Tyra Banks to Search for Plus-Sized Teen Model

Wed, 27 January 2010 03:36:40 ET

The 36-year-old former model puts out a call for girls from the ages of 13 to 19 whose dress sizes are in between 12 to 20 to enter her newest modeling competition 'Fiercely Real Teen Model'.

Tyra Banks has recently made public her newest modeling competition which is dubbed to be the first ever teen plus-sized model search. The 36-year-old former model made the announcement over the new show entitled "Fiercely Real Teen Model" during her talk show "The Tyra Show" on Monday, January 25.

The "America's Next Top Model" host and judge has also put out a call for girls between the ages of 13 to 19 with dress sizes of 12 to 20 to join the show. In addition to the plus-sized dress requirement, Banks told Us Magazine in a statement that in order to be qualified for the competition, the entrants must stand 5'9" to 6'1" tall.

Talking about the competition, Banks told Us, "I've always felt it was my mission to expand the narrow perceptions of beauty." She added, "Through America's Next Top Model, True Beauty and The Tyra Show, I challenge industry and universal standards by featuring and celebrating non-traditional beauty, and stressing that true beauty is both inside and out."

The co-creator of "True Beauty" further expressed her unhappiness with the "plus-sized" term because it has such a "negative connotation" in today's society. "I want young girls to realize that what's considered plus-sized is the average American woman," she said, adding "I hope the contest helps teen girls discover their own beauty from the inside out."

The entry for Tyra Banks's "Fiercely Real Teen Model" will be closed on February 5 and finalists will be introduced on the March 2 episode of "The Tyra Show". The winner will be crowned on the following day and will receive a one-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina, a spread in a major fashion magazine as well as a photo shoot for a leading clothing line.

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