Banks Delves Into Body Image Issues

Nov. 1, 2007 — -- With tight, revealing clothes more popular than ever and super-skinny actresses and models dominating the pop culture scene, body image has become a hot topic and the passion of talk show host and former model Tyra Banks.

As part of a social experiment, a group of women for her self-titled show became residents of a fictional town called Bodyville, where they were asked to put on nude body stockings, go out in public and evaluate themselves then one another.

The often heart-wrenching and disturbing comments that came about surprised 33-year-old Banks, who conducted the experiment as a part of a two-part series — a first ever for her show.

Banks said she wanted to see how women feel about body image and probe where some of the negative perceptions arise.

Though advertisers and the media are often blamed for disseminating unrealistic images of women, Banks said it's women who are often the most critical of themselves.

"It's women. We are so harsh on us," Banks said on "Good Morning America" today. "We don't realize what we call each other."

Banks said she has noticed when she becomes critical of other women, there is an underlying issue.

"With my friends, when I get gossipy, I realize I'm not feeling so good," she said.

The Guidelines

Women of various sizes were asked to put on a body stocking and then stand before a mirror and talk about how they viewed themselves.

At the last minute, Banks decided she wanted the ladies to put the stockings on on stage and that forced some women to tears because though a body stocking covers more than a swimsuit, it can be more revealing.

The body suits are designed to show every lump and bump on a person, she said.

"A bathing suit shows more skin, but a body stocking, there's no distraction," Banks said.

In order to comfort the ladies, Banks, too, donned the suit.

"The women said," 'I'll do it if you do it,'" she said.

After the women evaluated themselves, they discussed the names and terms they used to describe other women and their bodies. Then, they were forced to assign the words, like fat slob, couch potato and Skeletor, to the women in Bodyville, Banks said.

Combating Labels

Participant Emily Solo, a 23-year-old plus-size blond, was particularly critical of her body and even began to get emotional when she described herself. But even her own critical eyes couldn't compare to how some women in the group viewed her.

"They were labeling Emily as lazy," Banks said.

One woman went so far as to tell Solo in front to the group that her body weight was unhealthy.

Many of the women assumed Solo didn't ever exercise. But in fact, the opposite is true.

Solo said she works out about three times a week, doing activities like softball.

The women's intense scrutiny affected Solo.

"Basically what happened, it feels like your entire world is caving in and you are wondering why women who are supposed to be supporting each other are judging each other," Solo said. "This is the way I am and people have to learn to deal with it."

Banks said even Solo's husband couldn't curb some of the women's insults.

"The women were attacking her so much and Emily's husband's came on the show," Banks said. Even though he said he loved her and her body, the women continued attacking her as he spoke, she added.

Solo is just one of the many women who participated in the project, but Banks believes the experiment will have a great outcome for all women.

"I think the first thing it's going to do is wake us up," she said. "For women like Emily … it gives you that strength to know: but I am who I am."

"It arms women," Banks added.