this one for you as my statement for the "So What campaign.
"So What"
By: Sharon Pilgrim
So it seems like forever that you've struggled with your weight.Taking diet pills, laxitives, and vomiting- for the extra food you put on your plate. So you put together a plan on how you're going to loose the weight. Striving to fit society's size of the perfect model shape. Going to bed every night- saying " tomorrow will not be the same". This time you are determined- you are going to make a change.You wake up with nothing but thoughts- of dieting on your mind, and when a new diet pill comes out, you are the first in line.Stop watching music videos- Turning pages of magazines-Wishing you could look that way-So you'll do almost anything. Just know that not every body is made to be a size 6- An 8,10,12,14 or more- may be your perfect fit. You think your hips are too big-or that your butt is too flat- just be thankful to be alive and healthy-Stop worrying about that! Ever notice how most clothing stores-With several different racks- have the clothes with the larger sizes- hanging in the back. This isn't you anymore-don't hide to be noticed from a far-Step out and show the world-that you are proud of who you are. Though you may not have a flat stomach-Or the perfect round butt, feel beautiful hold your head up high- and shout out loud "So What!".
Sharon P

Tyra, each episode that I watch gives me something different that helps me with my life. But your "So What" episode really touched me. My whole life, as far back as first grade I can remember comparing myself to the other girls in class. I always knew that I was not a stick thin little girl. I have always compared myself with other girls and what I see on tv and in magazines. I have gone through so much with my weight. I used to be obsessed with weighing myself and counting calories. I would deprive myself of food, to the point where I could no longer eat because it would physically make me sick to eat. Everyone told me I looked great when I started to loose weight. But there was a point where I just couldn't do it anymore. I was absent from school and work a lot. I was always tired and couldn't do the things I used to, and I slowly began to eat again with the help of a family friend. Recently I have gained a few pounds and I look back at the pictures of me when I was not eating and I think, maybe it's worth it. Maybe I should go back to not eating, or throwing up after I eat. Then people will tell me that I look good again. But I know that that is not healthy. and SO WHAT if I will never be a size 2! That's just not my body type. And you have given me the courage to say that! and to just be a healthy ME! Thank you Tyra!

Hey Tyra,

Since the show I had an idea through a friend on myspace. She decided to write her "So What" feelings as a blog on her myspace. So I decided to make a "Tyra's SO WHAT campaign through MYSPACE!! " Yes I started a bullentin where it would get passed around more and everyone can reply and repost it to all the ones on their friends list. And when that person shares their "So What" feelings. They suppose to paste the red bracelet that you gave out at the show on their profile. Showing they shared their moment. Now you have your campaign going through myspace. We Love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, Tyra all I can say is your amazing. I saw your show yesterday and it really helped me.The world is full of people who start stuff and girl they don't have anything on you. I am 13 years old. My whole life (well all 13 years of it :])I have been on the "skinny" side. I don't know what's up with me I eat like a horse but I just can't gain weight. My friends will always joke around with me and tell me I'm anorexic or bulemic, which I'm not. I know they are just kidding but after watching your inspiring show yesterday I realized that my body is wonderful and NO ONE should be ashamed of there body type, thick or thin. From you I have learned to say SO WHAT! to the world and the imagine they are giving young girls today. Tyra YOU are starting a revolution. (p.s I wanted to run around the neighborhood in my swim suit yelling SO WHAT! like you said but I don't think my mom will left me :])

Tyra~
Thank you for airing this show. I am a model, and I gave birth 10 1/2 months ago to a beautiful baby girl. I was determined, and a little obsessed, to take off the weight after she was born. Wouldn't you know, no sooner had I just fit into my "skinny" jeans again and received my first post-natal modeling job, and my sexy husband got me pregnant AGAIN!
At first, I was horrified at what was going to happen to my body, but you know what- I'm about to be a mother of two- SO WHAT if I have a few jiggles from now on? My body is doing something amazing and I am proud of every single dimple and stretch mark I've earned!

Personally I think Tyra thinks too highly of herself. For every person who appeared on yesterday's show, and today's for that matter, she mostly asked "What do you think of the movement I started?" or "What did you think of my photo on People Magazine?" Talk shows arent all about the host's Tyra. I will agree the whole "SO WHAT???" deal was pretty sweet, but quit looking for everyones praise.... Your not all that

Tyra,
You are so inspirational. I love your show. I need some ideas of a "so what" moment. Since I'm only 13yrsld, I haven't had one. Please help. Thanks!

I watched your show yesterday with my oldest daughter. I loved it! She is 15 years old and always comments how her size. She is perfect. I just hoped that she listened carefully, that we are all different sizes and shapes, so what if we aren't a perfect 0, but that is fine and we should be happy the size we are.

I have recently lost 90 lbs. due to health reasons and I feel great, but have 10 more to go...if it happens that is great, but if not I happy with who I am and what I have accomplished. You look great!

Tyra!!

I love the so what campaign that you are doing. I am 5'4 and I weigh 138lbs. I have recently lost 30 lbs and feel great. yes I still have stretch marks on my thighs and a bit of a muffin top but ....SO WHAT!!!Thanx so much for such a positive show!=)

As much as I would like to, I can't bring myself to say so what and mean it. I watched the 'So What' show yesterday while playing with my 8 month old bundle of joy with tears in my eyes. I am 5'2" and about 160 lbs. During my pregnancy I gained 37 lbs (I was 140 and that was 8 lbs heavier than I'd like to be) and I am having difficulty getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I am obsessed with getting back there because I have a closet full of clothes that I must wear again and I do not like how I look. My husband doesn't comment on my weight and when I ask he says that there is nothing wrong with my appearance. Just about everyone in my family is overweight or obese and I do not want to be one of them. I only have time to workout 4 days a week for an hour during my lunch break. As of last week, I have started using diet pills which is something that I thought I'd never do. It wasn't easy making the decision to make the purchase because of the side effects and horror stories. I pray that I will not become dependent on the diet pills. I pray that by the time my little girl is 1 years old (in June) that I can say 'So What' and mean it.

Hello Tyra,

I must say I admire you for coming out and not being ashame!!! It is wonderful how you have let the world know it's okay to be happy with yourself but you still made it clear that you are still saying to be HEALTHY!!! It made me feel much better because I was thin playing basketball and running track but after having children I went from wearing a size 3 over 18 yrs. now I'm a size 16. I look at you and the pressure has been released I don't want to be a 3 anymore but I will be happy with myself and work on being healthier... Thank you so much Tyra!!! I love you!!! You are a true example to all woman, tall, short, big, and small... Stay encouraged... God Bless you!!!
~Roseanna

Tyra,
I watched the "so what" episode and it helped me out so much. I am getting married in September and this last Saturday went wedding dress shopping. I was hoping to buy a dress too small in order to force myself to lose weight before my wedding. I'm 5'8 175 pounds. I'm not skinny and I wanted to be skinny on my big day. I went ahead and ordered my dress since it will take 5 months to get in...which gives me 1 month for alterations. I realized so what if I had to get a size 16 I felt beautiful in it and I am marrying someone who loves me the way I am and doesn't want me to change. Thanks so much for stepping up for women everywhere. Now on my big day I can say so what i'm happier than ever in my body!!!

I was looking to see where I can get a red So What bracelet that was on Tyra's show on 2/26/07, thank you.

My booty aint full or round Its flat & wide but know what ..."SO WHAT" Thanx tyra you help alot of young girls worldwide you are truely an amazaing women & one I look up to & i dont say that bout any1 so thanx...Elisha

I've had a few "So What" moments. My mainstay is the moment I quit working for others and began working for myself. I remember it like yesterday. I'd worked my butt off for 5 years as a presentation design center supervisor only to be passed over for promotion when new management took over. The new management said "nothing would change and that rewards would be given to those employees whom had demonstrated outstanding leadership, etc..." Anyway, by the time that new broom finished sweeping, the staff I'd worked with for years had been widdled down to a precious few. I was kept on because I knew where the bodies were buried and had developed a revenue-producing department that normally doesn't make money. Well, when I learned that I would have a new direct report who knew nothing about graphic-design or presentation design, but "he's a good man", I flipped. On the long subway ride home at first I was all upset and then I thought to myself, shoot, girl you're running things for them WHY? They don't want you...just want to use you. And, SO WHAT!!!!!

That night, I started researching starting your own business. I contacted different people I'd worked with who'd been let go and also clients that I'd worked with over the years and got feedback. Long story short, I've been in business 2 years now and this segment just reinforced all the times I say SO WHAT!!! and keep on keeping on.

Thanks Tyra for the outreach.

Chelsea

I love you Tyra. You are the one Black woman on TV who remains proud for all the right reasons. Because you are you. I am so tired of certain celebs doing show after show abou weight loss, claiming that we can all look like they do. While I am not overwieght in my eyes I still hear rude comments when I gain the slightest pound. What's funny is now people are complimenting me and that is what makes me upset. See I just had a baby 5 weeks ago and immediately lost 30 pounds. Not a healthy thing to do. I did not intend to lose the weight, I feel very sick, pale and dizzy most of the time but noone notices and just tells me how skinny I am now. I am not bone thin at 5 feet 25 pounds but obviously being sick and tired is better than 145 pounds. I was so glad that you are telling girls this is not true. Thank you!!!!

I am 23 years old and I am a mother of two beautiful girls (3-years & 1-year) And after I had my first child I bounced back, but this last time I haven't been able to loose those last 10 lbs. And after watching your show I realized that that's ok. I'm 5'4" and I weigh 130 lbs and I shouldn't feel fat, but because of all the focus on beeing skinny I did. But not anymore! My body is not what it used to be SO WHAT! Curvy women are beautifl! My oldest daughter has always been in the 95th percent for her weight and height. She's not fat, she's very musculer. She's got strong thighs and bubble butt and I don't ever want her to feel she's fat because she doesn't fit into everyone elses mold of what is beautiful. Some men like women with some meat on their bones! So thank you Tyra for standing up for yourself and loving yourself and giving women like me the courage to do the same.

Hi Tyra!
I really enjoyed watching the episode for the "SO WHAT?!" Campaign! But even more, I was really happy to see Carol Alt on the show! I am STILL a big fan of a television show she was in called Peter Benchley's Amazon! I miss the show and I was happy to see her on your show and on television again! I would love to read her books, but I haven't had the chance.
Best Wishes!
-Victoria

Hi Tyra,
I love your show, I watch it everyday! Anyways, your "So What" show has realy inspired me to love who I am and love my body! Thank you so much.."So what if I have curves!"

I was watching today's show with Katherine McPhee- whom I just adore.. She is such an inspiration! But, when you mentioned your "so what" campaign, I couldn't resist coming on here to share my own story.

A couple of months ago, I went to my dentist's office for a cleaning. This was my first visit with this particular dentist and boy, he had PLANS for me. I asked him, simply, about my options for straightening a couple of bottom teeth, and he created a list of "must-do's". He started to pick apart my smile, telling me that I have a gummy smile and that I should go to a periodontist to have them shave away at my jaw, raise my gum line and then replace my already porceline front teeth for newer, bigger ones (to suit my new smile of course). I left the office nearly in tears. He made me self-conscious about my smile, something that I had previously struggled with in childhood. I started working out a plan in my head about how to pay for the procedures and I envisioned this "new me"..Then I called my mother to tell her what happened at the dentist's and she interrupted me with a loud "NO!..Kasey, you have a beautiful smile and you do not need to do one thing to change it".. Well, she is my mom so I figured she was just being nice.. Then I told my husband.. He too told me to drop the thought right out of my head. He explained that he thinks my smile is beautiful and that there is no reason for me to change the way I look.

I sat back and thought to myself, "you know what, they're right.. SO WHAT, that I have a gummy smile.." Those comments and suggestions that the dentist made, made me feel that he must not be the only person who dislikes my smile. I started to wonder what other people think and I started to critique myself in the mirror... But, after discussing this with those who love me, I realized that my smile is what makes me who I am! I have ALWAYS had this smile, gums and all :o) I have had people tell me that my smile lights up a room, is contagious.. Why should I waste my energy hating on myself for one more reason?? There are so many expectations that we as woman hold ourselves to..Why add one more thing to my list of things to change about myself??? Stupid dentist.

What a liberating feeling it is to just say with conviction "SO WHAT!".

When saw your "so what" episode, I was amazed. I'm Katherine, I'm 5'6 and 150lbs. I'm not fat, but I'm not skinny, and I have always been the only one that's okay with my weight in my circle of friends. I have had tons of friends with eating disorders, and its horrible. It's just looks. And I was so happy to hear that girls are now saying "So what?" to their weight.

I am called fat by an ex boyfriend constantly. He always thinks that it will bother me, but it never does. I am called fat by people who don't like me, who want to get to me. But, that never works either. I have been called many horrible and embarrassing names, but never has it gotten to me. I know that other girls can have the inner strength to see and love their beauty, kudos for helping them find it!!!

Your recent shows on body issues have inspired me so much. Im 22 yrs old and have always struggled with being over weight. I hoped that as I got older it would get better....It definately didnt. Instead I got depressed, I lost all my friends because I wouldnt go out in fears of people judging me, and I settled for a job that killed my self esteem even more. I had hit rock bottem when I saw your "kiss my fat ass" episode. That episode definately changed my life. I am working harder than ever to lose weight and be comfortable with myself. For the first time ever its because I want to for me and for my health, not to please someone else. I keep that episode on tape and watch it every day. It helps me to remember that my opinion of myself is the only one that really matters. I'll never find happiness in being skinny, I'll find it by getting stronger mentally and showing everyone they can't break me. I just want you to know that your "so what" campaign and all the work you're doing on body issues is helping so many people. Thank you again :)

By the way, you should sell the "So what" bracelets...I want one!!

I'm 155lbs and my tummy fat jiggles when i walk...SO WHAT?!

it doesn't matter how much i weigh or what i look like as long as i am happy and love me as i am

Hi Tyra,
my name is Stacey,and i was watching your show about your so what campaign and i thought i just had to write and tell you about my story.I was born 3 and a half pounds and all my life I've been skinny up until christmas 2004 when i started putting the weight on.Eveyone around me say that i'm fat and it hurts especially the fact that i'm not used to this weight and its bad that i'm already beating on myself and trying to look the way i use to so that they can stop picking on me.I have friends and family telling me this,and i'm so frustrated.I want to say them I GAINED A FEW POUNDS "SO WHAT".But I know that they will just find a way to bring me down again.I'm going to try and stand my ground,thanks to you,and by the way you look good.

Tyra-
I wanted to tell you what an inspiration you are to me. I am a 28 year old, military wife and first time mom. Since having my baby boy, I have struggled, and am still struggling with the weight issue. I had a hard delivery and lost the weight rather quickly. I have never lost weight that fast before and it was addicting. Being a mom is a full time job, so while making sure my baby was fed, my personal eating habits have suffered. Right now I am under a doctors care to "rewire" my mind when it comes to food. You are an encouragement, because you honestly care about this problem affecting women. Thank you for your courage. When I get tired of fighting, I think of you, and if you can stand up for yourself and the rest of us, I can too!

tyra I just want you to know that I love the way you are changing so many peoples lifes, I'm a 18 year old female living in canada, and i watch the show everyday and yesterday may have changed my life forever i'm not just 18 but i'm 18 and over weight i'm as of today i'm going to do some thing about it. I'm going to love myself, i'm going to love myself even more than i did yesterday or the day before that, I'm going to lose wieght the right way the healthy way, and i just want you to know that happy for you and u are always in my prays thank you for every thing that you have done

Tyra, I am a 53 year old woman, who has spent her entire life "caring" about what others thought of me. I arranged my life around making others happy and satified with how "I" looked. NO MORE! Your So What campaign is the best. It will help young women get the most out of their lives and realize that being true to themselves is what is important. You have helped me to be happy and satisfied with myself. So what - I don't care about the review of myself, from others. That is not what matters. What DOES matter is that I am the best I can be and that I have a happy marriage and a fullfilled life. You have helped me realize this. Thank you so much. I know that I am not of the age that most of your viewers are, but I LOVE YOUR SHOW. Keep up the good work - it can make a difference to someone at ANY AGE! Thanks!

Debi

Hi Tyra

I was watching your show today with the biggest zit on my nose. Because of this I didn't go anywhere not even work. I now have a new lease on life after watching your show because I now feel that no matter what I look like on the outside I am still a good person on the inside. I still feel a bit embarrassed because of the way my face breaks out all the time and to make matters worse I am 31 years old! But you guess what my motto is from now on SO WHAT!!!

How can I get one of the "So What" bracelets you gave away on the show? I would love to have one as a reminder to myself to stay strong and love myself no matter what!

hey tyra
I love your shows i watch the tyra show every day. I am 5.7' and i weigh 140, i rencently gained 15 pounds and people noticed but SO WHAT. im happy how i look and u helped me with your show yesterday.Im almost always in sweaters but not today. today im in a tight tee and u can see my pudg but SO WHAT i dont care im healty and i dont care who likes my lil pudge or not.. thank you so much tyra you helped me alot.
love ~Brittany~

THANK YOU. Tyra your show completely helped me to love my 138lb 5'8 body. Yeah it seems strange that someone of my size would have body image issues but I still do. I struggle not to be thin but to maintain my curves which real men seem to love. I guess it may be partly because I am a Georgia peach and used to have more junk in the trunk and loved it and since moving from home to DC I have not had too much southern cooking which greatly contributed to my weight. After 2 children and a very busy work schedule it can be a challenge to maintain a proper diet. It just hurts my feelings when people act as if I am sick or starving myself which is not the case. I am going to say "So What". Once again, Tyra thank you for being a bright light amongst darkness.

THANK YOU. Tyra your show completely helped me to love my 138lb 5'8 body. Yeah it seems strange that someone of my size would have body image issues but I still do. I struggle not to be thin but to maintain my curves which real men seem to love. I guess it may be partly because I am a Georgia peach and used to have more junk in the trunk and loved it and since moving from home to DC I have not had too much southern cooking which greatly contributed to my weight. After 2 children and a very busy work schedule it can be a challenge to maintain a proper diet. It just hurts my feelings when people act as if I am sick or starving myself which is not the case. I am going to say "So What". Once again, Tyra thank you for being a bright light amongst darkness.

all i want to say is say is thank you! you have made me and many other ladys know that its ok to have that extra jiggle,or jelly roll. your still beautiful!

I saw your "SO WHAT" show yesturday. I made a point to see it and not miss it and I have to say that I appreciate what you did. I have 2 daughters ages 15 and 10. My 15 year old is big and over weight just like me. She is very conscience about it and feels that no one likes her because of it and sad to say people that I know don't like her because of it. She was discriminated about it in school to the point that I now school her at home. I would like to tell these girls "SO WHAT if she's big. You have no idea what a great person you are loosing out on not knowing her". Tyra you are a role model for not just teens but for people of my age. I'm 40 but I don't act it and my kids say I'm cool cause of it. I say "SO WHAT if I'm 40 and plus size. I'm a FABULOUS 40 and if people don't like it SO WHAT!!"

Wow, Tyra, I am always just so inspired and amazed at how much you focus on the many issues that face women in today's society. I sincerely thankyou for your "So What" Campaign and your show on body image. Even though I am 138lbs with just a few curves I still struggle with my body image. I often feel I am too thin for my 5foot 8 frame and have even been ostracized for my size. However, after seeing the show I realized that I am beautiful just the way that I am and should be grateful. Tyra, I really wish that more people had the compassion and love that you have for your guests and fans. Once again, THANK YOU.

SO WHAT…….!

I am a burn survivor and I have Scars. I weigh 129 and I am 5"2 SO what..! People with flaws are beautiful too. It is important to feel Sexy in your own skin. I think that every one should stop judging those around them and start feeling good about themselves.

SO what if I have flaws I am beautiful and unique I am one of a kind. I use to always care about what other people thought about me. Now I say so what if they don't like me for me.

So celebrate your body. Love your self and be happy for who you are. Don't let people tell you what to do or how to look. Be happy with who you are cause you are beautiful.

SO WHAT……!

Tyra you are the best..!!!

Wow, Tyra, I am always just so inspired and amazed at how much you focus on the many issues that face women in today's society. I sincerely thankyou for your "So What" Campaign and your show on body image. Even though I am 138lbs with just a few curves I still struggle with my body image. I often feel I am too thin for my 5foot 8 frame and have even been ostracized for my size. However, after seeing the show I realized that I am beautiful just the way that I am and should be grateful. Tyra, I really wish that more people had the compassion and love that you have for your guests and fans. Once again, THANK YOU.

I send a msg earlyer and 4 got to ask where I can get a SO WHAT! bracelet?

Thank you

Seleste Wells in Tucson, AZ

Hello Tyra & mom my name is Seleste and for the past 6 years or so i've srugle with my weight because my ex husband would tell my I was FAT! all the time and I didn't understand how he couldn't see how beautiful i felt inside, anyway It's a sad storry of mental abuse that I don't want to remember. I write to you because for the first time in a long time I felt beautiful outside as well thanks to your show yesterday. I am 195lb and SO WHAT! I AM & FEEL BEAUTIFUL and I just wanted to say Thank You for what you are binging to us CURVY GIRLS!!

We LOVE YOU my sister was the one that recorded the show so I could watch it after work and we both sat there and cried, thank you again and my blessings to you and your family and may your show continue with the success it deserves!!! Oh and please say Hello to your geourgus MOM.

Seleste & Victoria
in Tucson, Arizona

Tyra,

Girl I loved the So what show! My best friend and I have always said that skinny don't equal pretty and fat don't equal lazy! A lot of people look at "big" people and assume that they must be lazy because they are fat. WRONG! And just because someone is built good/pretty/drop dead gorgeous, they can be ugly due to their lack of personality! Thanks for your so what show! So that being said I want you to know that I am over weight and I love myself! Even though I know I need to loose weight, I LOVE MYSELF!!!!

Hey Tyra,
I watched your show yesterday and it empowered me to not care about what other people think of my. I 20 years old but I had a child when i was 17 years old. i have really bad strech marks ever since i dont go pools nor to i wear short tops that might reveal a bit of my stomach i felt so ashamed and ulgy i hated looking at myself in the mirror and i wouldnt let anyone else see my body. i suffered from low self-esteem since a young child i have always been made fun of for having big lips and being tall. i was always the odd one out. but SO WHAT.. after your show I can know admire all the features of my body.. this is me and this how i am and if anyone doesnt like like you said "SO WHAT!!"..
THANK YOU for being such a great influence in my own life.
Judy

Tyra,
I want to thank you and your guests for this show. I had gastric bypass surgery in June 2005 and have lost 190lbs. At 340 lbs. I NEVER had body issues, but since loosing the weight I have had several. I have even hated by body and the way it looks now. I have extra skin everywhere. It has effected every aspect of my life, especially my sex life. I have 15 more lbs to loose before reaching the goal that the doctor set for me and have been VERY frustrated that I haven't been able to loose them yet. After watching your show i say SO WHAT!!!!! I have come so far and the skin and my body are absolutely beautiful! All of the "imperfections" are my journey and my history. Who cares if I loose those last 15 lbs, I have lost 190. SO again I say thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Dearest Tyra,

For the longest time, I have felt extremely insecure about my weight and have been always scrutinized for it. No, I am not overweight, in fact, I am 5'7 and weigh 138. Seeing these emaciated looking supermodels and celebrities being enamored by the public and regarded at as the standard look has been very difficult for me. At my high school, I have always been teased for having a little tummy to my unusually top heavy half. A good portion of the girls at my school were proportionately skinny and scrutinized those who did not look like them by excluding them out and deriding them.

In fact, the Senior year summer of high school, I exercised 5-7 hours a day on my bicycle so that I could look like some of these models and celebrity. By the end of the summer, I was down to 108, which caused me to lose my period. When I came back to school, girls were a lot friendlier to me than usual. After I gained 20 pounds back, it was like they have never even spoken to me. I am currently a 21 year old college student who is still haunted by my past.

Tyra, I want to thank you for starting the "So What!" Campaign yesterday because I got to see a lot of women on the show who weighed more than I did and feel wonderful about it. The best thing about this movement is that you as a formal supermodel are not putting up with any garbage about being "fat". I am sure you get this all the time but you're one of the most beautiful women ever, not only because of your gorgeous face, but because of your feminine curves.

Why is it that being sexy is all about disappearing into thin air? Technically, a model is defined as a representation. These tall emaciated looking models are certainly not representing the rest of us. I really hope that the model weight movement in Spain spreads to the rest of the world. I understand that these emaciated looking models can make clothes look good on 'em by being good "cloth hangers" but aren't these clothes supposed to appeal to the rest of us? No wonder why there are so many fashion faux pas out there, such as the muffin top or the wrong bra size. Because we're all trying to look like these models, even though we can't, won't, and shouldn't!

And what is up with the clothes size obsession?! I wish more of us knew that different designers use different fabrics that end up with different sizes. In addition, more designers are making their size 2 jeans bigger so that more people could feel better about themselves and buy their clothes more often.

Again, Tyra, thank you so much everything that you are doing.

Hey Tyra,
I just want to say that I am a huge fan of yours and I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your "SO WHAT?!" campaign. I think you are an amazing role model to women of all age, shape and size. It's so refreshing to see someone take a stand and show how you don't have to be a size 2 to be beautiful and that we should accept our bodies and ourselves instead of put ourselves down because we dont have supermodel bodies. Tyra you are beautiful and amazing and a wonderful role model. Keep up the great work!!:)

Tryra,
I LOVED YOUR SHOW!!! I was an exotic dancer for 6 years and during that time I weighed between 160 & 190 and I am 5'10". The management gave me 2 different 30 day notices to lose weight and each time I lost 20 pounds.
Then, after working for them for 6 years they let me go for being over weight(and at that time I weighed 175). I was blown away!!! I felt like the ugliest person alive. Needless to say, after they let me go I realized I had felt that way the whole time I worked there because of the way they had treated me. Then, after a few days I finally realized that I was just fine!! It's been two years since then and I never went back to dancing!!! I recently gave birth to a beautiful little girl. I now weigh 215 and I am just fine with that!! So all I have to say to those people is "SO WHAT" you think I'm fat I love myself and my life!!

Although I agree with the whole concept of "so what", I became angry during my viewing of the show. I am a married, mother of two. Last August, I was diagnosed with depression and placed on an antidepressant. Afraid of gaining any more weight, I joined a gym and enlisted the help of one of the trainers there. She told me that it doesn't matter what the scale says but it does matter how your lifestyle and diet contibute to your well being. To hear you say a little disclaimer at the beginning of the show does not promote total well being. Yeah, so what if I am 179lbs. But, I still feel crappy and depressed. I still want to color my hair because I feel blah and I want to cry into a pint of ice cream because I feel lonely. The greater iss ue at hand is not the weight issue but really, how you FEEL INSIDE. You need to focus on better habits and things to create a better self image

Hi Tyra,

I'm a single parent of three, and after giving birth to my son seven years ago the weight is just hard to come off. Right now I'm at 285, SO WHAT!!!!!!!!! my thighs rub and my booty shakes a when I walk. lol I've gone to a size 18 to a size 24. I think this is great idea for you to do this. Take care, and keep on keeping on with the good work your doing.

PS. no matter what size I am...I still love my self.

Tanya

Tyra I think you are an amazing inspiration to women around the world. Your SO WHAT campaing is incredible. I am on the skinny end of the spectrum, 6 feet tall, all legs and to be honest somewhere around 134-140lbs and probrably because I'm nursing. I have always been thin tried to gain weight to no avail, I do not wear shorts or skirts in public and bathing suits is another issue. I almost had an anxiety attack knowing I had to take my son to swimming lessons( gramma was out of town)I am so self conscious (inc with my husband) it's an obssession forever asking my him do these make me look to skinny. So good for you to fight back and say "it's not all about the package hunny" It's a real inspiration even though I probrably will still never wear shorts, skirts and so on. I hope your message also reaches those who think it's OK to comment on someones weight these people do not realize the impact it has on someones self esteem. Keep up the great work.
Shari

Am 5f-8in and I am a 165 pounds "so what". THANK YOU TYRA. Every time I watch your show am learning to love myself even more as a black woman.

WOW I HAVE TO SAY THIS SHOW WAS AWSOME AS MY HUSBAND SAT AND WATCHED IT WITH ME, I WAS SHOCKED I AM 31, 5'11, I WEIGHT 161, AFTER TWO KIDS I HAVE STRUGLED WITH MY WEIGHT,I WEIGHT THE SAME AS TYRA, HE SAYS TO ME I TOLD YOU HONEY, YOUR BEAUTIFUL, I STARTED TO CRY, THIS IS SUCH A GOOD THING FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND SHARE, OUR GIRLS OF THE FUTURE NEED TO KNOW NUMBERS AND SIZE DOES NOT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE, PRETTY IS PRETTY DOES.........

I loved show about being proud of your body the way it is. I am 57 yrs old and weight 220. I have been slim,fat,slim,fat,slim ect all my life. After watching you I have decided to accept myself as I am and stay healthy.
Besides, My husband likes the jiggle in my bootie!!!

Hi Tyra! This show was awesome!! I am 19 and 5 feet tall, and I weigh 165. My boyfriend always tells me that I'm not as attractive as I once was, and that I should lose weight. What he doesn't understand is how it is truly difficult to lose weight. I've even resorted to drugs to lose weight, but it didn't work. But you know what it doesn't matter. So what if I'm a little chubby, I like it! Thank you so much for doing this show. It really made me feel better about myself, and I needed that right then!

Hey Tyra! I just finished watching your show on "So What". Ive tried to say "so what" about alot of things I dont like about my body and it was always hard for me to believe myself. After watching your show you let me know that I am beautiful no matter what my body looks like. I love me for me now and I havent been able to do that in a long while. I weigh 210lbs and my thighs jiggle when i walk... SO WHAT!!!!!!! Thank you so much for being inspirational to so many women out there. Keep on being FIERCE girl.. we love you!

Tyra, I just turned 14 last month. Basically, the whole time I was 13, I was depressed about the way I looked. I cried and yelled at myself every night, and even hurt myself. After I saw your show yesterday, I've been so inspired to be happier with myself, and just be thankful that I'm healthy. I can walk, run, hear, and see..which some people with disorders can't do. A few months ago, I stopped wearing sweatshirts every day to hide myself. I wear cute clothes that look great. I'm not size 0, 2, 4, or 6...so what!! I'm a happy 8 and I'm FINE with that! THANK YOU SO MUCH TYRA!!!

hey tyra,

I love your show yesterday,your a wonderful person,my 5 yr old daughter watch the show with me and i hope she understand a little bit,because you don't have to be thin to be pretty and to be someone,god made us for who we are.We still need to exercise to be healthy. I'm 5'2 and 180 pounds,and i felt soo gross when i weigh myself at the mall in the bathroom,so i told my boyfriend,i needed to do something so i'm getting a tridmill and i'm going to try to lose 20 to 30 pounds.I just felt soo gross. But now thanks to you,i don't feel gross I think "SO WHAT" who ever don't like it Can KISS MY A*S:) I'm still a person with a heart. Tyra thank you soo much. I think you opening alot of women's eyes.

Your a wonderful women

Ilove you tyra!

Nikki

TYRA
JUST WANTED TO SAY SO WHAT I AM A BIG GIRL. I AM 19 YEARS OLD AND HOLDING IT STEADY AT 5 FOOT AND 3 INCHES AND 167 POUNDS. AND I AM LOVING ALL 167 POUNDS OF MYSELF. UNTIL YOUR SO WHAT SHOW I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT MY SELF, BUT NOW I HAVE MADE A COMMEMENT TO MYSELF--NO ONE CAN TELL ME THAT I AM NO BEAUTIFUL I USED TO HAVE VERRY LOW SELF ESTEAM. I ALSO USED TO WEIGH A GOOD 236 POUNDS. THE ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE ABOUT LOOSING THE WEIGHT IS I WISH I WOULD HAVE EMBRACED WHO I WAS BEFOR I LOST WEIGHT. RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL I LOST WEIGHT TO LOVE MYSELF. I AM JUST NOW FIGURING OUT WHO I AM. SO HERE IS MY ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO READS THIS--LOVE YOUR SELF FIRST, SMILE OFTEN, AND NEVER LET SOME ONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IF YOU LET YOURSELF HEAR THAT SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL BELIEVE IT.

Tyra, I want to thank you so much for you're SO WHAT campaign. I am 14 years old, and girls I know (myself included) started being obessed about our weight and how we look when we were about 12! I've always been self-conscious about being curvy-- you know, having bigger breasts and hips then most girls I know. I'm definitely not as obsessed as I used to be. I don't look perfect..SO WHAT! I'm at a healthy weight and I'm athletic, and that's all that matters. I think women should be respected no matter what they look like.

my name is sherley,im 27 years old n ive struggle with my weight for along time,i was never big growin up ,i was raised in haiti so weight was never an issue 4 me ,it wasnt till i came here that some pple started comenting on the way i look ,some guys would say u sso skinny u aint got no butt or breasts n other gurls would say u think u all that cauz u skinny,i was confused,it seem lik everyone around me had this constant fascination with bein small . ....my weight went up n down cauz i have 2 admit i wanted 2 get curvy so i can impress the guys n feel desirable ..wen i started putin on some weight id get coments lik u use 2 b soo skiny wat hapen 2 u ,or danmm u getin thick as hell or dont put 2 much weight u might get fat ...i was depress cauz in high school n junior high looks matered a lot ,everyday was this constant battle 2 belong..no body knows this but i was depress n some days i wouldnt go school ...i really diint understand y pple cared so much about looks ..only in america though..i comtemplated goin back home ...haiti
i was 21 wen i gave birth 2 my son ...i gain a good 40 pounds or more i went from 150 to 190 ....i never been that big b4 in my life i diint want 2 do anythin i just wanted 2 stay home all the time cauz in my mind i felt lik pple were watchin my fat not me ...i never knew how hard it was 2 lose weight wen u older it was so much ezier wen i was 19 ,i became obsess with losin weight that i wasnt really there 4 my child lik i should have been ...now that im 180 i use 2 b disgusted with my body ..wen i looked in the mirror it looks as if i was 200 pounds instead of 180...i came 2 the point in my life where i wanted 2 die then live one more day in this body ....but if it wasnt for the love of my fiancee i dont think i would b here 2 day ...im so grateful to have him in my life ..he makes me feel beautiful evryday ...now i can look in the miror n b content with wat i c
this is my so what moment 2 say 2 evry young gurl who struggle evryday 2 b thin n reach the impossible,take a step back ,look in the miror n ask urself wat am i doing?who am i really tryin 2 loses weight 4 ?we r all beautiful ,all size n shape,women needs to embrace wat they have n apreciate it ...
i aplaud tyra for wat she tryin 2 acomplish n achieve n wen i saw her show 2 day i cried lik a baby because i saw me in the gurl that wanted 2 kill her self because she thought she was 2 fat ...
again my name is sherley n i gain the 30 pounds of weight that i struggled 2 lose...SOOO WHAT...

Tyra,

I watched your So What show yesterday and once again I am so proud of the way in which you conduct yourself. You are such a positive role model to women of all ages, ethnicities and sizes. I am so glad you turned a negative into a positive. It blows my mind to hear the press call a woman of your height and weight fat, and the fact that the press considers 161 fat is what continues to perpetuate the myth that a size "00" is healthy. Thanks for looking and taking up for the real woman.

Hey Tyra,

I just wanted to say thank you for your show yesterday. It has really helped me and a lot of other girls out there. And i just want you to know that you are talking to girls of all age groups. I am 14 (almost 15 March 24 woo hoo!!) and have always struggled with my weight. I have big breast, big hips and "thunder thighs" and it always used to phase me. But now SO WHAT! I am beautiful. I used to come home from school and look at my body and be disgusted. But yesterday after your show,I looked at my body and saw a new person. I love my body, all 141 lbs. of it. And you are the one to thank for that! So thank you. And for your SO WHAT exercise I am going to wear shorts to school.(something I havn't yet done.) And i am going to walk down that hall knowing that "I am Beautiful."

Love always Tiffany of Gilbert AZ

I had to come home from school because of financial aid reasons but SO WHAT!!!! I'm gonna make it in this world as a young, black woman. I'm not gonna be another statistic. I will be become a nurse. And I will not be told no because where there is a will there is a way and I believe in my Father in the Heavens above....here's my prayer, Lord please let me be committed unto you because you are to me. Thank you for promising to help me turn my commitments over to you...Tyra you are an inspiration to all young girls, young women, and older women as well. As I watched the show yesterday with my grandma, she said see your body means nothing because the mind makes the body. I love her for that and I love you for that...I just wish my mom could have seen it...She's not happy in the body she's in but I want her to look in the mirror in say I'm a full figured women but SO WHAT!!!!! love ya girl!

You're stealing my personal philosophy! And I couldn't be happier to see it! My husband has been telling me for a long time that I need to write a book about "So What" philosophy, as that is what I preach to my own kids, to my students, to my friends, and from the pulpit.

I am a 39 year-old mother of three. I used to be very thin. Then, due to a medical treatment, I gained 75 lbs in 4 months. Now, 7 years later, my weight has never gotten back where it was (So what!), but it is at a healthy point. I'm in a wheelchair now. I'm still able to work fulltime, and work with disabled children. I have a loving husband and family. I am still able to preach and share the Good News. My body isn't stopping me.

So What do I have to complain about? My question is always "So what are you going to do about it?" "So what can you do for the next person you meet?" "So what if you aren't famous and wealthy!" Plan for today and tomorrow--they are a gift: "So what are you going to do with them?"

Thank-you Tyra! for giving my three daughters the same mantra I give them.

Tyra,
I just wanted to tell you that I loved this show. I have an 11 year old daughter and three years ago, at age 8 and in second grade, she quit eating for about two months because two of the girls in her class told her she was fat. Her dad also told her she needed to "lay off the cupcakes". She has had self-image issues since a very young age. She came home from her grandparents house with a copy of your People issue. I asked her why she had gotten that magazine instead of one of the teen magazines and she said "Because mom, THIS one had TYRA ON IT! and you know mom, I love this woman! Isn't it great that she won't let these people tell her she's fat. I think she is beautiful and I want to look just like that when I get older". Thank you so much for being such a wonderful role model to young children. Keep up the good work and God Bless!

Billie

Tyra your shows are always great. The so what show was so good. I have been through a lot over the last 3 years but here is what I think. I think that our society is teaching our young girls to grow up too fast and to have a bad body image of themselves. The magazines that show those girls what society thinks they need to look like. How wrong is that. I am a mother of a 10 year old soon to be 11. Thank God she is into sports. Her game is basketball and I try to teach her to be happy with who she is. She is a jeans and t-shirt type of girl. My so what momment came when I found out I had breast cancer. Long story short I had both of my breasts removed. I felt sorry for myself and that I was not a woman anymore. Well what I wasn't thinking about was that my daughter was now high risk. I kicked myself in the butt and I haven't looked back since. SO WHAT that I have 2 new inplants. I am more than my breasts and I want my daughter to know this throughout her life. Thank you Tyra for being such a great rolemodel for our young girls.

Tyra,

I just watched your show on accepting the weight that you are, and embracing it. And it really made me think, Everybody likes to say that "Age ain't nothin but a number." Now if we are healthy and happy, then why can't we use the same type of knowledge for our "number"?? I am 19 years old, and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last July, I used to be 125 lbs and now i am 140, I used to think that I was just awful looking, and fat, and nothing like all the beautiful girls in the magazines, but after watching your show I was inspired that although I am 20 lbs heavier I am still healthy and should embrace the fact that I have a more curvier body. I'd rather look like an hourglass, then a stick! Thank you so much for touching on a subject that should have been handled so long before.

Tyra you are amazing. I am 43 and still trying to loose weight. My present for myself when I graduate from college was going to be a tummy tuck. Because no matter how much weight I loose, I will always have a pouch. Well SO WHAT!When I graduate I will treat myself to something else that will not be as painful as surgery. I still watch my weight and exercise for health reasons. But now after watching your show, that will be the focus of the weight loss, not beauty but for my health. Tyra,God Bless You, Keep up the good work and I love you!
Tracy - CT

Hey Tyra! I absolutely love your show and I think you are really brave to go out there and advertise your weight and be happy with yourself. You're my role model because I'm 5/8 and around 175-180 pounds and you told me that it's great to be happy with yourself! I'm modeling right now and it makes me feel good that you were a model and that you are happy with yourself, so whenever I'm strutting the runway (hahh) I think of you and you're my inspiration to keep going! Even though I lost about 40 pounds, I still feel happy with myself at being this weight. I'd rather be "thick" and happy than be skinny and unhappy. Thanks for all your support! I love ya!!

Kelsey

Omg Todays show made me cry, the mother of 2 who tried to kill herself, it made me so sad. She wasn't In my opinion that big. she was just right for her height. I too am what would be considered a "big girl" & im 18 so all of this "THIN IS IN" crazyness is all around me, but i've never really had issues with my weight.
Even at home, my moms says to me "you look ugly, your too fat" etc etc. Yea there are times it upsets me but its okay, im happy being big.
Yes, i would like to lose weight, but im ok with it.

Tyra You are a gorgeous woman, FAT OR SKINNY your beautiful inside and out.
You aren't just another talk show host, you are using your power of Media to get a Positive Message across.
Love Eve

hey, i just want to say looking at all those women on the show all of them were gorgous, nothing was wrong with any of them..
it is about time more things are said about not being a size 2 there is too much stress on us to be skinney.

I love to dance it is my pasion and i have always been a chunky girl but that has never stoped me from dancing. throught out my teens i have lost and gained weight i used to be 250 pounds and went down to 170, but now im at 200. i went from o my god u look great to o my god u gotta stop eating MC CHIKENS. i hear a negative comment about my weight every single day and what hurts the most is that it comes from "MY BEST FRIEND WHO HAPPENS TO BE A GUY". he is also a fellow dancer and for some reason a lot of people are disgusted with the idea of having a dancer who is overweight but, what they don't realize is that what counts is the love and dedication that people like me have for something that not only shows skills, but also a way of expression and fun...So to "my friend" and all the hatters, SO WHAT IF IM 200 POUNDS! I CAN STILL SHAKE MA BEHIND AND I DONT' NEED YOUR APROVAL TO DO IT...SEE U IN DA CLUBS BABY...

My mom said I was fat in Oct of 07. Turns out that she was only insecure about her weight issues. I stood up for myself and said I don't think I'm fat, I love my new boobs,I feel good, I'm not built like I'm 18 anymore, but I which I knew what I know now because I would have told her two words "SO WHAT," so what I gained weight, I'm a women now!Thank You Tyra (my new and first celeb role model)for taking the words out of my mouth. The hardest part of this experience was that someone I respect and adore said in a round about way that "I was not good enough"

My mom said I was fat in Oct of 07. Turns out that she was only insecure about her weight issues. I stood up for myself and said I don't think I'm fat, I love my new boobs,I feel good, I'm not built like I'm 18 anymore, but I which I knew what I know now because I would have told her two words "SO WHAT," so what I gained weight, I'm a women now!Thank You Tyra (my new and first celeb role model)for taking the words out of my mouth. The hardest part of this experience was that someone I respect and adore said in a round about way that "I was not good enough"

Tyra,
First of all I would like to say I love you, you're my idol. I really think that you're doing a GREAT thing. I'm 17 years old and am on the bigger size. I've always been big, when I was younger I'd be depressed about it but ever since i got older I've never thought any less of myself, but my family always tells me to lose weight because "it doesn't look nice if you're big." Even my friends try to make me feel back that i'm thicker and I say SO WHAT! I'm beautiful no matter what you think of me. I really think that this is great because I've seen girls think that you have to be skinny to be beautiful and if you're "fat" you can't be beautiful. I say, big is beautiful. I went prom dress shopping today and there was a girl that was a size "0" and when she heard that I'm a size "10" she had this look like I was disgusting. After I found a dress I marched out of the dressing room in my fabulous gown (looking amazing by the way) and said "Yeah, I'm a size "10" so what! I look gorgeous in this dress even though I'm not a "0"!" She looked at me and said, "you do look gorgeous, i'm sorry for that judgmental look." There was a younger girl there maybe 14 years old with her sister and she was a bigger girl as well and when I did that she looked at me and I could tell that she realized that nothing was wrong with being big. Thank you Tyra for putting this out there and yes I'm not an extra small or a size "0" but SO WHAT!

Dear Tyra,

When I watch your show yesterday,I felt like I can do anything and I can tell that person SO WHAT to them.I am a 23 year old person that weight 154lb and proud of it. I love my pudgy stomach and my thick thighs.I miss my big boobs.But SO WHAT! I love myself:)

Hi Tyra .. I'm 16. When i was in about grade 3 i would look in the mirror, and think "you know, there are other girls alot skinnier than me, and who weigh alot less than me, i dont want to end up being "fat". I would go to school, and not eat anything for breakfast, or anything during recess or lunch except for maybe some crackers, i would come home and maybe eat, and then eat later at supper. This lasted for about a year, and was a minor eating disorder, that ended when i really noticed that i wasnt treating my body right. My mom would always say, you need fuel for a car to run, so your body needs energy from food to run too. So i was really concerned about my weight and body image from an earlier age. I can even remember when i was in about grade 7, reading about sarah jessica parker online, and how she was something like 108lbs. And i thought to myself, omg im like 115-120 lbs, and im like 30 years younger than her. I thought to myself, this isn't right, i cant even imagine what i will look like then, when im her age. And then there started to get a lot of talk about celeb's and their weight, and then how skinny some looked and how others were gaining weight, and thats when i really realized, that i just got so fed up with the debate of whether i should eat that second plate of pasta, or if i should eat breakfast. And somewhere in the middle i even thought sometimes that when i look in the mirror i looked to skinny, almost unhealthy, and i thought "what if others see me this way too". And i have been back and forth between this for years now, whether i am under or over. So i have come a long way to thinking that not eating will keep me skinny and that is what will make me beautiful, but i now say to myself, you know what if im hungry in the morning, im going to eat breakfast, and if i want that second plate of pasta, i will go for it. Im at a better state now than i was when i was younger... and i watched your show today, and i want to say that even though i have already made the step of going from not eating, to eating whenever i feel my body needs it ... that even if i go for that second plate of pasta, and i do end up gaining some weight i wont judge myself and compare to anyone else, because SO WHAT ... i am one of the girls who doesn't worry about all those calories she eats or how much grams of fat there is. So thank you tyra, for showing me that it is PERFECTLY FINE to live your life not worrying how other judge you of your body image, and to not take it and use it negativly on yourself. Thank you.

Hi Tyra!
I hope you read this and hopefully reply back. Anyway, I was gonna send in a video... but I don't have a camcorder... so I'll post it and hopefully maybe I'll can thank you in person one day.

Okay, here's goes... this is super hard me to write/say this, but I figured what the crap... I can take a risk... I can do this.

Well, my best friend Amanda W. and I watched it tonight(late night I guess since its like nearly 2am)... anyway, I was fine, happy at first until the show further.

Amanda(I love you girl!!) has this amazing way of getting me to spill my guts all over the place. She asked me what's wrong, to which I can't do it... I can't be like these people and Tyra... I just can't be happy. She made me go deeper... and then I said it out loud finally. I said I don't think I'm pretty at all... I think that I'm an ugly fat cow. I then said, well I can't do what people can do... and I want it more(possibly) than people that can. She then asked me what I meant and I said.. well, I can't walk... I can't walk without help.

Both her and you inspired me more and more say SO WHAT if I can't walk without help, have scars and where braces on legs.

But, even saying it again, its HARD and is nearly making me wanna cry so hard right now and I don't know if its cause I'm happy and proud or if I'm dugusted that I was and am made to feel this way. Thank you Tyra... I'll get there I'll just not fully there yet.
Love and Big Shawnna cuddles!!
Shawnna

Hi Tyra...I just wanted to let you know how inspiring your show was today! I loved the whole show and I love that you are empowering women everywhere! I watch your show everyday at 11:00 before I go to class, and this by far was my favorite!!! Thanks so much, you rock!

Tyra,
Today's show was so inspirational for me. After today, I am going to embrace your "So what" campaign!!! I finally feel like I have the courage to tell others, So What!!! I actually have the same body type as you! I have always been curvy! When I was in high school, I was around 120 lbs. Weight wasn't too much of a concern to me then. Fitting in was so hard. I was on the cheerleading squad, and I looked like I had it all together, but the truth was, I was so depressed. I even tried killing myself my senior year. Then I went away to college and had the best years of my life. I gained a little weight (around 20 lbs). This was a huge problem to everyone. People felt the need to tell me that I needed to lose weight. My friends, my boyfriend, and even my parents. So, for my graduation, I wanted to lose weight, and I at minimally for a few weeks. I lost 10 lbs. Everyone in my family was so happy for me when they came to my graduation. So kinda got it in my head that being thinner makes people proud of me. Then after my graduation, I moved home, and once again, got a little comfy and gained my weight back again! (Which I had slowed my metabolism down by not eating as much)! Now looking back, I am 20 lbs heavier that I was when I graduated high school, which was almost 8 years ago. So 20 lbs. in 8 years, "So What!" At this point in my life, I am so happy with everything. I am even currently getting my masters degree.
The point of my story is, I am happy with myself. I have learned to embrace what I have, and not let anything or anyone change how I feel about myself. I have also learned that weight does not equal happiness, because back then I was thin, but I was not happy. Now, I am happy with myself, even though I am 20 lbs heavier. From now on, when I hear any negative thoughts in my head, I have an answer for it..."So what"! Today, after the show, I finished putting on my makeup in my bra and underwear. Instead of saying something negative about myself, I said to myself, "Yeah I do have some dimples, my thighs do touch, and I am 20 lbs heavier, but SO WHAT!"
Thank you Tyra for providing me with my own comeback for my negative thoughts. I am part of your campaign and I hope to pass your words onto others. I work at an residential eating disorder clinic and we frequently watch your shows having to do with body image. Keep up the great inspirational work because you are reaching so many people! Thank you for touching my life!
Lots of love

Tyra,
Today's show was so inspirational for me. After today, I am going to embrace your "So what" campaign!!! I finally feel like I have the courage to tell others, So What!!! I actually have the same body type as you! I have always been curvy! When I was in high school, I was around 120 lbs. Weight wasn't too much of a concern to me then. Fitting in was so hard. I was on the cheerleading squad, and I looked like I had it all together, but the truth was, I was so depressed. I even tried killing myself my senior year. Then I went away to college and had the best years of my life. I gained a little weight (around 20 lbs). This was a huge problem to everyone. People felt the need to tell me that I needed to lose weight. My friends, my boyfriend, and even my parents. So, for my graduation, I wanted to lose weight, and I at minimally for a few weeks. I lost 10 lbs. Everyone in my family was so happy for me when they came to my graduation. So kinda got it in my head that being thinner makes people proud of me. Then after my graduation, I moved home, and once again, got a little comfy and gained my weight back again! (Which I had slowed my metabolism down by not eating as much)! Now looking back, I am 20 lbs heavier that I was when I graduated high school, which was almost 8 years ago. So 20 lbs. in 8 years, "So What!" At this point in my life, I am so happy with everything. I am even currently getting my masters degree.
The point of my story is, I am happy with myself. I have learned to embrace what I have, and not let anything or anyone change how I feel about myself. I have also learned that weight does not equal happiness, because back then I was thin, but I was not happy. Now, I am happy with myself, even though I am 20 lbs heavier. From now on, when I hear any negative thoughts in my head, I have an answer for it..."So what"! Today, after the show, I finished putting on my makeup in my bra and underwear. Instead of saying something negative about myself, I said to myself, "Yeah I do have some dimples, my thighs do touch, and I am 20 lbs heavier, but SO WHAT!"
Thank you Tyra for providing me with my own comeback for my negative thoughts. I am part of your campaign and I hope to pass your words onto others. I work at an residential eating disorder clinic and we frequently watch your shows having to do with body image. Keep up the great inspirational work because you are reaching so many people! Thank you for touching my life!
Lots of love

TYRA!
Today’s episode was absolutely AMAZING! It was so neat to be able to look in the audience and see different body shapes and sizes all beautiful in their own way. I think that everything happens for a reason, and I truly feel in my heart that the whole tabloid thing happened to you because God knew that not only would you stand up for yourself, He knew you'd stand up FOR EVERY OTHER WOMAN IN THE WORLD. Thank you so much! I hope you continue to do what you are doing because you are touching the lives of many people :).

OH YEAH, I almost forgot…I’m a thick girl, and I’LL ALWAYS be a thick girl SO WHAT?!

God Bless! :)

BLESS YOU for putting forth such a positive message, for using your show to make such a difference.
At 5'4" 128 lbs, I am not fat, but since I had been struggling to stay over 100 lbs for most of my adult life, I started feeling that way. My butt jiggled! I had never even had a butt before, & now it jiggled! I decided to do something about it. I didn't know what, but I felt had to do something. I had no experience with dieting & such. At 52, it was late to be learning to count calories, but I felt self-concious about my rolls & bouncy parts.
After watching your show today, I figured out what to do. I fixed a "hearty serving roast pork & garlic mashed potatoes dinner" & ate the whole thing. I was planning on making it 2 meals. My butt jiggles...SO WHAT!! I feel better than I have in years, & that is what matters.

Tyra. Today I saw your show and I would love to get a ' so what' bracelet. I am 36 years old and am 30 weeks pregnant with my 5 th baby. My others are son 16, son 14, daughter 12, and little daughter 3. My first three kids are from my first marriage and during my separation and divorce, which was kinda ugly . I lost alot of my self esteem. My ex used to tell me "who is going to want you . your fat and have 3 kids" . Well I have never been skinny , never any smaller than a size 8 . I have always tried to exercise but with kids its hard. I became an Ironworker/ welder. to be able to support my kids on my own if need be. I never wanted to count on another man to depend on just to survive. I met my new husband on a jobsite( kinda my rival trade he is a Glazier) and is also 7 years younger. he is beautiful in me eyes. He loves me alittle chuncky and most important with my three kids. He is raising them as if thier were his own. So I have struggled with some really hard times. But I didnt have the luxury to give up even when I really wanted to. I knew my kids needed me.Keep encouraging all the women young and older. I am truly a believer now that God may close one door and will also open another. So I may stay a size 12/14 after this baby.Not really what I want to be but I have a good man, great kids, a hard but great career so " so What if I have a couple of extra pounds and a few more stretch marks. Life is good.

You girls have some guts... What a great show!!!Tyra you are amazing - YOU GO GIRL!!!

Tyra, I feel like...
Honestly your "So What" campaign did nothing for me.
I want so badly to love my body and the way I look, and I wanted so badly for this to affect my thoughts of body image and everything but really it did not touch me
the way it apparently did...
everyone else.

I just feel like, you still look amazing, and you still look gorgeous with whatever
weight you're at and not everyone else looks like that. When the one lady said "My thighs rub together when I walk and SO WHAT" it honestly just made me feel worse. Even when I'm just trying to do homework or something I can't stop thinking about how my thighs are squished together and what a repulsive feeling it is. When she said that, I tried to think "my thighs squish but so what" and I just could not convince myself it was okay.

I just know that the world treats you differently when you're skinny and pretty (Which was clearly proven in your experiment with the attractive twins). I guess I am happy you're doing this, but when there are modeling shows that call their already skinny models "doughy" and "fat ass" I just can't justify the extra fat hanging from my regular girl arms. I just can't convince myself that it's okay to say "So What!" when everything else in society is telling me I'm not good enough.

Dear Tyra,
I have admired you for many years; I even have the beauty book you did a long time ago. I've always struggled with body image for as long as I can remember and I still have moments where I question myself and my looks. I grew up in a household with a father who liked to tease and criticize so I learned to rely on my intelligence because I thought that was pretty much all I had going for me. My weight has always fluctuated but I never really went on a diet or took pills because I know they aren't healthy. It wasn't until very recently, within the last year, that I've come to start accepting myself the way I am. I'm 5'11, 31 years old (my b-day is 12/3 *smile*) and at my top weight I was 222 lbs. I decided I had to do something to help myself feel better because I could feel myself going through a depression. I started eating better and working out. It's truly been a chore trying to accept myself but to have you speak out helps me tremendously. I don't even know how to express how grateful I am to you for standing up for normal women. I'm currently in graduate school for a master's in counselor education. For my dynamics of behavior class my group decided last week to present on body image and we all agreed that we want to use your show as one of our major resources. This campaign is so right on time! Thank you so much for all you do and for my so what.... I weigh 212 and SO WHAT!!

you must be mad...have you taken a look at yourself. i love the way you look and never let anyone bother you about being fat...what fat! there are hundreds of women out there who could only dream to look as beautiful and stunning as you. besides not only do you campaign against looking like emaciated skeletons but you give young impressionable girls confidence in being themselves and still be successful, and i love your mother hope there are more like her around-she knows when to go and more importantly when to stop!
thanks for having broken that chain of non-realistic models for everyday women.

Watching the show reminded me a time when I use to love myself and felt beautiful. For the past 2 months, I've locked myself at home because I was scared of the public to see me. About two years ago, I started to gain a few pounds and I beated up myself mentally and it really dragged my spirit down. Watching this show today made me realize " SO WHAT " Thank you for awakening that beautiful spirit in me, that I had all along.

Hello Tyra,

First of all I want to tell you that I'm a man. I've never seen so many beautiful women gathered together in one place. My god! They were all so hot! And Tyra, I love your figure the most because your curves are the deadliest I've ever seen! Wow! Talk about a natural high! I'd be proud to date any one of the women who appeared on your "so what" episode. Wow! I feel like an adolescent who suddenly found himself in a girl's locker room! I hope that all women stop trying to be so thin. Thin is not as sexy as rounded is, at least in my personal opinion.

I did not expect today's show to affect me so much. I'm 20 years old and I have Cerebral Palsy. Unlike weight this isnt something that will go away with eating healthy or a healthy lifestyle. my whole life has been a struggle to remind myself my worth. Thankfully I have a great family, lately I've been feeling quite low. Today though as I was watching I felt so empowered and fulfilled.I finally just looked at myself in the mirror and said yeah I may walk a little funny, I may fall down sometimes SO WHAT! Honestly it has made me the person I am today and I LOVE me I just want to thank you Tyra so very much for this unexpected boost. This is a great way to end a bad month and forge ahead!

HEY TYRA!
I'm watching your 'so what' show right now, and i love it! You are such an inspiration to me. i just turned 16 and i'm a sophmore in high school. all anything my friends ever talk about is weight. a lot of my friends will do anything to loose an extra pound. And when i first moved to california i was like why do they care so much? but then it started getting to me, i began to feel like i was the fattest girl at school. I would even go to class EARLY so i wouldn't have to walk in front of my classmates! The pressure to get thin is so intense! and our administration at our high school seems to support it. they've taken away all the snack machines and made the requirements for P.E. twice as hard. They sent out the message that everyone was getting fatter when in reality (at least at my high school)everyone was and still is so obsessed with weight. When i saw your People magazine cover i was like GO TYRA, GO TYRA!
it made me so happy to see someone in Hollywood stand up against the media!
and now i can finally say:
I'M 5'7"
118 POUNDS
AND I EAT ICE CREAM IN THE MORNING
SO WHAT?

You are absolutely gorgeous. I think you are perfection. I would love to be apart of your campaign. I think the premise of the campaign is very liberating, as it is extremely beneficial to the majority of the female population. It's about time someone stood up to the negativity and adversity women face, for no reason but shallowness. Please let me know how I can help. Love ya Tyra!

http://thebeautylounge.blogspot.com

hey tyra,
I love ur "so what"show. tyra i love u so much ur great im so glad i have u as a role model. im 17 and i have been strogling with my wieght in my whole life but ur helping me go throught it and say im 5'9 and im 235 SO WHAT. im not going 2 kill my self 2 be someone im not thank you so much tyra keep on going theirs a lot of women that need you and im one of them thank you again tyra you the best ever.
LOVE ALWAYS,
YOUR TRUE FAN
JESSICA B.

Tyra, I loved todays show! You are such a wonderful person and girl you look more beautiful than ever! Too many girls that go to school with me are too worried about their weight, and physical apperance. I've learned how to love the way i am as "me" and be grateful to be healthy!

My little cousins look up to me, and never would i want to portray a negative image to them. I want to pass on the message to them that THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL just the way they are! I'm 5`3 and weigh 124 i'm happy with the way i look.

Tyra you are such a positive role model, and i love the fact that you discuss these issues. Keep it up girl, "so what we're not perfect!" =]

I would like to thank Tyra for airing the "So What" episode today. My roommates and I at St. John's University watched the episode and have been spreading the cheer around. We are not the most bustiest girls... SO WHAT?!?!

Hey Tyra,
I just wanted to say thank you! i watched your show today as I was having a horrible day feeling bad about myself. After watching your show, I was inspired. I am a 22 year old female, who has struggled with her weight since birth! As a college senior I am seen as overweight and at sometimes ugly. Yet, I don't see anything ugly with being voluptuous, and curvy. And i just wanted to say thank you for giving me the courage to believe in my self, and for the idea of " so what"! I have always been put down for my weight, so what if i have a little extra weight on my bones, that does not change anything inside my heart and soul, so what that i might not be drop dead gorgeous! You are changing the world and making a huge difference, keep up the amazing work!

Hi Tyra!!!! ^_^
I Loved todays show!.. not that i don't like the other ones. I'm also one of those people who are very self-conscious about their weight. After seeing your show I went on myspace and posted "I weigh 195 lbs! SO WHAT!!!"

Dear Tyra

I'm 19 years old and weigh 313lbs. I love your 'SO WHAT' campaign i think it's great, especially for young girls today. I've been a big girl all my life, but am surrounded by support and comfort from friends and family. My friends who are all beautiful have made me happier than I've been in years. But sometimes when we are out in public, I put up a front that I'm comfortable with my weight, but really I feel like the D.U.F.F (Designated. Ugly. Fat. Friend). I know I'm beautiful, but sometimes I just can't say 'SO WHAT'

Hello Tyra, I never really get at chance to watch your show but i do find time to watch the last 10 minutes of it. I was so happy to be able to watch todays show. I must say, i have always though you were flawless and beautiful. I have had so much stuggle with accepting who i am. I feel was ment to see the show today. It made me feel so good to you see you and the rest of your guest stand up for them selves and realzie we are all beautiful. I am 5'5 160 lbs.i have recently lose wieght. and when i look in the mirror, i feel so good and I am not repulsed anymore. I admire you courage and strenght. and you truly are an american icon!

Tyra,
I am 22 years old and finally ok with my body. Ever since i was in fifth grade a i have been made fun of. I remember one boy use to say "stop running the earth is shaking!" Then in middle school I was always the biggest of all my friend and was pushed away by them because of my weight. Finally my Junior year in high school i found a new group of friends that loved me no matter what. After that i started University and i started to feel like i use to feel in middle school, but after watching your show i feel so happy with my body. I finally love what i see in the mirrow. I am 158lbs and 5'4 but i still feel like i look good. And my so what goes to all those people that made me feel fat. I am over weight and so what!!! thank you Tyra!

Hey Tyra!

I'm 17 and I complain way to much about my butt and thighs. I have a pear shape figure and thats never going to change! "So What!" I'm still healthy.

Much Love Alyssa

I have been overweight ever since I was in 10th grade because my brothers would make fun of me, just of the fact that I have a big butt. I started being self-consious of my diet and how much I exercised. I was 5"5 and 130 pounds. I used to cry all the time. Watching your show made me feel good about myself. I liked that you were not focusing only on fat people. You had a thin model on your show. All I have to say is I have a big butt, SO WHAT!!

Hey Tyra!

I'm 17 and I complain way to much about my butt and thighs. I have a pear shape figure and thats never going to change! "So What!" I'm still healthy.

Much Love Alyssa

Hi Tyra

I want to start by saying God Bless you for everything you are doing for women in to days cruel life. I left home at 14 had two boys by 18, my youngest passed away at 2½ month old. Then married there father and divorce 6 months later . Have been fighting to protect my son from his father selfish acts sense. I have never completed my High School diploma, but enrolled in a black smithing school passed and have ran my own business for 3 years now . I am 5'5" and 170 lbs , my family is overweight and I have struggled with my weight all my life! I had once finally got down to a happy health 145 lbs but gained it back after my happy married with my soul mate . He loves me for the way I look and says I am sexy and beautiful . I am going to try your “so what “, but I must say I have tried this before . I had no luck the last time , but w/ women like you there is a chance this time I might have better luck. Then maybe I can get back to a health weight of 145. Ok enough bo hoo-ing Wonderful show and you have awesome self esteem keep on, keepin on !

Love Ya
Spring

Tyra always sends a POSITIVE message to women all over the world!
"I LOVE YOU TYRA!"
i have struggled with my weight also. being "skinny" was always a problem with me. people always made fun of me and called me names, thought i was anorexic or throwing up my food; and that REALLY offended me. Because i am actually NATURALLY skinny, and have been trying to GAIN weight since i was like 13! that's how long people have made fun of my weight. i hate being put into a category that i am not. i have never had an eating disorder and i am proud to say that i am NATURALLY skinny. i eat like a pig! but the only place i ever gain weight, if any is my tummy. lol. i'm starting to accept myself for who i am and i don't care what anybody says about me anymore!
yeah, i'm skinnier than the average 20 year old! "SO WHAT?!?!"
thank you tyra for being such a positive influence!
in the modeling industry also!
i love you!
XoXo.
Naami Jane.
www.myspace.com/naamijane

I have been diagnosed as Biploar a year ago and since I have been on put on so many different kinds of medicine I have gained 30 pounds I have now 5'5 150 pounds. I have curves so I fill out some but I have been told I am fat, gained to much, asked if I was pregnant and put down. At first I was crushed but you know what I am married to a wonderful man that loves me no matter what so to the rest of the world....SO WHAT if I gained weight...I still look good!!

hello tyra =]

all i can say is thank you..very much ...today's show really helped me alot..to love myself the way i am..and [for us teens its a very hard stage right now..wanting to look so beutiful, skinny, big booty, preety face..] and gurls go through a very big depression..and i've been through it..but over the years ive learned to love my self for the way i am..and sometimes [looks] are not the most important thing in life..
women are the most beutiful thing in this world..no matter what size, shape, color..were all equal..your my idol
tyra..your doing an amazing job..keep up the good work..=]

Tyra, you are my idol. I think you are a very brave amazing woman and if i can grow up to be half the person you are I would be thankful just for that. Todays episode on celebrating your body really helped me feel better about myself, seeing as i'm not the size 0 girl and chances are I never will be. There are countless nights where i have watched TV, or read magazines and then cried myself to sleep afterwards becuase i know that I do not look like the girls I see around me. Thank you Tyra for showing me that there is more important beauty then whats just on the outside, and that it doesnt really matter what size i am, i can still be beautiful!

Finally a brave woman raise these problems BRAVO tyra YOURE THE BEST! im skinny... so WHATTT

Hey, Tyra!

I watched today's show, and I absolutely loved it. You are setting such an amazing example for young girls and women, that you don't have to be a size zero to be a beautiful woman. I myself, am very young (only fourteen-years-old.) You have inspired me and taught me, that I don't have to fit and become this un-realistic image that the media potrays on a daily basis.

For awhile, I had been worrying about my weight and thinking that I may be fat. I'm an aspiring model, and hope to empower young girls and women just like you, one day and I was worried that I wouldn't fit into the model standards. All of it built up to a place where I felt guilty for eating two cookies or what I thought would be too much for me to eat.

It almost started to become an obsession, and any little comment about me eating -- not even meant negatively or only a joke, would make me want to cry and feel as though I was fat. But then, I heard about the photos taken of you in Australia and the falsely reported weight gain. And watched you on Larry King and many other television shows, including your talk show. I began to see what I was doing to myself, and realizing what problems could be ahead for me if my weight issues continued.

When I saw the People Magazine article, that is when my whole perspective of my weight changed. I realized that I don't have to conform to what the media says is "beautiful" or that I have to be a carrot stick just to be worthy of being noticed. You taught me that Tyra, and inspired me and continue to inspire me through the things that I do. And with that, I say "So What?!" if I eat two cookies or if I eat five...or as much as I like. As long as I am healthy, there are no problems with my weight. And it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks -- it only matters what I think, and I think I look fine thanks to you!

I am one of your biggest fans, and love what you're doing right now. You're fighting and speaking for every young girl and woman in not only America, but in the whole world. I applaud you Tyra!

Hey Tyra, I watch your show whenever I see its on. This morning I decided to start watching what I'm eating and start exercising. That was before I watched your show. I feel like these other women have resigned themselves to being a way that may be unhealthy. I am 19 5'7" and weight 132 pounds. I feel unhealthy because of the food that I eat and the fact that I get no exercise. I feel that losing weight through better food choices and exercise will help me feel more healthy becasue I will be caring for my body beter. So What - I am relatively small and still am not happy. -Bridget PS. Maybe I'll send in a So what video.

Watching Tyra's So what campaign renewed my faith in the media. As a 21 year college student studying communications, I honestly thought that the unhealthy thin body image had affected everyone.----But not Tyra! I am so proud of her for standing up for all of us--and for using media to promote a healthier body image for females. It's already apparent that Tyra's outcry is changing women's views on themselves. Thank goodness, it is about time! Thank you so much Tyra!

Tyra,

I just wanted to tell you that I think you are fabulous, no matter if your 121, 161 or 201. I think you are a great role model for many kids and I hope for my little girl in the future as well.
I have struggled with weight all my life and have only learned to accept myself in the last few years the way I am, but I see so many other women that are overweight and that just have such low self esteem, because of society telling them it's not ok. How can you feel good about your body if people drive by you, when your waiting for someone at the movies and shout"MOOOO" at you. Yes that happened to me, yes it hurt and it will stick with me for the rest of my life...how can people sink that low? It's society that tells them that it's ok to make fun of everyone that is not a perfect size 2, perfect skin. So what I am a size 22, so what if I am not perfect. I do think that reaching a healthy weight is important to me, and I chose to do the lap band surgery. For me, not for society, but for me..to be a healthy woman that will raise her kids and see them grow up. But so what if I never reach 138 pounds, which would be my goal weight..I am going to be happy if I reach 180, 190..so what! Thanks for inspiring me and others and showing the world that the normal woman is not 100 pounds...we all have curves and faults and soft bellies..and it's ok...we have them to comfort our kids, our loved ones...that's how we were intended to be..not as super skinny stick women...

Thanks Tyra!

I am fifteen years old; for most of my younger childhood years, I was consistantly teased because of my body. I had thighs that jigged when I walked, a "pillsbury doughboy" tummy, and what Tyra calls a "fivehead" instead of a forehead. I got acne early, and I had stretch marks on my thighs and hips- all of these things before I even hit my teenage years!

I watched Tyra Banks' "So what?" episode today and I decided to quit worrying about what I look like anymore.

I'm 5'8" and 155 pounds, and I've got next to no muscle, and I've got a fivehead (just like Tyra!)- -

and it feels so good to not care about my body image so much.

I have to say, I watched your show today and it was so empowering to know that you are standing up for the rights of womens bodies EVERYWHERE. I am 20, I recently moved to St. Louis and have been in a few relationships. My last relationship, the guy I was with said that I didn't look good in the clothes I wore and mentioned I was always gaining weight when we moved in together. On top of other things he would put me down for, the weight was always the most painful one. I come from a family that has issues with obesity and I weigh 140 pounds. Needless to say I dumped him and moved on to better people. So if he thinks that I am fat and overweight SO WHAT!!!!

Hey Tyra!

I loved the show today. I am 18 and saying So what to the negative comments that come my way! The thing that stuck out most to me today was what Danielle Fishel said. I love her so much! When she said that she never thought about it and that other people said stuff about the donuts or the weight. I totally agree. I was the same way. I never cared about it. I would occasionally get on a scale and see a number and say okay. Then I would move on without any problems. Then people would talk about how skinny I was and that I needed to eat. I kept thinking about how much I did eat. In high school I became the "next skinniest" as my friends said. I was so skinny to them and I didn't feel it, but I wasn't afraid of being overweight or anything and I loved my bikini! I was so tired of hearing skinny and not seeing it. It wasn't the number on the scale because that is 108 that I worried about. It was the curves that I thought I saw, that scared me. I never looked in a full length mirror because I thought that would just make me see someone fat. So I would just look at myself by looking down. Let me tell you what Tyra, that view of yourself does nothing to flatter the curves. I became so afraid of those curves that I thought shouldn't be there I became obsessed just like Danielle. It started with the fear of the 3 angle mirrors in dressing rooms at stores. I couldn't handle that much me that I didn't like. After that I did exercise and counted calories like crazt! I'm lucky that it only lasted for a year and it didn't dig in deep. I never got to read the magazine, but the second you made your speech to the critics on Feb. 1st I decided that I was fine. I got the courage to go back to eating what I want in moderation like I always did and I stopped the exercise. Now I exercise when I feel that I need to and that's like once a month. I still love my bikini because I feel free. I recently, even though it's winter, hopped into it and looked in a full length mirror. I didn't see a girl with the wrong curves who had heavy thighs like I thought. I was so happy to see the body that I have! I still am afraid to get on the scale and look at a number because I could fall back into the obsession. You helped me so much! Thank you!

-Mary Catherine

Tyra, you are my idol! I've been soo concerned with my weight all throughout highschool and this is the first time I can look at myself in the mirror and say that i love my body.

Hi Tyra,
I have been watching your show recently, and I have loved every minute of it. Your show today was fabulous. Watching your show today made me feel not only better about myself, but empowered. I was so inspired that I have put a piece of paper on the back of my car, thath says my weight (143) and a big "SO WHAT" right along with it. I am also planning on just letting everyone know that I don't need their approval to be happy, because you have made me realize that all i need to be happy is myself, and my health, and I have all of that, and I am lovin' it. I love what you're doing, and I appreciate you being a fabulous role model to not only the people i know and love, but to those who i don't know. Without trying to, you have started a change that has been needed since the beginning of time. Thank you so much Tyra. Your are completely fabulous.

Dear Tyra, First of all I love your show. I'm not too young(53), 3 grown daughters and 9 grandchildren. I also admire your mother. She's a beautiful woman too. I liked it when she said instead of trying to get you to lose weight let's order pizza. My youngest daughter has modeled some and I'm so glad she has her head on straight. She was in JET as a beauty of the week but she has 2 children and puts them first. My middle daughter has serious health problems that were revealed when she had bariatric sugery to lose weight. She's had 95% of her pancreas removed and with 4 kids she's had a terrible time. So I can tell people being skinny is not the end all. Any way, PLEASE, keep up the good work. P.S. I cheered when you told everyone to kiss your butt. LOVE YA

Hi Tyra! I just wanted to Thank you for continuing the fight and I LOVE
"SO WHAT . . ." I feel like going to school tomorrow and saying it to everybody who talks to me! I felt more empowered. Thank Thank Thank THANK YOU!!!! : )

love,
rae

I'm Thick & Curvy Down Below-SO WHAT!!!
I'm HAPPY with the way I LOOK, Now there ain't nothing you can do about that!

Dear Tyra,

Thanks for being such a great inspiration. I've been struggling with my weight all my life, im 23 yrs old and currently weight 150 lbs and ive never reached the so called target! i recently gained 10 pounds and some times i feel huge....i know its more psychological, but all the tabloids sometimes destroy our dreams, and feeling beautiful and loving yourself the way you are becomes impossible!
Thanks for standing up and for showing me and every person out there, that weight is just a number and a state of mind, because you ae not just beautiful out but inside!
You are the best. Next show should be not about dieting but about eating healthy
Love,
V

Hey Tyra,
Ever since I started school I've been struggling to fit in. When I was young I was shy around people I didn't know and so most people never thought to take any interest in me. As I got older I became less shy and more violent. I still regret the things I did. I went from a picked on kid to a bully who was left alone because people were afraid of her. And than I went right back to being picked on. I just stopped being tough and gave up and standing up for myself.
I'm 14 now and I'm only in grade 8. With High school only months away I started to realize things I should have realized so long ago. After being picked on and having about zero friends throughout the past 4 years I decided to start doing things for myself. I stand up for myself when people call me fat; in truth I'm not fat at all. Not even over weight! I just have a lot of muscle and nothing to do.
Even now, with positive attitude in hand, I lose focus and let the past 8 years of insults come seeping back into my head. I wake up in the morning wishing I didn't have to get up. I stand infront of the miror and hear the insults coming at me from all sides. Losing focus on my goal has been painful, but the struggle to feel good about myself-- and I mean every last 135lb of myself-- is slowly finding it's way back on the road. Thanks to your show today I've been feeling more and more ready to be myself. I'm getting ready to accept my weight, my height (which is the small number of 5.1), my body type and my mind. I am ready to tell people what I think again!
Your show today has inspired me to do something strange and yet-- in my opinionated opinion--- brilliant. I am going to find some t-shirts, among other things, and write my weight on the front and on the back, displayed for the world to see I will write "So What!" on the back. And possibly on some sip-up or something. I really wanted to send in a tape but unfortunately there's an 18 and older thing on that posting board.
You know Tyra-- and anyone else who may be reading-- I feel better just writing this down. I'm proud to be a young woman today. I'm proud to be MY OWN young woman. I can only hope it gets better from here on out.

Thank you so much for sending out such positive and beautiful messages for woman of all ages. I can't even begin to express how much your show helps me each day that I watch it.
Thank you for being yourself. Thank you for helping ME be myself.

Keep doing what you do,
Josaphine

Tyra you have inspired me!!! I am a college student in New Hampshire. All through my high school career I have felt the pressure to be thin. I have gone days without eating and if I did eat i would make myself throw up. Today I still have the thoughts of being too fat but, I have found that I am beautiful and being 156 is the best body weight for me. I have been also trying to help my young cusin who is only 12 and is already having the signs of what I went through. You have given me soooo much strengh and have helped me to help her. Words can't describe what you have done for me. Thank You. I can say it over and over and it doesn't seem like enough. You are a true and inspiring women. I glad to say "I am 156 SO WHAT" thank you. P.S. I am trying to get the girls on my college campus involved with your campain. Wish me Luck!

Tyra,

WHERE CAN WE GET THE "SO WHAT" WRIST BANDS?

I Love You!!!

Hi.

I've just seen your show today Tyra, and I finally see a bit of a light about my esteem.
I'm 17, 5"8, and 193 pounds. I can't lose weight, no matter how hard I try.
I'm not happy with myself. My grandmother and Mother were very small when they were my age, and I feel pressured to be that also.
My boyfriend of a year and all of my friends say that I seem to hold my weight well.
I don't believe it.
I think that I may have a mild form of body image disorder, but I've been trying to get over it. Seeing all those women with real bodies that were my weight.. I couldn't believe it! Some didn't look like it all. And you looked fantastic. I hope that I can get better at believing in myself.

Thanks

Although I love what Tyra is trying to do, I do not think being overweight should be glamourized. I'm a nursing student and have been around many people in horrible health condition due to a lifetime of being overweight. Diabetes, heart attacks and strokes seem to be the bi-products of being overweight. Being underweight can be just as threatening but unfortunately society galmourizes it. Body esteem is beautiful, but health is definately more rewarding. Getting judged because of your weight is wrong but being healthy should be a priority no matter what your weight is.

Hi Tyra,

I watched your show today about your "So what?! Campaign" and i absolutley love it. I am very short and to me, I am kind of chubby, but you inspire me. You make me realize how to love and cherish my body. Before your campaign and show I really disliked my body, and now i say SO WHAT?! so what if im not perfect, so what if im not tall, so what if im not stick skinny, so what if I act differently; SO WHAT?! and you have truely inspired me to stand up for myself and love myself. Thank you Tyra, my idol.

Nicole

I love that someone is finally saying it! I love that now I can pass all the pretty little size 0's in the mall and instead of being jealous I can say . . . SO WHAT! I HAVE COTTAGE CHEESE THIGHS AND STRETCHMARKS AND I AM STILL BEAUTIFUL!!

Tyra,
I have never written to anyone on TV or the movies in fact the only people I have ever taken the time to write to are congress and state representatives with my concerns over government issues.

So you are my first in this respect :)

YOU TOTALLY ROCKED today!
I have for years wished that there were more real people out there who are living and breathing examples of their inner shine b/c you do and you touched me!

I grew up never heavy enough and couldn't even gain more than twenty three pounds when I got pregnat with my daughter... back then I was 105 lbs. soaking wet. I never got that skinny again I got to 116 and thought for years ewww how gross... I could never feel good about not being able to get to at least 110 which is what the doc had said would be optimum. I agreed with my Mom I did look too thin as a 105 lbs young lady (I'm a tiny boned almost 5'3" person)

Well fast forward OMG S 20 years this halloween and I can't get back to 116. I got up to 143 lbs after having an exacerbated stress induced asthmatic condition thank you steroids for they helped lung linings but not my tummy or booty :( I was miserable none of my work suits fit well nothing was right... I tore apart the word dis-ease yes how cliche and I realized it wasn't just the health it was my mental, spiritual and self that was no longer at ease and step by step I worked out at a gym and slowly built up and realized back then that I was allowing corporate America, the media my friends and back then that husband and the last one to influence me and let me think I was a gross failure. Well the weight peeled off once I realized it was me not loving me I did a low carb low sat fat diet that didn't want me to lose more than three pounds a week. I couldn't eat everything they wanted you to eat on that diet I worked out and I even went and talked to a professional all cuz' I allowed everyone else to tell me about me and influence me on my own self accounting I guess you could call it? I changed how I looked at myself and others and life and went back to striving to just be in balance. I am 123 now and still a little unhappy with my tummy and my thighs dimples and all.

Well dear lady, you helped me today to stop beating myself up for being a little jiggly and to say "So what that I am holding onto a little weight & even starting to gray!" I figure if I keep the few grays people might stop thinking I'm my 18 yr.old daughter's older sister when I'm in jeans and sneakers. Yeah no kidding I had to show ID to go to a movie with her. (Eragorn) You believe that?

So today thank you Ms. Tyra I say SO WHAT if I have a few silvers and my thighs jiggle a bit!

Bright Blessings!
Pia
P.S. Thank you for having the guts to say, "SO WHAT" so Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the bright new light that young girls/old girls women.. have to look to!

Hello Tyra,
Thank you so much for the show today about weight and self esteem. I am a 6 foot x-model who has struggled with weight issues for most of my life. During my modeling days I weighed 133 pounds and was considered "fat" amoung my agents. At the age of 21 I became sick and was put on medication that makes a person gain weight. The modeling industry said good bye to me. I am now 31 years old, the mother of 3 and weigh 175lbs. Still, to this day, I am constantly reminded by relatives how great I looked back then and if I would only try to lose some weight I could "make something of myself". To them and to the modeling industry I have to say SO WHAT! I AM ALIVE! I will eat that cookie that my grandma made, for when she is gone, I will not have the oppertunity. I will have some cake on my daughters 3 year old birthday because she is precious to me. SO WHAT! If the people around me do not like what they see, they can turn around. Thank you for being such a positive woman and role model to me and to my 3 little girls.

loved today's show and all i gotta say is its about time. i weigh 187 and so what if im not skinny!

Hey Tyra, can I love you any more? You are amazing!!!!! What a show!!!! Keep it up because you are the voice of our generation. Much love and be blessed!!!

I would like to know where to get the "So What" bracelets. I would like to get one for myself and for my friend. We have both struggled with weight and been criticized by other friends, family members and significant others. I'm so happy that finally someone is standing up for women! I love you Tyra and thank you so much for everything you do!

Tyra,
How great was this show. It was so inspiring for women young, old, big, small, whatever. Everyone felt empowered today by your "SO WHAT" campaign and I think it's great. Why do people care so much about what other's think in the first place, My hips are plus sized and you know "SO WHAT"!!!!
Way to go Tyra!!
Blessings

im 16 years old and im very self concious. i'm 5'5" and i weigh about 155 lbs. i used to cry all the time about my look and figure. and it started to effect my boyfriend as well. he gets very upset to see me so sad. after watching todays show, i saw a girl who was shorter than me by 1 inch and weighed more by 5 lbs and she looked fine! she looked really good. im going through a really hard time right now and u are definately helping me!! thank you so much tyra!! ur a Godsend to all woman!!

im 16 years old and im very self concious. i'm 5'5" and i weigh about 155 lbs. i used to cry all the time about my look and figure. and it started to effect my boyfriend as well. he gets very upset to see me so sad. after watching todays show, i saw a girl who was shorter than me by 1 inch and weighed more by 5 lbs and she looked fine! she looked really good. im going through a really hard time right now and u are definately helping me!! thank you so much tyra!! ur a Godsend to all younger woman!!

Hey Tyra, WOW...is all I have to say about today's show. It was severely empowering....I have a love hate relationship with food...I love it...It loves to store itself in my tummy area...and I hate that!..but from watching your show today..I realized...I'm still beautiful...I may be 5'2, and 155lbs...but everyone says I don't look it...and that I should be proud of the curves I have...the big joke is always about my boobs...and how they are 50% of me..but anyway..back to the reason I'm writing this...you are an amazing woman....whois brave, courageous and beautiful beyond words...and I personally thank you for the person you are and the role model you are being to all us girls

Hi Tyra,

I saw your show today! I thought it was great you told the world your true size.

I am in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy and my weight is 125. I wish I can say so what about my weight but I can't. Most people judge me because of my disability. When I look in the mirror, I don't feel pretty. Sometimes, I think about killing myself because I feel like I'm a burden to my family and friends.

Your Fan,
Liz

Heyas Tyra,
I just got done watching your show. I have struggled with my weight my entire life. People have treated me so badly, because I was the BIG gurl. What I saw on the show today has been such an inspiration. SO WHAT if i'm 5'11 and 286 ! I'm proud! Thank you for being such a wonderful role model and helping me to feel that just being me isn't a bad thing.

i saw todays SO WHAT! show and i was so happy that someones finally sticking up for women, im only 14 and my self esteem i wouldent say is normal, its worse than worse. And you tyra awlays makes me feel better about my self and thats hard to do, my role model ( my mom) cant even do that!! thank you tyra

Hey Tyra,
First of all your my favorite person and i want to say that i am so inspired by you. I am 15 almost 16 and not an average size teenager. I always watch your shows and today on your "SO WHAT" episode i BEGAN to think of how much of an incredible and inspiring person you have become. Your my role model and some day i will hopefully get the pleasure to meet you and your bubbly personality. I am 15 as i said and i weigh 165 pounds and wear a size 15 in juniors and can pintch more than a few inches and same with my twin sister Victoria. But i want to say something to everyone out there "I dont have a eating disorder nor will i ever have one but what the heck i am proud of how i look and i want to say "SO WHAT."

Alexandria

Hi Tyra,
First off i just wanna say what an inspiration to me you are. I loved your segment today called "so what?" As a marine corp wife whos overweight i am constantly scrutenized for my weight. Being a marine wife and having and husband whos life is fitness and strength makes it so hard!! His co workers are constantly saying to him "what do you see in her?","how can someone so fit be with someone whos big?" and even "shes not what a marine wife should look like!" So i say so what!!! my husband loves me for who i am. A 5'5 275 lb beautiful women. If i didnt loose a pound hed stand by me! If i gained more hed still tell me i was beautiful. So, so what!! Im a big beautiful women, who has a super fit husband who loves me and loves big girls!!! Thanks to you now i know when he tells me im beautiful he means it!! And that its ok cuz eveyone is different whatever works for me and my man right?

Hi Tyra!

First off, I want to applaud you for attempting to help young women about their body issues. That's something you don't see many celebrities doing. I watch your show whenever I can but I do have a minor complaint about todays episode, "SO WHAT."

The issue that I have with you is that you really seem to be "milking" the whole tabloid thing. Ok it was fine when you had the episode about it but every SINGLE EPISODE you talk about it. It's always TYRA, TYRA, TYRA...I guess the final straw was todays "SO WHAT" episode. It just seems like you are proving that you DO have issues with what other people think. People who are content with themselves don't HAVE to talk about it. I like the idea that you had for the show but it's not always about you, Tyra. You're not fat. You have never been fat. You have no idea. Feature people and make the show about THEM. Not about you. For the first time in your life a paper said a mean comment about your weight gain. Oh well. I'm sorry but get over it. Recreating your SI photo shoot, constantly talking about the tabloids...it's too much. The media is over it. You are just prolonging the issue. Maybe you really need to look inside yourself and figure out what the true motive of this campain is.

I'm sorry that my comment is not a "I love you Tyra!!!" post. It's a "I love you Tyra, but...post." I probably won't even be posted but it's okay. I have a little faith that you will somehow read this and I hope you do. I'm not hating on you. I'm just telling it like it is.

Thanx for reading,

Ashley

tyra i love your show so much and i always try to watch it and i love your so what campaign. i just know that your campaign WILL make a difference across the world.

I loved today's "SO WHAT?!" show. I am 25 and a mother of 2 beautiful boys. However, since the birth of my 2nd son in april, I have been struggling with body issues. I have been unable to lose all my baby weight and get back to the size that I think I need to be. Seeing that some of the women in your audience today were the same size as me and that they looked great really made me feel better about myself. There is so pressure in society today to be thin no matter what, and I think it is great that you are trying to change that! Good job!

I loved the concept of the show, and it is wonderful for normal girls to have a role model like Tyra. But I felt a little left out when it comes to the issue of weight. I am 19, 5'5, and 94 pounds. I just wish that people could understand that no I do not have an eating disorder, even doctors don't understand why I can't gain any weight. I just wanted to let people know that the feelings about weight go both ways. I get one of two comments about my body; 1) Wow you are so luck to be skinny, or 2) Oh my gosh girl, let's get you a hamburger. I am in no way trying to understate what Tyra is doing, it is a great thing, but I just wanted to share what it feels like to be the "skinny" girl.

Hi Tyra,

I was watching a re-run of your episode on accepting your weight, and it really hit home with me. I have incredibly strong mothers who have gone through they're own journies. My mother has had cancer twice, and both of them had abusive childhoods. Neither of them are the traditional size two, but both of them are gorgeous. I myself, at the age of 16, am 5'7" and 136 pounds and I still worry about my weight. I think for me, because I have echzema, once I got that under control I had to create for myself another problem to deal with. I told myself that I would get back down to a size two, which of course for a growing teenager is unreasonable. When I saw your article, I felt so inspired because if someone who used to model could be okay with whatever weight she was at, so could I. All my life, I've wanted to do something big with my life, like modeling, and now I feel like I should do that without worrying about losing weight. I know that if I eat right, the weight will balance where its right for my body.

Thank you so much for promoting a healthy image for women everywhere,

Rachel

Tyra i just wanted to say i understand where your comming from with the weight issue but to me its hard to not care about your weight im only 16 and im 5.5 1/2 i weigh 225 to me its hard because sometimes i'll go to a store and all the clothes are sizes 1 - 9 and i dont wear close to that i cant ever find clothes my size that i like or want and thats why i hate how much i weigh i lose weight then gain it back with more added on i just want to find a store that has all sizes not just for thin women or girls big women and girls want to look good too thats why i dont have any clothes in my closet that i like because of stuuff like that im so sceared to go shopping with other people because i dont want them to see what size i wear well i hope you get this comment thankyou Patricia

Hey tyra
I'm watching your so what show right now. I just wnat to say , you are completely amazing. not many people would have the guts to go on Television and do this. But you did, and that shows how much of a role model you are. i am 13 years old, and have already experienced so many difficulties with weight, or seen my friends struggle with weight.
I have so many friends that are doing crazy things to their body. Many of them are even bulimic, or anorexic, i ahve friends going through everything. I myself, have had some difficulties too, and even know, i don't wnat people to know how much i weigh eventhough i am a size zero , i still feel bigger than some people. But watching your show, I'm saying " SO WHAT!I LOVE MY BODY:)"
Sarah

Tyra,
I just watched your show and I just wanted to say thank you :) I just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy two months ago. I'm currently in the stage where my maternity jeans are way to big but I can't fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans and I constantly feel fat because I can't fit into a majority of my clothes... plus this stretch marks all over my belly are still there.

So, so what if I have stretch marks and I can't fit into my size 9 jeans are still too small... I have a gorgeous baby to show off!

I live in A small town in Ontario Canada and weight is a big issue here. I've been taunted and teased about my weight since i was 8 years old! well 10 years later, I weigh 176lbs and I'm prud of the body I have. My love handles have stretch marks SO WHAT!

Well it's about time somebody finally took a stand and really brought the issue of 'women and their weight' to light. Your TOTALLY bodacious and as curvy as they come. I'm totally inspired to actually really try and pursue a career in television, wich up until now, I never actually thought I could do. Your in a position to reach out with important issues to many, many poeple and I am sooo glad you are, I personnaly commend you for not shying away from the oppertunity to stand for what's RIGHT.......Lots of love and respect.

I would just like to say thank you to Tyra for standing up for all women. I am 5'7" and 135lbs. i am also 1 of 4 daughters in a family that seems to be obsessed with our weight and which one of us weighs more or less. The scary thing is i am now seeing what my sisters and i do in my 3 nieces 16,13, and 10. There need to be more celebrities like you Tyra thank you for standing up and saying there is nothing wrong with being the size you are as long as you are healthy and happy.

Dear Tyra~
I want to think you for telling people that it is okay not to be a size 0. I am a mother of 2 children and after my second child I am having a hard time loosing my weight and it was causing problems in my marriage, because I thought my husband didn't love me anymore b/c of the weight even though he told me all the time he love me and only me. Well I can say you have made me feel SO much better that I am okay the way I am as long as I am healthy which I am. So thank you again and So what if my belly is a little bigger than a size 10.

Tyra, I am watching your show right now and it is inspiring me so much. Im 14 years old and i used to be obbsessed with me weight.. Im 145 pounds, and i love it.. i feel that theres gotta be some meat on the BODDAY! so thank you so much tyra your my insparation!!!!!

XOXOXO

Dear Tyra and Tyra Show Represntatives,
My names is Chamera. I will be 15 in April and just finished watching the 1st So What?! tyra Show.I have to say that Tyra is a great role model for teens and children like me who aren't the skinniest in the class. I have been called fat plenty of times and today I am saying So What?! This will probably be one of the first times I am happy about having to stay home because of it being "that time of the month" because I wouldn't have seen this incredible episode if it were not for cramps. I just want to say that I am happy that there are people in the world that I can look up to. Hopefully, I will be able to influence my siblings and peers the way Tyra has influenced me. Today's youth need to understand that looks aren't everything. Once again I say So What?! and thanks. I just hope I am lucky enough to meet someone that is half the inspiration that you are.
Live long and God bless,
Your Friend and Fan,
Chamera

LISTEN TO THIS!!!!!
I am so sick of this weight stuff! All I ever hear is about people over-weight.
Tyra focuses on being big is o.k and it is, however she doesn't educate the world on skinny girls because she look at the modelling world and them skinny girls. There is another world that she is forgetting about, which is the skiiny girls that are not models!!! I am 5'7 and 105 pounds and everyday of my life I get asked STUPID questions like "Do you eat"?
The world needs to know that I get harrasses and told that we are not womenly.
I would love to gain weight and hate the way I look and there are probably many others that want to gain weight. Tyra does a sh***y job at educating the world on all women. I have emailed her a few times to get her to educate the world not just from the modelling or her perspective. I guess she needs to make herself feel good. NOT ALL SKINNY WOMEN ARE ANOREXIC, SOME OF US HATE BEING TEASED!!!!

HI! Iam from Newfoundland Canada I watch the show all the time. You are not fat. I'm 25 with 2 kids now I don't feel that good about myself, I don't look at the magazines because they all look better than me,watching the show I know that its ok if I have a cupple of rolls.

Tyra, I'm watching your show and was really moved by your So What? campaign. For the past couple years, I've struggled with weight and self-image issues. After being put on anti-depressants, I gained 30lbs in 3 months. I felt horrible. Recently, I thought, if I starved myself, I would get thinner and feel prettier. I've lost 20lbs. I don't feel better, and know that I am harming myself. Your show helped me to realize that I am beautiful and that a number doesn't define who I am. I now weigh 145. I wanted to thank you for giving me confidence to be healthy and love my body. Thank you also for sending a positive message to women, young and old.

Hi Tyra!!! Oh girl I watch yuor show everyday!!! You have made me change into a different person. You have given me the courage to face my... My fears. My weight. My image. I am 19 years old. I am married and have a five year old daughter. I weigh 142 pounds and I was so embarressed by my weight and watching your show and listening to what you say has helped me except my body and love it!!!You are such an inspiration to me. I want my daughter to love her body too. I know she is only five but it seems like all that society cares about now is weight. I want her to love her body and her image. She watches your show when she is home from school!!! I want to thank you for helping me relize how beautiful I really am inside and out!!! " I have sucessfully graduated from a size 10 to a size 14... SO WHAT!!!!!" Love ya Tyra Amanda

I am 161 pounds, 5'11" and my thighs touch and jiggle when I walk. SO WHAT! I am not only happy about my body, but I am proud of my body! Thank you Tyra!!!

I think this campain that you are running is a great idea because its going to show millions of girls all over the world that being a size 0 isnt the best there is out there. I have always been a bouble digit kind of girl and lets all remember you cant judge a girl by her cover cause thats usally when evryone misses out on the best thing. A cupple of pounds over or less dont mean anything because we should all love what we have enbrace it and flaunt what you have. When i worked at the high school it was hard to see girl be confterball intheir suits because they thought they were fat or they hought they were laking something but at the end of the day they reolized that its not all about looks that its about being confterbal in their own skin. I hope you help alot of girl in your quest of so what because this generation needs that.

I love the "so what" campaign Tyra is doing. She looks wonderful at the weight she is. She's happy and healthy; that's all that matters. I was shocked when I saw a woman in Tyra's audience who had thought about killing herself because of her own weight. I am not a thin woman by all means. I honestly don't remember when I started gaining the bulk of my weight. I just know early last year I was shocked when I saw I was over 200 pounds. I knew my health could be at risk and changed the way I ate and exerised. I was doing great; losing about 2-3 pounds per week. I had no weight goal. I just wanted to feel happy in my own skin again. If that meant 150, then 150 it would be. In July, I had to stop my dieting. I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want to harm my unborn baby by not eating right for him. Now I'm about 40 pounds heavier than I was in July. Am I scared the weight will stay on? Yes, of course I am. I was working so hard at getting the weight off, only to have it all come back on. I know there's a good reason for the wieght gain and I know I am going to have to work even harder than before to get it off. I will never be a stick thin woman. I'm okay with that. I love having an hourglass figure, it's the round figure I'm not keen on. I truly believe women should not compare themselves to each other. They shouldn't beat themselves up to be the thinest. Everyone on the planet should work at just being happy with who they are. As long as they're healthy, what's wrong with 130? Or 140? Or 150? Or 160 and 170?
Tyra is a role model. More people should look up to her.

Dear Tyra

I watched your show today on the SO WHAT campaign. It literally brought tears to my eyes because you are such a wonderful person. I myself have struggled with issues on my self confidence and losing those few extra pounds and just never could. You really helped to make me feel better about myself and see that I really am beautiful and should be thankful for the way that I am. I appreciate what your doing so much, because your helping so many people in so many ways. The world truly needs more people like you. Again I just want to say what a wonderful, generous, loving, and unjudging person you are. We always need to remember that no person is better than any other person, we are all equal and all the same. Thank you so much for helping me and so many other people, to see that there is hope and there are good people out there. Good luck and be proud of yourself because you are a beautiful person inside and out!

Tyra you really have it going on girl.I mean I never would have thought in a million years that you would be this inspiring to everyone. You have paved a road and put up a light for me and so many people in this world and I am so glad that someone in celebrity status has had the guts to say "so what?", I'm not skinny. I am 19 years old,5'4 and 154 pds before I had my baby I was like 130,140.So when I wake up in the morning I just be wanting to go back to sleep because of the extra 10 or 15 pounds I have on me but the more I watch your show I feel better and better.I was thinking about throwing up and starving myself too but not any more you have inspired me.I may still try my best to lose the extra weight that I have but I will never do anything to harm myself to be skinny and by the way I think you look great and more beautiful than ever I can't wait until my daughter gets old enough to talk to her about this subject because I'm going to tell her how you inspired me and so many other people in this world.Keep doing what you doing you are truly a great woman and a wonderful person.

Crystal

Dear Tyra,
Today i was watching your show talking about the "SO WHAT?!" campaign... i keep thinking to myself.. h*** your not fat. Your a tall girl with some curves. You look FINE! Its funny im like 5'9 and i weight 175.. h*** i dont think im fat! I actually think im kinda skinny and i look good. I go out to the Bars and h*** most of the guys are looking at me! I hate the media today for saying your fat because you FAR from, you dont even have a roll on your body! They obviously dont know what they are talking about! hahahaha Anyways i just wanted to tell you that you look great! Today on the show those 3 ladies i think they looked wonderful.. they didnt look fat to me. They were beautiful. I know im not as skinny as most women in the movies/music videos/tv shows..."SO WHAT?!" i look just as good or even better!