Tyra Banks Experiences Obesity Through Fat Suit

Nov. 4, 2005 — -- Supermodel Tyra Banks has made a career out of turning heads with her voluptuous body, sexy strut and skimpy outfits. When she donned a "fat suit" that gave the appearance that the slender Banks weighed 350 pounds, heads turned, too. But this time, she faced laughter, stares and nasty comments.

"The people that were staring and laughing in my face -- that shocked me the most," Banks said. "As soon as I entered the store -- when I went shopping -- I immediately heard snickers. Immediately! I just was appalled and, and and hurt!"

Banks wore the fat suit for an upcoming episode of her talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show." In addition to shopping and riding the bus wearing the suit, she went on three blind dates, which will also air on the show.

"One of them was so outright rude and hurtful!" she said of her dates.

Banks asked her date what his parents would think if he brought her home. He responded: "They'll be like: 'What's wrong with you?' "

When Banks revealed her real identity to a date, he went gaga. But, he still admitted that when he thought she was a 350-pound woman, he would not have gone out with her again.

At the end of her 15-hour fat suit stunt, Banks had the luxury of taking off her costume and returning to her supermodel figure. She said she hopes people will learn a lesson from the poor treatment she endured.

"There's no excuse for rudeness. There's no excuse for ugliness. And there's no excuse for nastiness and that's what I experienced," Banks said.

And if the tables were turned, Banks claims she would be more accepting of a man with a little more around the middle.

"I think people are way less judgmental about chunky guys," Banks said. "I have friends that love it -- they're like, 'ooh, I love a tire! I love a thick man! I love a big man!' You know? And women are just -- we are so much broader in our scheme of what's attractive."

Banks said she likes all different types of men.

"I like 'em all, child!" she said. "Awhile ago I said that, 'you know, I like a guy -- he doesn't have to be all rich and famous -- he can be normal.' And I remember I was walking in the mall and this guy was like, 'Tyra, I'm normal. I live with my mama. I ain't got a car and I ain't got a job! I'm real normal.' And I'm like, 'that's not normal -- that's a loser!' "