Dear Tyra,
I just wanted to thank you and Alek for airing a show like this one.Being a young woman from the Democratic Reoublic of Congo,i grew up with the image of black portrayed as evil in the society.After living in the US for about two years now, i went back this summer to visit my family and everyday my heart cries for what i saw.Self worth is not talked about in my society and women would do anything in order to fit what society wants them to be.For example they'd change their natural completions by using unhealthy chemical or lotion to get lighter skin,they'd find a way of getting wider hips by using unhealthy injections that you can buy anywhere,basically they'd do anything to the point of denying their own humanity for the sake of getting the only thing that culturally defines them as women:"marriage".The saddest thing is that women themselves are taught to believe that respect towards them is a western luxury and that's it's ok to correct a woman by beating her up or by replacing her with another one according to the man's will(which explains polygamy).Young girls at school and in college would give sexual favors to teachers and women at work would do the same for a promotion.
Watching you and Oprah is a daily inspiration for me as i try to hang on to the dream of inspiring and starting a new generation of women in my country.If one day you want to work accross the sea,i'll be glad to tell you more about the Congo.Thanks for all you do,for being a strong and fearless woman.
With love,
Sarah.

Tyra,

I want to thank you for discussing this issue, but I think that we need to have all colors represented in the modeling industry. Beauty isn't just two skin tones but many.

Tyra, thank you for this show today. I love Chanel Iman and I've been a huge fan of hers for a few years; she's young, smart and beautiful. We share that in common (i'm 17, and an aspiring model). I also love Alek and I read you alls' articles in Ebony Magazine. I don't think people realize that this was not just about black models, but beauty itself and the images being portrayed not just on the runway, but in the magazines. When I pick up fashion magazines I count the number of black models. This number is usually between two and zero, and they're also near the back of the magazine. People may not know, but in the black community, having darkskin can mean an added dilema. I love my darkskin and would never wish to change it, but I do know that aspects of my life would be different with a change in complexion. Honestly its hard enough being a black woman and I don't deserve an additional struggle within my own race. Thats what hurts the most. And thats how people form color complexes. People will try to mark one thing as 'good' and another 'bad'. I have no problem standing tall with my afro and proclaiming my beauty. But sometimes, it's hard to do. Alek is helping all of us, to love who we are the more -no matter what ethnicity and to change the perception of beauty. And this is what the Tyra show is about. I LOVE IT! -(viewers, you shouldn't be upset beacuse this episode focused on black people, the message was for everyone)-

Hi tyra,
I think today's show was very inspiring not only to me but to so many young dark skin ladies out there. I myself is a dark skin girl and i happen to be from Sudan. It was very interesting to see a Sudanese supermodel in your show, and to see Alek in a different perspective, and telling her story it was interesting. Thank you Tyra for that show.By the way i love ANTM so much thats my show, don't be surprise when you see me in it soon.
You are an Icon, much love and respect.

HI TYRA I LOVE YOUR SHOW ,AND TODAYS SHOW WAS NICE I LIKED HOW ALEK SEEMS SO NICE AND HOW SHE HELPED THE OTHER GIRL KNOW THAT SHE IS BEAUTIFUL IT MADE ME CRY, I HOPE NOW THAT SHE THINKKS OF HER DIFFERNT BECAUSE SHE IS PRETTY.

tyra..

stick with ANTM. Let this talk show thingy go. please.

Hello Tyra,
Your show today was wonderful. Inspired by your other show ANTM I now organize an Internet pageant called Miss Nappturality, America's Next Natural Model. It's especially for women of color who dare to wear their hair natural because I think it's time to show the world the unique unexplored styles that we can offer besides the ones we normally get to see. I hope this can be my contribution of putting us back on the catwalk.

Dear Tyra show: Alek mentioned that she had the psorasis skin condition. Can you please find out how Alek got rid of it? Her skin looks super! As far as I know, it's a genetic disorder and never goes away and a family member of mine has it too. Please help me?

I agree Dayannara ! All you care about is black models.Why just because you are that background?? What about what models, asian or any type of models???

Wow tyra open up your eyes.... there are other models

I want to say that Alex Wek is a very beautiful girl. Neeah should not let anyone with the mentality that white or lighter is better, cause her to hate or feel bad about herself and who she is. I am from the U.S.Virgin Islands and I feel good about myself. I am a woman of 51 years and will not let anyone tell me I am not beautiful and have me feeling bad about myself. Anyway, Neeah is very beautiful and folk make fun of her and tease her cause they are threathend by her and want to be her and like her. She can run fast because she can. That is the bottom line. Black folk come in all shades of black and brown we are very versitile people. Curley hair, straight hair, long hair, short hair dark brown skin, light brown skin, we are just beautiful people and we are a threat to others this is why ther are hating on us/on her. Neeah hold your head up and know that they are a lighter shade of your color and that God made you the beauty that you are.

TYRA,
BLACK MODELS IS THAT ALL YOU CARE ABOUT!!!!!!!!
THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE DISCRIMINATED

TYRA,
FIRST OF ALL YOUR SHOW TODAY WAS "OK" BUT WHY DO YOU ONLY FOCUS ON black models: ONLY BLACKS ARE DISCRIMINATED: ONLY BLACKS ARE MADE FUN, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON i wish THAT YOU WOULDN'T JUST FOCUS ON BLACKS. THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE DISCRIMINIATED. LATINAS, ASIANS, INDIAN AS WELL. IS IT BECAUSE YOUR BLACK THAT YOU ONLY FOCUS ON THAT RACE ( BASICALLY THAT IS JUST PATHETIC)

You rock and bring tears to my eyes every time I am lucky enought to stumble on you during the day. Thanks and I love you (at night usually). A loyal fan - Robin Single Again

I don't think race has anything to do with why there are not a lot of black models being used these days. I think the problem is in the Fashion world and what they think a model should be. I believe that fashion designers want people to just notice their clothes, not to stare at how beautiful the model is. I think this is why models look so different now than they did 20 years ago. I remember seeing this gorgeous black woman in a magazine and I had to find out who she was, she was just so breathtaking. This was the first time I ever heard of Tyra, she was truely breathtaking!!! This was the time when models looked like real beatiful women with curves. We (the average woman) could easily recognize and remember the names of these models, because we loved looking at them. Now, the type of model that are being used are just different. I think that they want the models to be an empty canvas that they can mold into what ever they need at the time. They want what ever the AD or designer is trying to sell to be the one thing that stands out so the model needs to be beautiful but, not distract from the purpose of selling a product. In order to accomplish this, a model needs to be plain, neutral, tall, thin with no real curves. Isn't this why most of the models these days are so tall, gangly, thin, young, prepubescent and non-memorable? It seems like once a model goes thru puberty and becomes a true woman with curves, their modeling career ends, is this accurate? I wish the modeling industry would go back to women that look like women instead of cross-dressers. Why do models have to look like professional basketball players without any curves? i think that the hormones that make a woman so tall and thin, also can make them look somewhat masculine. So, in order to not look so masculine, they have to be extremely skinny. I think it is hard to find a beautiful feminine face on a masculine thin body, it just isn't natural. If you take a picture of Tyra, Naomi, Christie B., Cindy C, and even Queen latifa,and put it next to the current day models, there will be a HUGE difference. On one side you will have some very beautiful women no matter what age they are, that most people can identify, and on the other side, you have some beautiful young girls that have not gone thru puberty yet, no real curves, that most people would never be able to identify because they are just not very memorable. This unfortunately takes a lot of gorgeous woman out of the picture especially black women that are known for their gorgeous curves. By curves, I am not taking plus size by any means, I am talking womanly hourglass and breasts. I wish our society would honor what makes a woman a woman just like we should honor all the different colors our skin comes in. I think a model should be a woman we can't take our eyes off, not just a empty canvas. Isn't this why we love Tyra?

First, Alek Wek is my favorite model, and Heatherette is one of my favorite designers. My modeling career started in Atlanta where I was one of the only white girls completely accepted on the runway, and I have now moved to new york. I would be working in high fashion right now, but I have 37" hips that people still have a problem with. I think that the fashion industry needs to take a long hard look at what they consider beautiful. There are breathtaking women of all colors out there with exactly what the modeling world should be looking for...Integrity, Intelligence, Beauty, and Poise.

Now my only problem is that even though i'm glad Tyra highlighted a real problem in the modeling industry of not accepting black models as easily as they do white models, I don't like that America's Next Top Model contestants only consist of two or three black models every season. It's as though Tyra herself is perpetuating the same problem that she addressed on the show today. She herself is saying that the only models that have talent are white or mostly white. That is somewhat hypocritical on her part. If she truly want to open doors for models like herself then she should choose more black girls to be on the show as the final 13. I also think she should have more asian, indian and latino women.

I completely disagree with the comment posted by Amber. In case you have not noticed Tyra Banks is a black woman and she's simply opening a forum to discuss the disparity on the runway of white models to black models. We all are aware that the world isn't only black or white but at the same time there's nothing wrong with a person of a particular race highlighting discrimination affecting their race. If the famous Asian supermodel Irina Pantaeva addressed the lack of Asian models on the runway would you judge her the same way as you're judging Tyra? I don't think so. As a role model for many black females and being in a position to speak out about the lack of black models on the runway it doesn't mean that she's racist; she's simply speaking out on behalf of her race and there's nothing wrong with that. If you're white or whatever race you can speak on behalf of your race and that's ok. that does not mean you're racist.

About the "Kitchen"...
Ms. Banks, words cannot express how grateful I am, for you and, for your show. I'm of the belief, that God has truly blessed you with an innate ability to empower many women...in particular, African-American women. That is why it distresses me, to hear your frequent and negative comments about "black hair". It's discouraging to hear you use such historically racist terms as:
"kinky","nappy","good hair/bad hair"; and make know mistake, these terms are historically racist. You are NOT racist! The terms however, are. Ms. Banks, I say this out of my genuine love for and appreciation of you...please read Obiagele Lake's "Blue Veins and Kinky Hair: Naming and Color Consciousness in African America". You are a woman of change...a true renaissance woman...a woman that possesses the power to positively influence our little sistas...and our big sistas too! Someone has to take a stand and become a catalyst for change. We have to stop degrading one another and ourselves because of the texture of our hair. I taught middle school for 8 years. The majority of my female students, were of African descent. It always saddened my heart, to hear any of the ladies refer to themselves and one another, as less than beautiful...simply because of their hair. It's simply got to stop!
As long as we collectively continue to perpetuate this myth of ugliness, we will continue to see fewer and fewer black women on the runway...and, that will be the very least of our concerns. After all, if we can't accept ourselves, why should anyone else? I pray, that I've not offended you. I respect you. There just needs to be a change. I'm counting on you, to take part in that change.

Most Sincerely,

Kelly

Really this show was just as racist as the designers who hire only whites.
It saddens me that Tyra would hold a show that incourages racism.

It was plainly stated that many of the runway shows are hiring ONLY WHITES, that means it is not just black being excluded. Mexican, Indian, Hawaiian, on and on. The world is not just white and black, it is not all whites trying to suppress all blacks. To claim that blacks are suppressed and so underappreciated while ignoring that there are others being ignored in the fashion world is no better then hiring only whites.

Hi Tyra, I must say I was touched by your show today. I dont think any black women should feel that way nor should they be treated anyless. We as women have a hard time in this world already, so why does our colour have to be part of the problem too? All the dark skinned women on your show today are beautiful. I wish them the best in their futures.

Hi Tyra,
I just wanted to say that I loved your show today it really touched me. You made people aware that being a different color is BEAUTIFUL I’m 20 years old, light brown skin, from Brazil I reside in the U.S for eight years now and being a minority growing up here sometimes you face issues. Your show helps women across the nation with building their self esteem and letting them know how beautiful all of them are regardless of their skin tone, size, shape, race and etc. We need diversity; we need different cultures put out there, the world doesn’t consist of just one type of people to set an example for the future. We need to let people aware that when it all comes down to we are all the same, we all go through ups and downs, we all have stressful days doesn’t matter what background we come from and we need to let the world know that there isn’t just one type of face that can be in the front page cover of a magazine. You’re an inspiration to many women may god bless all that you’ll do.
Love Stella

i love what you do tyra! it's so very true about how coloured models are disappearing. i think you should showcase some asian models too! they're very rare in the fashion world. =[

I LUVVV U SOOO DAAANG MUCH TYRA.STAii Flii Mii ChiiC!! H0LLÄ~

I forgot to say that I've been doing this for about 10 years now. So I started this when I was 17 and now I am 27.

I got a great tip for a nice fast tan with no lotions or fakin bake or spray it. During summer get a darker powerder than your natral skin color. Like if your light to fair get true beige. light-Medium tan skin get tawney Put it on light with the aplicater. but its trial, error you'll learn but just put it on wiht out foundation. And pow you got a great looking tan, you'll have the power will last the whole year cause your just using a tiny bit. loose power or even the compact kind I use cover girl. To make some parts lighter use your natral color to brighten up areas. then when finished use a cotton ball to take excess off and your ready to go with a good glow.