Tyra Banks, creator of America's Next Top Model.
Tyra Banks. She is a model, entrepreneur, talk show host, and has even been called the next Oprah. However, Miss Banks is causing quite the controversy over the photo shoot she pulled in Wednesdays episode of Tyra created reality show, America's Next Top Model.
Tyra took the remaining six models to Hawaii and, after giving them a little history lesson about the context of the shoot, the models are each given two different races and sent to make-up where their skin was painted with dark makeup. In other words: blackface.
Blackface began in the United States and in the 1800's (and for nearly 100 years after), it was considered an important performance tradition in theater. Of course, it is now viewed as racist and stereotypical. With so many people against it and a recent French Vogue controversy surrounding the same topic, why would Tyra Banks do this?
Watch part of the controversial episode!
Comments
I get the controversy, but I get what Tyra ws doing here, and she was just being educational for the shoot.
The models choose several different races, and did not demean any of them, other than to try to make themselves up to look like a different race.
I don't see that as racist, but to not try a show that covers this material might be short changing the audience.
People are sensitive to how they are portrayed, and some will argue that we are too severly politically correct.
I see all the work Tyra has done in society,she has all races working for and with her, no wierd sexual facism issue, so...take it for what it is, some background information for the models to source while portrayng a different race.
Noticem though, how the black model did not wear white-face to portray a Russian person...
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