Tyra Banks defends Kim Kardashian's 'empowering' Skims ad

‘I’m curvier and almost 50 years old in this campaign!’ Tyra Banks defends Kim Kardashian’s ’empowering’ Skims ad after it was accused of being heavily Photoshopped

Tyra Banks has defended the Skims campaign she starred in for Kim Kardashian saying it is an ’empowering’ advert despite Photoshop claims. 

The model, 48, said it was great to include herself in the photos – a woman who is ‘curvier and nearly 50’, before adding that Kim, 41, picked her due to her natural physique. 

It comes after earlier this week some branded the editing of Tyra’s body ‘extreme and appalling’ after photos taken during the shoot emerged looking dramatically different from the final ad photos.

Curvy: Tyra Banks has defended the Skims campaign she starred in for Kim Kardashian saying it is an ’empowering’ advert despite Photoshop claims

On Friday Kim, 41, and Tyra appeared together on TODAY With Hoda and Jenna on Friday where they spoke about the campaign.   

Tyra said that SKIMS aligned with her what she’s always stood for, explaining: ‘This is something I’ve been talking about for decades. 

‘So, me curvier, me damn near almost 50 years old in this campaign — I think it is pretty empowering,’ the beauty said. 

Pals: The model, 48, said it was great to include herself in the photos – a woman who is ‘curvier and nearly 50’, and that Kim (pictured) had been impressed with her natural physique 

Tyra also told hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager that Kim had been impressed with her natural figure in previous campaigns and asked to work with her.

She said about the SKIMS founder: ‘She said when I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she hadn’t seen boobs that were real and big.’

She continued, ‘She said that that gave her self-esteem for her body. So we had, like, a serious conversation, and I finally said, ”Let’s do this!”

Deceiving: It comes after earlier this week some branded the editing of Tyra’s body ‘extreme and appalling’ after photos taken during the shoot emerged looking dramatically different from the final ad photos

The mother-of-four added: ‘I’ve known Tyra for a really long time.’

Then she gushed, ‘I just have so much respect for her, so we just had an honest, heart-to-heart conversation, and she got to hear about what the brand stands for, why I started the brand and just all about supporting women.’

Tyra then admitted that speaking with Kim ‘helped me to step into my own, I guess, power and influence as an icon in the modeling industry.’

Influence: Tyra said to hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager about the SKIMS founder, ‘She said when I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she hadn’t seen boobs that were real and big’

Tyra went on to say that the two also connected on a business front. ‘From entrepreneur to entrepreneur I was like, “This is a whole other level that the world doesn’t know about you, and I want you to know that it’s next-level.”‘

When Kardashian launched SKIMS she aimed to revolutionize the shapewear industry by creating a brand that was inclusive off all figures and sizes.

Since its inception in 2019, the range has expanded with loungewear, bathing suits, and brand collaborations with Fendi and the USA Olympics. 

The latest campaign incorporated Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, and Banks – all former Victoria’s Secret Angels. 

New! The latest SKIMS campaign incorporated Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, and Banks – all former Victoria’s Secret Angels

While the launch was mostly well-received, some fans looked at it with a critical eye.

The star-studded campaign has been accused of heavily photoshopping the former America’s Next Top Model host.

Some branded the editing of Tyra’s body ‘extreme and appalling’ after photos taken during the shoot emerged looking dramatically different from the final ad photos.

Tyra shared multiple photos from the photoshoot on social media leading fans to compare them with the real campaign images. 

‘These pics are stunning but Tyra looked so gorgeous naturally and this editing is so bizarre and unnecessary?’ one Twitter user wrote.

‘Tyra seems to be a victim of extreme photoshop in this one – where did her body go?’ another said.

On the Instagram account Problematic Fame, which frequently posts about beauty standards in Hollywood, Skims was accused of photoshopping, along with failing to represent ‘body positivity and inclusivity.’

‘Appalled to see the amount of photoshop done to Tyra Banks’ body in Kim Kardashian’s new Skims and campaign,’ a caption said.

‘For a brand that prides themselves on body positivity and inclusivity, this is low,’ it continued. ‘In what world does editing Tyra’s body into a clone of Kim’s endorse any sort of body positivity and inclusivity? 

Not happy: Many have branded the editing of Tyra’s body ‘extreme and appalling’ after photos emerged of her taken during the shoot day which look different from the actual ad photo itself (pictured)

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