Tyra Banks Quotes

My mother never said to lose weight. Diets were never a big deal. My mom was always beautiful and voluptuous and curvy, and I always thought she was gorgeous.

I guess my mom raised me right. She was very celebratory of her body. I never heard her once say, 'I feel fat.'

I was always okay with the fact that I was taller and bigger than everybody else growing up. My mom, my dad, and my friends always told me I was beautiful.

I was a very earthly, matronly, plus-size little girl with a pure heart.

So when your sister or your friend is standing there and moaning about whether she looks really fat, and actually she looks gorgeous, tell her so and support each other.

I like the fact that Tess Holliday is comfortable in her own skin and loves herself. I think that's a hugely positive message that women of all sizes really need to adopt.

I have cellulite. I admit it. But sometimes I just say, 'Screw it, I am going to wear a bikini.'

If I like myself at this weight, then this is what I'm going to be. I don't have an eating disorder.

I don't have any concerns about my weight. I've always been healthy. I eat right. I'm just a big dude. I've always been happy with the person I am. So that will never change.

I'm done losing weight, I feel great, and I love looking like a woman. I love being curvy and having boobs and hips. It's hot. I don't ever want to be size zero.

I am comfortable with my body and embrace who I am. I love to work it.

I think all women go through periods where we hate this about ourselves, we don't like that. It's great to get to a place where you dismiss anything you're worried about. I find flaws attractive. I find scars attractive.

It's easy to be critical of ourselves and other women around us. We stand in front of the mirror and only focus on the things we hate about our body and our appearance. But I encourage you to change that attitude the next time you are in front of the mirror.

My mother never put an emphasis on looks. She let us grow up on our own time line. She never forced any beauty regimen into my world.

Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth, because the truth is that I am fat, and that's ok. So now when someone calls me fat, I agree, whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional.

I don't have all answers, but as far as viewing my body... I'm in a place where I can look at my stretch marks and say, 'Oh, hey, stretch marks!' and I'm over it.

Do I envy Madonna's body? Yes. Do I thank God that she has it? Yes! If you're fifty-something and you look like Madonna, and you put a lifetime's work in the way you look, then flash it to the world!

The other girls were so comfortable with their bodies and it eventually rubbed off on me.

I have a pretty active presence on social networking sites, and every day there are messages from so many young girls telling me that they are happy B-Town has curvy women like me. I feel you should be happy the way you are. Of course, fitness is important, but not to the extent of obsession!

If I'm slimmer, I feel better about myself, but I don't lose weight for anybody else or for a magazine.

You might think the thinner version of yourself is going to be the most positive or confident, but that's not how it is for me. When I'm over 200 pounds, that's when I'm the most confident version of myself.

My scar is beautiful. It looks like an arrow.

I'm learning to embrace who I am and what I look like.

I think that, if anything, the pageant is great for people who suffer from body issues. It's all about being comfortable with what you're given and what you have and being able to flaunt it without being insecure. It's about empowering women, not making them feel weak or less.

I love my body.